4.—(1) Where the Board is satisfied that any complaint or information received by it concerning any Council member discloses a prima facie case for an inquiry, the Board may —
(a)
itself inquire into the complaint or information received;
[S 298/2022 wef 05/04/2022]
(b)
if the complaint or information concerns one of the matters under regulation 3(b) to (f) — refer the complaint or information received to an Inquiry Committee to inquire into the complaint or information on behalf of the Board; or
[S 298/2022 wef 05/04/2022]
(c)
if the complaint or information concerns one of the matters under regulation 3(a) — refer the complaint or information received to the Chief Executive Officer to inquire into the complaint or information.
[S 298/2022 wef 05/04/2022]
(2) Where the Board is satisfied that any complaint or information received by it concerning any Council member does not disclose a prima facie case for an inquiry, the Board shall dismiss the complaint or disregard the information received.
(3) In order to satisfy itself that any complaint or information received concerning a Council member discloses a prima facie case for an inquiry, the Board may direct the Chief Executive Officer to conduct a preliminary investigation into the complaint or information received.
(4) For the purpose of conducting a preliminary investigation under paragraph (3), the Chief Executive Officer may require either or both the complainant and the Council member against whom the complaint is made or in respect of whom the information relates —
(a)
to produce such document for the inspection of the Chief Executive Officer; or
(b)
to furnish such information to the Chief Executive Officer in such form (including a statutory declaration) as he may require.
(5) Where any complaint or information received by the Board arises from the conviction of a Council member for a criminal offence, the Board shall accept the conviction as final and conclusive.