s 29A Powers of investigation
29A.—(1) The Registrar or an Assistant Registrar may do all or any of the following:(a) where the Registrar or Assistant Registrar reasonably believes a person to have committed an offence under this Act or any regulations or contravened any provision of this Act or any regulations — require that person to provide evidence of that person’s identity; (b) require any person whom the Registrar or Assistant Registrar reasonably believes has —(i) any information; or (ii) any document or article in the person’s possession, custody or control, that the Registrar or Assistant Registrar reasonably requires for any of the purposes of section 29, to provide, within a reasonable period specified by the Registrar or Assistant Registrar, that information or produce that document or article, and to provide an explanation of the information, document or article; (c) issue a written notice requiring any person within the limits of Singapore, who appears to be acquainted with the facts or circumstances of a matter that is relevant to any of the purposes of section 29, to attend before the Registrar or Assistant Registrar; (d) examine orally any person who appears to be acquainted with the facts or circumstances of a matter that is relevant to any of the purposes of section 29 —(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. (2) In addition, if the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar is satisfied, after due inquiry, that a person examined under subsection (1)(d) is a member of an unlawful society or has refused to give information or has given false information as to the existence or operations of an unlawful society or suspected unlawful society, the Registrar or Assistant Registrar may, if he considers it advisable to identify that person, order that a photograph and finger impressions of that person be taken at such time and in such place and manner as the Registrar or Assistant Registrar thinks fit. (3) The power to require a person to provide any information or produce any document or article under subsection (1)(b) includes the power —(a) if the information, document or article is not provided or produced, to require the person to state, to the best of the person’s knowledge and belief, where it is; and (b) if the information is recorded otherwise than in legible form, to require the information to be made available to the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar in legible form. (4) 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. (5) 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. (6) If any person fails to comply with a written notice issued to the person under subsection (1)(c), the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar may report the failure to a Magistrate who may then, in the Magistrate’s discretion, issue a warrant ordering that person to comply with the written notice. (7) The Registrar or an Assistant Registrar may make copies of any document or article produced under subsection (1)(b) for further investigation. (8) The Registrar or an Assistant Registrar may take possession of any document or article produced under subsection (1)(b) for further investigation.[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]