Section 19

The Commissioner may summon any person who he has reason to believe can give any information

The person so summoned shall attend at the hour and place specified in the summons and shall produce all documents in his custody, possession or power relating to such woman or girl or premises or part thereof, as the case may be, and shall answer truthfully all questions which the

Commissioner may put to him respecting any such woman or girl or such premises or part thereof or in any way relat-ing to the n1atter being inquired into, and where the inquiry relates to any woman or girl, such person shall also if so 15

Removal of woman or girl to another place of safety

Commission-er may cause persons to be photo-graphed and finger printed

Powers to summon and examine per-sons in cer-tain circumst-ances

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Women and Girls Protection required by the Commissioner, produce such woman or girl in the absence of reasonable excuse, proof whereof shall lie on such person.

The Commissioner shall at any inquiry held by him make complete notes of the evidence taken by him upon such inquiry and of his decision thereon and shall furnish to the High Court a copy of such notes when called upon to do so by order of a judge of such Court, suppressing in such copy the name of any person from whom informa-tion has been derived if he thinks it expedient to do so.

( 4) The Commissioner shall be deemed to be a pub-cap.

lie servant within the meaning of the Penal Code and may administer affirmations or oaths to and examine on affirma-tion or oath any person summoned before him for the pur-poses of this Act.

( 5) Any person summoned who fails to attend at the hour and place specified in the summons or to do any of the other acts referred to in subsection (2) shall be liable to a fine of $1,200.

( 6) The Commissioner shall not be compellable in any judicial proceeding to answer any question as to the grounds of his decision in any case dealt with by him under this Act or as to anything which came to his knowledge in any inquiry made by him as Commissioner.

The Commissioner may during or after such in-quiry as is referred to in subsection (1) arrest or cause to be arrested any person reasonably suspected of being liable to prosecution for any offence under this Act con1mitted in respect of such woman or girl or such premises or part there-of and may seize and detain any articles or any books, docu-ments or accounts which he may have reason to believe relate to such offence.

Women and Girls Protection

CAP. 120 20.

The Commissioner or a Police Officer not below the rank of Inspector generally or specially authorised for that purpose in writing by the Commissioner or any other officer so authorised may enter, and for that purpose use force if necessary, and search any place where the Commis-sioner or any officer so authorised has reasonable cause to believe that there is any woman or girl who is or may be liable to be dealt with under section 11, 14 or 15 or in which he has reasonable cause to believe that an offence under this

Act has been or is being committed, and any person in any such place and may remove any such woman or girl to a place of safety to be there detained until her case is inquired into:

Provided that no female shall be searched except by a female and with due regard to decency.

{2) The Commissioner or such officer as aforesaid may enter, and for that purpose use force if necessary and search any place for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is therein any woman or girl who is or may be liable to be dealt with under section 11, 14 or 15 or whether any offence under this Act is being committed, and may remove any such woman or girl to a place of safety to be there detained until her case is inquired into.

The Commissioner or such officer as aforesaid may during or after any such search as is referred to in subsections (1) and (2) arrest or cause to be arrested any person reasonably believe of being liable to prosecution for an offence under this Act committed in respect of such woman or girl and may seize and detain any articles or any books, documents or accounts which he may have reason to believe relate to such offence.

{4) Any person who refuses the Commissioner or such officer as aforesaid access to any such place, or other-wise obstructs or hinders him in effecting an entrance or in

Power of search

Power of arrest and seizure 17

B.L.R.O. 1/1984

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Provision as to service of processes etc ..

Arrest with-out warrant

Presumption arising out of warrants

Security bond

Women and Girls Protection removing any such woman or girl shall be liable to a fine of

$2,000 and to imprisonment for 6 months.

Any person who obstructs or hinders the Com-missioner or such officer as aforesaid in seizing or detaining such articles, books, documents or accounts shall be liable to a fine of $1,000 and to imprisonment for 3 months.