General powers of authorised officers
37.—(1)  For the purpose of ascertaining whether any offence under this Act or any rules made under this Act has been or is being committed, any authorised officer may, on producing, if so requested, an identification card —
(a)enter and inspect any land or premises and examine any plant, plant product, package, soil or article on the land or premises at all reasonable times;
(b)stop, examine, board, enter or detain any conveyance used for carrying any plant, plant product or package;
(c)take, without payment, any sample of any plant, plant product or soil;
(d)seize, remove or detain any plant, plant product, package, pest or soil;
(e)break open any hold, compartment or container or other receptacle including any place that could be used as a receptacle; or
(f)by written order require any person in Singapore whom the authorised officer has reason to believe to be acquainted with any fact or circumstance relevant to that purpose to attend before the authorised officer to answer any question (to the best of that person’s knowledge, information and belief) and to furnish any document or information.
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(2)  The person mentioned in subsection (1)(f) is bound to state truly the facts and circumstances with which the person is acquainted concerning the case except only that the person may decline to make, with regard to any fact or circumstance, a statement which would have a tendency to expose the person to a criminal charge or to penalty or forfeiture.
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(3)  A statement made by any person examined under subsection (1)(f) 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.
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(4)  If any person fails to attend before an authorised officer as required by an order under subsection (1)(f), the Director‑General or authorised officer may report the failure to a Magistrate who may issue a warrant to secure the attendance of that person as required by the order.
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(5)  The owner or occupier of any land, premises or conveyance must, if requested by an authorised officer, provide reasonable assistance to the authorised officer for the purpose of the exercise of his or her powers under this section and furnish any information relating to the land or premises which is reasonably required by the authorised officer for the purposes of the discharge of his or her duties under this Act.
(6)  A police officer may arrest without warrant any person who has committed or whom he or she reasonably suspects to have committed an offence under this Act or any rules made under this Act —
(a)if the person refuses to give his or her name and address; or
(b)if there is reason to doubt the accuracy of the name and address, if given.
(7)  A person arrested under this section may be detained until his or her name and address are correctly ascertained, except that a person must not be detained longer than is necessary for bringing him or her before a court.
(8)  Any person who obstructs or hinders any authorised officer in the exercise of any of his or her powers under this Act or any rules made under this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
(9)  A person —
(a)who intentionally alters, suppresses or destroys any document or information which the person has been required by or under subsection (1) to furnish;
(b)who, in furnishing any document or information required by or under subsection (1), makes any statement which the person knows or ought reasonably to know that, or is reckless as to whether, it is false or misleading in a material particular; or
(c)who intentionally fails to comply with a lawful demand of an authorised officer in the discharge of the duties by such an officer under this Act,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
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