s 17 Grounds for refusing to issue certificate
17.—(1) An authority must refuse to issue a certificate for a document under section 16 if any of the following grounds apply:(a) the document is not a Singapore public document; (b) there are reasonable grounds for the authority to believe that the document is forged or falsified; (c) the authority is not competent to issue the certificate; (d) the person requesting for the certificate fails to provide any prescribed information or any other information required by the authority; (e) the prescribed fee is not paid; (f) any prescribed ground. (2) A competent authority may refuse to issue a certificate for a public document if any of the following grounds apply:(a) the authority is unable to verify the authenticity of the signature, seal or stamp on the document; (b) any prescribed ground.