Section 34B
Power of search and seizure
An authorized officer shall have the power to investigate the commission of any offence under this Act or any rules made under this Act.
(2)
An authorized officer may, for the purpose of carrying out the objectives of this section, at any reasonable time enter, inspect and examine any place of work.
(3)
In exercising his powers under subsection (2), an authorized officer may—
(a)
examine any book, account, record or other document as may be necessary to ascertain whether or not this Act or any rules made under this Act has been complied with;
(b)
direct that the place of work or any part of it, or anything in it, shall be left undisturbed, whether generally or in particular respect, for so long as is
Architects Act 77
reasonably necessary for the purpose of any examination or investigation under this section;
(c)
search and seize any signboard, card, letter, pamphlet, leaflet, notice or any device representing or implying that the person is an Architect, Graduate Architect, foreign architect, Building Draughtsman, Interior
Designer, Graduate Interior Designer, Inspector of
Works, Architectural Technologist, or that the sole proprietorship, partnership or body corporate is an architectural consultancy practice or interior design consultancy practice; or
(d)
seize or take copies of or extracts from any book, account, record or other document found in the place of work which he has power to enter or in the vicinity of that place of work, and that is reasonably believed to furnish evidence of the commission of an offence under this Act or any rules made under this Act.
(4)
Where by reason of its nature, size or amount, it is not practicable to remove any signboard, card, letter, pamphlet, leaflet, notice, book, account, record or other device or document seized under this section, the authorized officer may, by any means, seal such signboard, card, letter, pamphlet, leaflet, notice, book, account, record or other device or document in the place of work in which it is found.
(5)
A person shall not, except with lawful authority—
(a)
break, tamper with or damage, or attempt to break, tamper with or damage the seal referred to in subsection
(4)
; or
(b)
remove or attempt to remove any signboard, card, letter, pamphlet, leaflet, notice, book, account, record or other device or document under seal.
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