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16 Commissioners’ powers to punish contempt

8.—(1) Where an act of contempt referred to in paragraph 7(1) is committed in the presence of the commissioners sitting in commission, the commissioners may after hearing the offender in his defence pass sentence upon him immediately in accordance with paragraph 7(2).

(2) In any other case the commissioners may summon the offender to appear before them at a time and place to be specified in the summons, to show cause why he should not be adjudged to have committed an act of contempt and dealt with in accordance with paragraph 7(2).

(3) If any person who has been summoned in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) fails to attend at the time and place specified in the summons, the commissioners may issue a warrant to compel the attendance of that person.

Public Prosecutor to aid inquiry body

9.—(1) An inquiry body may require the Public Prosecutor to cause any matter relevant to the inquiry to be investigated.

(2) Any person appointed by the Public Prosecutor to investigate any such matter shall for the purposes of such investigations—
 * (a) have all the powers in relation to police investigations given to police officers in any seizable case under the provisions of Chapter XIII of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68); and
 * (b) when authorised in writing by the Public Prosecutor, have the power to search any premises and take possession of any articles or documents as specified in the authorisation.

Representation before inquiry body

10.—(1) Any person whose conduct is the subject of inquiry under this Act, or who is in any way implicated or concerned in the matter under inquiry, shall be entitled to be represented by an advocate at the whole of the inquiry.

(2) Any other person who considers it desirable that he should be represented by an advocate may, by leave of the inquiry body, be represented by an advocate.

Role of Attorney-General

11.—(1) If the Attorney-General has been appointed to lead evidence in an inquiry under the terms of reference, the Attorney-General or, at the direction of the Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General or State Counsel shall lead evidence in the inquiry.

(2) Notwithstanding sub-paragraph (1), the Attorney-General or, at the direction of the Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General or State Counsel shall be entitled at any time to appear before and address the inquiry body on any matter which appears to the Attorney-General to be relevant to the inquiry.