Demand for surrender of suspicious Singapore passports, etc.
Open ↗29. —(1) An authorised officer or a police officer may demand that a person surrender a document to the officer if — ( a ) the document is a Singapore passport or a Singapore travel document that has been obtained, or that the authorised officer or police officer suspects on reasonable grounds has been obtained, by means of a false or misleading statement, any false or misleading information or a false or misleading document; ( b ) the document is a Singapore passport or a Singapore travel document, or other document that has been used or that the authorised officer or police officer suspects on reasonable grounds has been used, in the commission of any offence under this Act; or ( c ) the document is — (i) a false Singapore passport or a false Singapore travel document; or (ii) a false foreign travel document. (2) Any person having possession or control of any document that an authorised officer or a police officer demands to be surrendered to the officer under subsection (1), and who fails to immediately comply with the demand, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
—(1) An authorised officer or a police officer may demand that a person surrender a document to the officer if — ( a ) the document is a Singapore passport or a Singapore travel document that has been obtained, or that the authorised officer or police officer suspects on reasonable grounds has been obtained, by means of a false or misleading statement, any false or misleading information or a false or misleading document; ( b ) the document is a Singapore passport or a Singapore travel document, or other document that has been used or that the authorised officer or police officer suspects on reasonable grounds has been used, in the commission of any offence under this Act; or ( c ) the document is — (i) a false Singapore passport or a false Singapore travel document; or (ii) a false foreign travel document.
(2) Any person having possession or control of any document that an authorised officer or a police officer demands to be surrendered to the officer under subsection (1), and who fails to immediately comply with the demand, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Demand for surrender of cancelled Singapore passports, etc.
Open ↗30. —(1) An authorised officer may demand that a person surrender a Singapore passport or a Singapore travel document to the authorised officer if — ( a ) the document has been cancelled under section 21 or 22; or ( b ) the document has otherwise ceased to be valid. (2) Any person having possession or control of any document that an authorised officer demands to be surrendered to the officer under subsection (1), and who fails to immediately comply with the demand, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
—(1) An authorised officer may demand that a person surrender a Singapore passport or a Singapore travel document to the authorised officer if — ( a ) the document has been cancelled under section 21 or 22; or ( b ) the document has otherwise ceased to be valid.
(2) Any person having possession or control of any document that an authorised officer demands to be surrendered to the officer under subsection (1), and who fails to immediately comply with the demand, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Search and seizure of cancelled Singapore passports, etc.
Open ↗31. —(1) Any authorised officer, police officer or customs officer may seize a document if — ( a ) the document is not in the possession or control of any person; and ( b ) the officer suspects on reasonable grounds that the document is a false Singapore passport, a false Singapore travel document or a false foreign travel document, or a document that has been used in the commission of an offence under this Act. (2) If — ( a ) any authorised officer, police officer or customs officer suspects on reasonable grounds that a false Singapore passport, a false Singapore travel document or a false foreign travel document, or a document that has been used in the commission of an offence under this Act, is in a container (whether on board any train, vehicle, vessel or aircraft, or in any premises); and ( b ) the container is not in the possession or control of any person, the officer may search the container for the purposes of determining whether the document is inside the container. (3) If any authorised officer, police officer or customs officer suspects on reasonable grounds that a false Singapore passport, a false Singapore travel document or a false foreign travel document, or a document that has been used in the commission of an offence under this Act, is in any premises, or in any train, vehicle, vessel or aircraft, the officer may, for the purposes of determining whether the document is inside the premises, train, vehicle, vessel or aircraft — ( a ) without warrant, enter and search the premises, or stop, board and search the train, vehicle, vessel or aircraft in or on which he or she reasonably suspects that such a document is to be found; ( b ) search any person found in such premises, train, vehicle, vessel or aircraft; ( c ) remove by force any obstruction to such entry or search; and ( d ) seize, remove and detain any document mentioned in this subsection found in the premises, train, vehicle, vessel or aircraft. (4) For the purpose of exercising his or her power under subsection (2) or (3), an authorised officer, a police officer or a customs officer may, with such assistance as he or she thinks necessary, break open any door, window, lock, fastener, compartment, box, container or any other thing. (5) Any search of a person under this section must be conducted by an officer of the same sex as the person. (6) Nothing in this section prevents any authorised officer, police officer or customs officer conducting a search of a person from requiring a person to remove any of the person’s clothing. (7) In this section — “container” includes baggage, a mail receptacle, and any other thing that could be used for the carriage of goods (whether or not designed for that purpose); “train” means — ( a ) a railway locomotive, wagon or carriage; or ( b ) a track vehicle or railway maintenance machine, such as a trolley or crane, and includes a part of any of the above; “vehicle” means a conveyance that is designed to be propelled or drawn by any means (whether or not capable of being so propelled or drawn), and includes any trailer, bicycle or other pedal‑powered vehicle, but does not include any train; “vessel” means any kind of craft used in navigation by sea or water, however propelled or moved, and includes — ( a ) a barge, lighter or other floating vessel; ( b ) an air-cushion vehicle, or other similar craft, used wholly or primarily in navigation by water; ( c ) a vessel engaged in a towing operation or in any dredging, surveying or underwater operations; and ( d ) an installation capable of being attached to the seabed and that is bound for, or is at, a port, and includes a part of any of the above.
