19.—(1) The General Division of the High Court may make a restraint order to prohibit any person from dealing with any realisable property, subject to such conditions and exceptions as may be specified in the order.
[40/2019]
(2) A restraint order may apply —
(a)
to all realisable property held by a specified person, whether the property is described in the order or not; and
(b)
to all realisable property held by a specified person, being property transferred to the specified person after the making of the order.
(3) This section does not have effect in relation to any property for the time being subject to a charge under section 20.
(4) A restraint order —
(a)
may be made only on an application by the Public Prosecutor;
(b)
may be made on an ex parte application to a Judge in chambers; and
(c)
must provide for notice to be given to persons affected by the order.
(5) A restraint order —
(a)
may be discharged or varied in relation to any property; and
(b)
is discharged when proceedings for the drug dealing offence or serious offence (as the case may be) are concluded.
[21/2014]
(6) Where the General Division of the High Court has made a restraint order, the General Division of the High Court may at any time appoint the Public Trustee or any person as receiver —
(a)
to take possession of any realisable property; and
(b)
in accordance with the directions of the General Division of the High Court, to manage or otherwise deal with any property in respect of which the Public Trustee or that person is appointed,
subject to such conditions and exceptions as may be specified by the General Division of the High Court; and may require any person having possession of property in respect of which the receiver is appointed under this section to give possession of it to the Public Trustee or such receiver.
[40/2019]
(7) For the purposes of this section, dealing with property held by any person includes (without limiting the expression) —
(a)
where a debt is owed to that person, making a payment to any person in reduction of the amount of the debt; and
(b)
removing the property from Singapore.
(8) Where the General Division of the High Court has made a restraint order, an authorised officer may, for the purpose of preventing any realisable property being removed from Singapore, seize the property.
[40/2019]
(9) Property seized under subsection (8) must be dealt with in accordance with the directions of the General Division of the High Court.