3
Group
was assured by the Administration that it did not
anticipate any serious problems in this regard. However, the
Administration conceded that forewarned is forearmed.
Sir, may I now refer briefly to the power to detain a suspect's travel documents. Under the existing law, the
six maximum period for which travel documents may be detained is
three months with a possible extension for a further months on
l.c.
lc.
three
application to a magistrate. At the security panel meeting in
1986, the Administration proposed that a further additional months extension should be allowed where a magistrate is satisfied that an investigation could not reasonably have been
nine completed within the existing time limits of a months,
particularly in the case of complex and extensive
corruption-related commercial frauds. The panel at the time
was not in favour of the proposed additional extension in view
of the fact that the detention of travel documents could cause
great inconvenience and hardship to persons such as businessmen who had to travel frequently. I am pleased to note, Sir, that the advice of the panel was heeded and the existing law now remains unchanged. In short, travel documents may only be
detained for a total period of months.
nine
Another area where the group focussed its attention relates to the new provision whereby income from property may be frozen. Vamendment (IAA) to Section 14A) In applying this new provision, it is possible that the suspected person may be left without means to support himself or his family or to pay
for legal advice or representation. Members' concern was
somewhat allayed by the Administration's assurance that the
Commissioner is always prepared to consider sympathetically an application for 'necessary expenses'. Furthermore, the
la
loc.
l.c.
l.c.
suspected person may appeal against the Commissioner's decision. l.c.