Page:Hostage-Taking Act 2010.pdf/6

6 Power to freeze bank account

6.—(1) The Public Prosecutor may, where he is satisfied that it is likely that the money for the payment of ransom for the release of any person may be paid out of any account with any bank, by order direct any bank not to pay any money out of, nor to pay cheques drawn on, such account for a specified period not exceeding one month.

(2) A bank which complies with an order under subsection (1) shall be relieved of any liability to any other person in respect of the payment prohibited by that order.

(3) A bank which fails to comply with an order under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000.

Power to order inspection of customer information

7.—(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other written law, the Public Prosecutor may, if he considers that any evidence of the commission by a person of—
 * (a) a hostage-taking offence; or
 * (b) an act which is an offence by virtue of section 4,

is likely to be found in any document containing customer information relating to that person, to the spouse, son or daughter of that person or to a person reasonably believed by the Public Prosecutor to be a trustee or agent for that person, by order authorise any police officer of or above the rank of assistant superintendent named in the order to inspect any document of a bank specified in the order.

(2) The police officer so authorised may, at all reasonable times, enter the premises of the bank specified in the order and inspect the documents kept therein and may take copies of any relevant entry in any such document.

(3) Any person who without reasonable excuse fails to produce any document demanded by the police officer which is in his possession or control shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.