§ 46 — Powers of investigation

46.—(1) For the purpose of investigating any offence or suspected offence under this Act, an authorised registration officer may do all or any of the following:(a)

require, by written notice, any person, whom the authorised registration officer reasonably believes has any information, in the person’s custody or control, that is relevant to the investigation, to provide that information, within the time and in the manner specified in the notice;

(b)

where the information provided by the person mentioned in paragraph (a) is in the form of a document — retain the document or make, or cause to be made, without payment, any copy of or extract from the document;

(c)

require, by written notice, the attendance before the authorised registration officer of any person in Singapore who appears to be acquainted with the facts or circumstances of the matter;

(d)

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 proceedings in connection with the matter.

(2) A person examined under subsection (1)(d) is bound to state truly the facts and circumstances with which the person is acquainted concerning 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 a person examined under subsection (1)(d) 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 attend as required by a written notice under subsection (1)(c), the authorised registration officer may report the failure to a Magistrate who may then issue a warrant ordering the person to comply with the notice.

(5) A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any written notice under subsection (1)(a) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.

—(1) For the purpose of investigating any offence or suspected offence under this Act, an authorised registration officer may do all or any of the following:(a)

require, by written notice, any person, whom the authorised registration officer reasonably believes has any information, in the person’s custody or control, that is relevant to the investigation, to provide that information, within the time and in the manner specified in the notice;

(b)

where the information provided by the person mentioned in paragraph (a) is in the form of a document — retain the document or make, or cause to be made, without payment, any copy of or extract from the document;

(c)

require, by written notice, the attendance before the authorised registration officer of any person in Singapore who appears to be acquainted with the facts or circumstances of the matter;

(d)

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 proceedings in connection with the matter.

(2) A person examined under subsection (1)(d) is bound to state truly the facts and circumstances with which the person is acquainted concerning 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 a person examined under subsection (1)(d) 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 attend as required by a written notice under subsection (1)(c), the authorised registration officer may report the failure to a Magistrate who may then issue a warrant ordering the person to comply with the notice.

(5) A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any written notice under subsection (1)(a) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.