he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Jurisdiction of court
54. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68), a District Court shall have jurisdiction to try any offence under this Act and shall have power to impose the full penalty or punishment in respect of the offence.
When Magistrate may take cognizance of offence
55. For the purpose of section 133 of the Criminal Procedure Code and notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) thereof, a Magistrate may take cognizance of an offence under this Act upon receiving a complaint in writing and signed by an inspector.
Composition of offences
56.—(1) The Commissioner may, in his discretion, compound any offence under this Act which is prescribed as a compoundable offence by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence a sum not exceeding one half of the amount of the maximum fine that is prescribed for the offence or a sum of $5,000, whichever is the lower.
(2) On payment of such sum of money, no further proceedings shall be taken against that person in respect of the offence.
(3) All sums collected under this section shall be paid to the Consolidated Fund.
Power to modify agreements
57.—(1) If, by reason of an agreement between the owner and the occupier of the workplace, the whole or any part of which has been let as a workplace, the owner or the occupier of the workplace is prevented from carrying out any structural or other alterations in the premises which are necessary to enable him to comply with the provisions of this Act or in order to conform with any standard or requirement imposed by or under this Act, the owner or the occupier of the workplace may apply to the High Court for the terms of the agreement to be set aside or modified.