—(1) Any authorised officer, police officer or customs officer may seize a document if — ( a ) the document is not in the possession or control of any person; and ( b ) the officer suspects on reasonable grounds that the document is a false Singapore passport, a false Singapore travel document or a false foreign travel document, or a document that has been used in the commission of an offence under this Act.
(2) If — ( a ) any authorised officer, police officer or customs officer suspects on reasonable grounds that a false Singapore passport, a false Singapore travel document or a false foreign travel document, or a document that has been used in the commission of an offence under this Act, is in a container (whether on board any train, vehicle, vessel or aircraft, or in any premises); and ( b ) the container is not in the possession or control of any person, the officer may search the container for the purposes of determining whether the document is inside the container.
(3) If any authorised officer, police officer or customs officer suspects on reasonable grounds that a false Singapore passport, a false Singapore travel document or a false foreign travel document, or a document that has been used in the commission of an offence under this Act, is in any premises, or in any train, vehicle, vessel or aircraft, the officer may, for the purposes of determining whether the document is inside the premises, train, vehicle, vessel or aircraft — ( a ) without warrant, enter and search the premises, or stop, board and search the train, vehicle, vessel or aircraft in or on which he or she reasonably suspects that such a document is to be found; ( b ) search any person found in such premises, train, vehicle, vessel or aircraft; ( c ) remove by force any obstruction to such entry or search; and ( d ) seize, remove and detain any document mentioned in this subsection found in the premises, train, vehicle, vessel or aircraft.
(4) For the purpose of exercising his or her power under subsection (2) or (3), an authorised officer, a police officer or a customs officer may, with such assistance as he or she thinks necessary, break open any door, window, lock, fastener, compartment, box, container or any other thing.
(5) Any search of a person under this section must be conducted by an officer of the same sex as the person.
(6) Nothing in this section prevents any authorised officer, police officer or customs officer conducting a search of a person from requiring a person to remove any of the person’s clothing.
(7) In this section — “container” includes baggage, a mail receptacle, and any other thing that could be used for the carriage of goods (whether or not designed for that purpose); “train” means — ( a ) a railway locomotive, wagon or carriage; or ( b ) a track vehicle or railway maintenance machine, such as a trolley or crane, and includes a part of any of the above; “vehicle” means a conveyance that is designed to be propelled or drawn by any means (whether or not capable of being so propelled or drawn), and includes any trailer, bicycle or other pedal‑powered vehicle, but does not include any train; “vessel” means any kind of craft used in navigation by sea or water, however propelled or moved, and includes — ( a ) a barge, lighter or other floating vessel; ( b ) an air-cushion vehicle, or other similar craft, used wholly or primarily in navigation by water; ( c ) a vessel engaged in a towing operation or in any dredging, surveying or underwater operations; and ( d ) an installation capable of being attached to the seabed and that is bound for, or is at, a port, and includes a part of any of the above.
