- (b) has been transferred to the custody or control of any person for valuable consideration either within or outside Singapore; or
- (c) is being detained against his will by some person other than his parents or lawful guardian,
he may either—
- (i) require any person in whose custody or under whose control the child appears to be to furnish him with copies of the child’s and the person’s photographs, and to furnish security to his satisfaction that the child will not leave Singapore without the previous consent in writing of the protector, and that the child will be produced before the protector whenever he requires it; or
- (ii) in the first instance, or if default be made in complying with any order made under sub‑paragraph (i), order that the child be taken out of the custody of the person in whose care, custody or control the child is and commit the child to a place of safety or, on such security and on such conditions as the protector may require, to the custody of a relative or other fit person until the child attains the age of 18 years or for any shorter period.
Inspection
17.—(1) A protector or any officer generally or specially authorised in that behalf in writing by a protector may at any time visit and inspect the place where any child in respect of whom security has been furnished under section 16 lives or is believed to live or to be.
(2) The protector or any such officer may inquire into the condition and circumstances of the child and for the purposes of the inquiry, the protector or such officer may require any person to answer any question he may think proper to ask and that person shall be legally bound to answer such questions truthfully to the best of his ability.
(3) Any person who obstructs or hinders or attempts to obstruct or hinder a protector or any such officer in the exercise of the powers conferred by this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be
