Page:Immorality Act 1957.djvu/3

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8. (1) If it appears to any magistrate on sworn information laid before him by not less than two householders of good repute that any house or place in the vicinity of the dwellings of such householders is being kept or used as a brothel or on similar information upon oath laid before him by any police officer not below the rank of sergeant, or by a welfare officer employed by the Department of Social Welfare, a local authority or a welfare organization registered under the Welfare Organizations Act, 1947 (Act No. 40 of 1947), the magistrate may—

issue a warrant for the arrest of the person alleged to be the keeper of such brothel; or issue a warrant authorizing any police officer not below the rank of sergeant—

to enter at any time and within such period as shall be stated in such warrant, such house or place for the purpose of ascertaining the name and identity of the keeper of such house or place; to interrogate, and to demand the name and address of any person found in or upon such house or place; and to demand, search for, and seize any account book, receipt, paper, document or thing likely to afford evidence of the commission by any person of an offence under this Act.

(2) Any person found in or upon such house or place who, when called upon to do so by the police officer conducting the search, refuses to furnish his name and address or furnishes a name or address which is false in any material particular or refuses to disclose the name or identity of the keeper of such house or place or to produce any book, receipt, paper, document or thing which he has in his possession or custody or under his control, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds and in default of payment to imprisonment with compulsory labour for a period not exceeding six months.

(3) The issue of a warrant under paragraph (b) of sub-section (1) shall not in any way affect the power of the magistrate to issue at any time a warrant under paragraph (a) of sub-section (1) or under any other law.

9. (1) Any person who being a parent or guardian of any female—

procures or attempts to procure such female to have unlawful carnal intercourse with any person other than the procurer; or orders, permits, or in any way assists in bringing about, or receives any consideration for, the defilement, seduction, or prostitution of such female,

shall be guilty of an offence.