Other grounds for refusing to issue or renew licence, etc.
7.—(1) For the purposes of sections 5 and 6, the Registrar may refuse to issue or renew a licence on any of the following grounds:
(a)
if —
(i)
the applicant is not —
(A)
an individual who is ordinarily resident in Singapore; or
(B)
a company, firm or limited liability partnership; or
(ii)
any person who is or will be responsible for the management of the applicant’s business of moneylending is not ordinarily resident in Singapore;
(b)
if the applicant, any director or partner of the applicant, or any person who is or will be responsible for the management of the applicant’s business of moneylending is below 21 years of age;
(c)
if the Registrar is not satisfied that the applicant has any place of business in respect of which the licence is to be issued or renewed that is suitable for a business of moneylending, or the Registrar is of the view that it is not in the public interest for a business of moneylending to be conducted in such a place;
(d)
if the applicant, any director, partner or substantial shareholder of the applicant, or any person who is or will be responsible for the management of the applicant’s business of moneylending —
(i)
has been convicted of any offence involving dishonesty or moral turpitude;
(ii)
has been convicted of any offence under sections 43 to 48 of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (Cap. 65A), the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act (Cap. 325) or any regulation made under the United Nations Act (Cap. 339);
(iii)
is contravening or has contravened any provision of this Act;
(iv)
has been convicted of any offence under this Act; or
(v)
is carrying on or has carried on any business of moneylending, in Singapore or elsewhere, in such a manner as renders him unfit to hold a licence;
(e)
if the Registrar is not satisfied as to the qualification or experience of the applicant, or any person who is or will be responsible for the management of the applicant’s business of moneylending;
(f)
if the Registrar is not satisfied as to the good character of the applicant, any director, partner or substantial shareholder of the applicant, or any person who is or will be responsible for the management of the applicant’s business of moneylending;
(g)
if the Registrar is not satisfied that the applicant, any director, partner or substantial shareholder of the applicant, or any person who is or will be responsible for the management of the applicant’s business of moneylending is a fit and proper person to carry on or manage a business of moneylending.
(2) For the purposes of sections 5 and 6 and without prejudice to subsection (1), where an application is made by any person for the issue or renewal of a licence to carry on the business of moneylending as an agent for a principal, the licence shall not be issued or renewed where —
(a)
any of the grounds for the refusal of a licence under subsection (1) applies to the agent, any director, partner or substantial shareholder of the agent, or any person who is or will be responsible for the management of the agent’s business of moneylending;
(b)
the Registrar is not satisfied as to the good character of the principal, any director, partner or substantial shareholder of the principal, or any person who is or will be responsible for the management of the principal’s business of moneylending;
(c)
the Registrar is not satisfied that the principal, any director, partner or substantial shareholder of the principal, or any person who is or will be responsible for the management of the principal’s business of moneylending is a fit and proper person to carry on or manage a business of moneylending; or
(d)
the principal, or any present or former agent of the principal, has been disqualified by an order of a court from carrying on a business of moneylending or holding a licence to carry on such business.
(3) Any person who is aggrieved by the refusal of the Registrar to issue or renew a licence may, within 14 days of being so informed, appeal in writing to the Minister whose decision shall be final.