Powers of arrest, detention and prosecution
Open ↗32. —(1) The Controller, an immigration officer or a police officer may arrest without warrant — ( a ) any person committing or attempting to commit any offence under this Act; or ( b ) any person whom the Controller, immigration officer or police officer reasonably suspects of being engaged in committing or attempting to commit any offence under this Act. (2) Where any person is arrested under subsection (1), the Controller, immigration officer or police officer making the arrest must comply with sections 67 and 68 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 as if he or she were a police officer. [15/2010] (2A) Any person arrested under subsection (1) may be detained at — ( a ) a lock-up appointed as a place of confinement under section 4(1) of the Prisons Act 1933; or ( b ) an immigration depot designated under the Immigration Act 1959. [Act 16 of 2024 wef 17/06/2024] (3) In any case relating to the commission of an offence under this Act, an immigration officer has all the powers of a police officer under the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 in relation to an investigation into an arrestable offence. (4) For the purposes of subsection (3), when an immigration officer is exercising the powers of a police officer under the Criminal Procedure Code 2010, the immigration officer is deemed to be an officer not below the rank of inspector of police. [15/2010] (5) The Controller and an immigration officer who is an authorised officer have the authority to appear in court and may, with the authorisation of the Public Prosecutor, conduct any prosecution in respect of any offence under this Act. [15/2010] [Act 16 of 2024 wef 17/06/2024]
—(1) The Controller, an immigration officer or a police officer may arrest without warrant — ( a ) any person committing or attempting to commit any offence under this Act; or ( b ) any person whom the Controller, immigration officer or police officer reasonably suspects of being engaged in committing or attempting to commit any offence under this Act.
(2) Where any person is arrested under subsection (1), the Controller, immigration officer or police officer making the arrest must comply with sections 67 and 68 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 as if he or she were a police officer. [15/2010]
(2A) Any person arrested under subsection (1) may be detained at — ( a ) a lock-up appointed as a place of confinement under section 4(1) of the Prisons Act 1933; or ( b ) an immigration depot designated under the Immigration Act 1959. [Act 16 of 2024 wef 17/06/2024]
(3) In any case relating to the commission of an offence under this Act, an immigration officer has all the powers of a police officer under the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 in relation to an investigation into an arrestable offence.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), when an immigration officer is exercising the powers of a police officer under the Criminal Procedure Code 2010, the immigration officer is deemed to be an officer not below the rank of inspector of police. [15/2010]
(5) The Controller and an immigration officer who is an authorised officer have the authority to appear in court and may, with the authorisation of the Public Prosecutor, conduct any prosecution in respect of any offence under this Act. [15/2010]
Bail and bond
Open ↗32A. —(1) A person who has been arrested by the Controller, an immigration officer or a police officer under section 32(1) may be released on bail or on personal bond granted by the Controller or any immigration officer. (2) Division 5 (Bails and bonds) of Part 6 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 applies to the release of a person on bail or on personal bond under this section or section 92 or 93 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 (as the case may be) with the following modifications: ( a ) any reference to “officer”, “police officer” or “police officer of or above the rank of sergeant” is to be read to include the Controller or an immigration officer; ( b ) the reference to the Commissioner of Police in section 92(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 is to be read to include the Controller. [Act 16 of 2024 wef 17/06/2024]
—(1) A person who has been arrested by the Controller, an immigration officer or a police officer under section 32(1) may be released on bail or on personal bond granted by the Controller or any immigration officer.
(2) Division 5 (Bails and bonds) of Part 6 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 applies to the release of a person on bail or on personal bond under this section or section 92 or 93 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 (as the case may be) with the following modifications: ( a ) any reference to “officer”, “police officer” or “police officer of or above the rank of sergeant” is to be read to include the Controller or an immigration officer; ( b ) the reference to the Commissioner of Police in section 92(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 is to be read to include the Controller.
Identification to be produced during enforcement
Open ↗33. —(1) When exercising any powers under this Act, every immigration officer, police officer and customs officer must — ( a ) if not in uniform, declare his or her office; and ( b ) on demand, produce to any person affected by the exercise of those powers any identification card that the Controller, the Commissioner of Police or the Director-General of Customs (respectively) may direct to be carried by immigration officers, police officers or customs officers. (2) Despite any provision in this Act, it shall not be an offence for any person to refuse to comply with any request, demand or order made or given by any immigration officer, police officer or customs officer, not in uniform who fails to declare his or her office and refuses to produce his or her identification card on demand being made by that person.
—(1) When exercising any powers under this Act, every immigration officer, police officer and customs officer must — ( a ) if not in uniform, declare his or her office; and ( b ) on demand, produce to any person affected by the exercise of those powers any identification card that the Controller, the Commissioner of Police or the Director-General of Customs (respectively) may direct to be carried by immigration officers, police officers or customs officers.
(2) Despite any provision in this Act, it shall not be an offence for any person to refuse to comply with any request, demand or order made or given by any immigration officer, police officer or customs officer, not in uniform who fails to declare his or her office and refuses to produce his or her identification card on demand being made by that person.
