Review of complaints
29.—(1)  Subject to subsection (3), the Board must, upon receiving any complaint under section 28, refer the complaint to the Registrar for review.
[28/2005]
(2)  The Board may also, on its own motion, refer any information concerning any improper or dishonourable act or conduct of a registered architect to the Registrar for review.
[28/2005]
(3)  The Board need not refer any complaint or information to the Registrar for review where the complaint or information relates to any matter set out in section 17B(2), and in such a case, the Board may take any action that it thinks fit under that section.
[28/2005]
[S 759/2022]
(4)  The Registrar —
(a)must review the complaint or information referred to him or her for the purpose of determining if there are sufficient merits therein to warrant the institution of disciplinary proceedings under this Part against the registered architect concerned; and
(b)may, for the purpose of conducting the review, enlist the assistance of any registered architect, allied professional or layperson on the Investigation Panel.
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(5)  In conducting a review under this section, the Registrar may require the complainant (if any) or the registered architect concerned to answer any question or to provide any document or information that the Registrar considers relevant for the purpose of the review.
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(6)  On the completion of a review under this section, the Registrar must —
(a)dismiss the complaint or information, if the Registrar finds that the complaint is frivolous, vexatious, misconceived or without merits, or that the information is unsubstantiated;
(b)in a case where the complaint or information relates to the conviction (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) of the registered architect of an offence that —
(i)involves fraud or dishonesty; or
(ii)implies a defect in character which makes the registered architect unfit for his or her profession,
recommend to the Board to refer the matter to a Disciplinary Committee for a formal inquiry; and
(c)in any other case, recommend to the Board to refer the matter to an Investigation Committee for an inquiry.
[28/2005]
(7)  The Board may, upon accepting the recommendation of the Registrar under subsection (6)(b) or (c), appoint an Investigation Committee or a Disciplinary Committee (as appropriate) and refer the matter thereto for an inquiry or a formal inquiry, as the case may be.
[28/2005]