Debated in Parliament on 19 Jan 2015.
Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs in the light of complaints against errant retailers at Sim Lim Square, whether the Police will carry out investigations into each complaint and take appropriate prosecution action against errant retailers who have cheated tourists and consumers so that the reputation of Singapore can be protected.
The Second Minister for Home Affairs (Mr S Iswaran) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs) : Mdm Speaker, when a report or a complaint is received by the Police, they first assess the information provided and they exercise their powers of investigation under the Criminal Procedure Code only if the information suggests that a criminal offence has been committed, for example, cheating. If not, Police will advise the complainants to pursue alternative means of redress, for example, filing a civil claim or seeking a Court injunction.
If it appears that a criminal offence has been committed, the Police will investigate and assess the evidence gathered, in consultation with the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), to decide on the action to take. The AGC has the final prosecutorial discretion on whether to press charges against the offenders in Court.
The Police investigations into the recent Sim Lim Square cases are ongoing and I am unable to comment further on that matter.
Order. End of Question Time.
[Pursuant to Standing Order No 22(3), written answers to questions not reached by the end of Question Time are reproduced in the Appendix, unless Members had asked for questions standing in their names to be postponed to a later Sitting day or withdrawn.]
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