Minor Offences (Amendment) Ordinance

Bill No. 167/1962

Read the first time on 15th January 1962.

An Ordinance to amend the Minor Offences Ordinance (Chapter 117 of the Revised Edition).

Be it enacted by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Singapore, as follows: —

Short title

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Minor Offences (Amendment) Ordinance, 1962.

New section 10A

2. The Minor Offences Ordinance is hereby amended by inserting immediately after section 10 thereof the following new section: —

“Liability of dog owner

10A.—(1) Any owner of a dog which causes injury to any person shall be guilty of an offence under this Ordinance and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.

(2) In addition to any fine imposed under the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, compensation not exceeding one hundred dollars shall be payable to the person injured in respect of any such injury. Such compensation shall be assessed by the Magistrate’s Court and shall be recoverable from the owner of the dog in the manner provided by law for the recovery of fines before Magistrates’ Courts.

(3) In any prosecution relating to any dog under subsection (1) of this section, it shall not be necessary to show a previous vicious propensity in such dog or the owner’s knowledge of such previous propensity or that the injury was attributable to neglect on the part of such owner.

(4) The occupier of any house or premises where any dog was kept or permitted to live or remain at the time of causing any such injury as is referred to in subsection (1) of this section shall be deemed to be the owner of such dog and shall be liable as such unless such occupier can prove that he was not the owner of such dog at the time the injury complained of was committed and that such dog was kept or permitted to live or remain in such house or premises without his sanction or knowledge:

Provided that where there are more occupiers than one in any house or premises let in separate apartments or lodgings or otherwise, the occupier of that particular part of the premises in which such dog shall have been kept or permitted to live or remain at the time of such injury shall be deemed to be the owner of such dog.

(5) No compensation shall be payable to any person under this section in respect of injury sustained in any house or premises except upon proof that he entered such house or premises in the ordinary course of his duties or with the express or implied permission of the occupier.

(6) No criminal liability shall arise under this section in respect of any injury sustained by any person in any house or premises unless such person has entered such house or premises in the ordinary course of his duties or with the express or implied permission of the occupier.

(7) The owner shall not be liable under this section for any injury sustained by any person where such injury was attributable to any wrongful act of such person.”.

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