Examination of bankrupt and others
335.—(1)  Where a bankruptcy order has been made, the Court may, upon an application made by the Official Assignee at any time (whether before or after the discharge of the bankrupt), or upon an application made by a creditor (who has tendered a proof) at any time before the discharge of the bankrupt —
(a)summon the bankrupt to appear before it on an appointed day and examine the bankrupt as to the bankrupt’s affairs, dealings and property; and
(b)summon any other person to appear before the Court on the same or another appointed day and examine the person, if it appears to the Court that the person would be able to give information concerning the bankrupt or the bankrupt’s affairs, dealings or property.
(2)  Every person summoned before the Court under this section is to be examined on oath, whether orally or by interrogatories.
(3)  Without prejudice to subsection (2), the Court may at any time require any person mentioned in subsection (1)(b) to submit an affidavit to the Court containing an account of the person’s dealings with the bankrupt or to produce any documents in the person’s possession or under the person’s control relating to the bankrupt or the bankrupt’s affairs, dealings or property.
(4)  The Court may adjourn any examination under this section from time to time.
(5)  Any creditor who has tendered a proof or the representative of such creditor who has been authorised in writing, may question the bankrupt or such other person as may have been summoned by the Court under subsection (1) concerning the bankrupt’s affairs, dealings or property and the causes of the bankrupt’s failure.
(6)  The Official Assignee must take part in the examination of the bankrupt under this section and may, for the purpose of taking part in the examination, employ a solicitor.
(7)  Where a special manager of the bankrupt’s estate or business (other than the bankrupt himself or herself) is appointed by the Official Assignee under section 379, the special manager may take part in the examination of the bankrupt or any other person summoned under this section and may, for the purpose of taking part in the examination, employ a solicitor.
(8)  No solicitor is allowed to take part in the examination under this section on behalf of the bankrupt.
(9)  The Court may put such questions as it thinks expedient to the bankrupt or to such other person summoned by it.
(10)  It is the duty of the bankrupt and any other person summoned by the Court under this section to answer all such questions as the Court puts or allows to be put to the bankrupt or other person.
(11)  The Court must cause to be made such record of the examination as the Court thinks proper and any record so made may, after the record is made, be used in evidence against the person in the course of whose examination the record was made.
(12)  Any record made under subsection (11) must, at all reasonable times and upon payment of the prescribed fee, be made available to any creditor for review at the premises of the Court.
(13)  Where the Court is of the opinion that the affairs of the bankrupt have been sufficiently investigated, the Court may, by order, conclude the examination.
(14)  The order under subsection (13) does not preclude the Court from directing a further examination of the bankrupt or any other person as to the bankrupt’s affairs, dealings and property whenever the Court sees fit to do so, whether before or after the bankrupt has been discharged from bankruptcy.
(15)  Where a bankrupt or any other person summoned by the Court under this section without reasonable excuse fails at any time to attend before the Court, or where there are reasonable grounds for believing that the bankrupt or such other person has absconded, or is about to abscond, with a view to avoiding his or her appearance before the Court under this section, the Court may cause a warrant to be issued for the arrest of the bankrupt or that other person and for the seizure of any books, papers, records, money or goods in the possession of the bankrupt or that other person.
(16)  The Court may authorise —
(a)any person arrested under subsection (15) to be kept in custody; and
(b)anything seized from such person to be held,
until that person is brought before the Court or until such other time as the Court may order.
(17)  The Court may, if it thinks fit, order that any person, who if within Singapore would be liable to be summoned to appear before it and examined under this section, is to be examined in Singapore or elsewhere.