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Chapter:

148 PDFTitle:GAMBLING ORDINANCEGazette Number:12 of 2002
Section:23AHeading:Search of premises or place for promoting or facilitating bookmaking, etc.Version Date:31/05/2002

(1) A police officer of or above the rank of superintendent may, if he reasonably suspects that-

        (a) an offence under section 16A is being or has been committed in relation to; or
        (b) an offence under section 16B is being or has been committed in,
any premises or place, authorize in writing any police officer to enter and search the premises or place.
(2) A police officer to whom an authorization is issued under subsection (1), and any other police officer acting under his direction, may-
        (a) enter, by force if necessary, the premises or place specified in the authorization and search the same;
        (b) arrest any person who is found in such premises or place or who escapes from such premises or place;
        (c) search any person who is found in such premises or place or who escapes from such premises or place;
        (d) seize and detain any thing found in such premises or place or found on any person in such premises or place or found on any person who escapes from such premises or place, which is being or has been used in connexion with an act prohibited by section 16A or 16B;
        (e) seize and detain any money-
          (i) being-
            (A) money paid pursuant to a bet with a bookmaker;
            (B) winnings on such a bet; or
            (C) a deposit paid wholly or partly for the purpose of such a bet;
          (ii) found on any person operating, managing or otherwise controlling such premises or place or on any person assisting in the operation, management or other control of such premises or place; or
          (iii) found on any person found in such premises or place where entry under paragraph (a) is prevented, obstructed or delayed.
(3) No person shall be searched under this section except by a person of the same sex.
(4) Any person who obstructs any police officer authorized under subsection (1) or any other police officer acting under his direction from entering the premises or place specified in the authorization commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $50000 and to imprisonment for 2 years.
(5) Where a person delays the entry of any police officer referred to in subsection (4) into any premises or place so referred to, he shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have delayed entry for the purpose of obstructing such police officer from entering such premises or place.
(Added 12 of 2002 s. 14)