§ 24 — Further powers of investigation

24.—(1) The Registrar may, for the purposes of investigating an offence under this Act, in addition to exercising the powers in section 23, do all or any of the following:(a)

issue a written notice requiring any person within the limits of Singapore, who appears to be acquainted with the facts or circumstances of the matter, to attend before the Registrar;

(b)

examine orally any person who appears to be acquainted with the facts or circumstances of the matter —(i)

whether before or after that person or anyone else is charged with an offence in connection with the matter; and

(ii)

whether or not that person is to be called as a witness in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding in connection with the matter;

(c)

without a warrant enter and search any place or premises in which the Registrar reasonably suspects that an offence under this Act has been or is being committed;

(d)

if free entry or access to the place or premises cannot be obtained under paragraph (c), the Registrar may, with any assistance that the Registrar considers necessary, break open any door, window, lock or fastener, or use any other reasonable means in order to gain entry or access into the place or premises.

(2) Any person examined under this section is bound to state truly what the person knows of the facts and circumstances of the matter, except that the person need not say anything that might expose the person to a criminal charge, penalty or forfeiture.

(3) A statement made by any person examined under this section must —(a)

be reduced to writing;

(b)

be read over to the person;

(c)

if the person does not understand English, be interpreted in a language that the person understands; and

(d)

after correction (if necessary), be signed by the person.

(4) If any person fails to comply with a written notice issued to the person under subsection (1)(a), the Registrar may report the failure to a Magistrate who may then issue a warrant ordering that person to comply with the written notice.

—(1) The Registrar may, for the purposes of investigating an offence under this Act, in addition to exercising the powers in section 23, do all or any of the following:(a)

issue a written notice requiring any person within the limits of Singapore, who appears to be acquainted with the facts or circumstances of the matter, to attend before the Registrar;

(b)

examine orally any person who appears to be acquainted with the facts or circumstances of the matter —(i)

whether before or after that person or anyone else is charged with an offence in connection with the matter; and

(ii)

whether or not that person is to be called as a witness in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding in connection with the matter;

(c)

without a warrant enter and search any place or premises in which the Registrar reasonably suspects that an offence under this Act has been or is being committed;

(d)

if free entry or access to the place or premises cannot be obtained under paragraph (c), the Registrar may, with any assistance that the Registrar considers necessary, break open any door, window, lock or fastener, or use any other reasonable means in order to gain entry or access into the place or premises.

(2) Any person examined under this section is bound to state truly what the person knows of the facts and circumstances of the matter, except that the person need not say anything that might expose the person to a criminal charge, penalty or forfeiture.

(3) A statement made by any person examined under this section must —(a)

be reduced to writing;

(b)

be read over to the person;

(c)

if the person does not understand English, be interpreted in a language that the person understands; and

(d)

after correction (if necessary), be signed by the person.

(4) If any person fails to comply with a written notice issued to the person under subsection (1)(a), the Registrar may report the failure to a Magistrate who may then issue a warrant ordering that person to comply with the written notice.