Section 25
Search and seizure with warrant
If it appears to a Magistrate, upon written information on oath from the Commission officer and after such inquiry as the Magistrate considers necessary, that there is reasonable cause to believe that—
(a)
any premises has been used for; or
(b)
there is in any premises evidence necessary to the conduct of an investigation into, the infringement of any prohibition or the commission of an offence under this Act, the Magistrate may issue a warrant authorizing the Commission officer named in the warrant at any reasonable time by day or night and with or without assistance, to enter the premises and if need be by force.
(2)
Without affecting the generality of subsection (1), the warrant issued by the Magistrate may authorize the search and seizure of any record, book, account, document, computerized data or other thing which contains or is reasonably suspected to contain information as to any infringement or offence suspected to have been committed.
Competition 25
(3)
A Commission officer conducting a search under subsection (1) may, for the purpose of investigating into the infringement or offence, search any person who is in or on the premises.
(4)
A Commission officer making a search of a person under subsection (3) may seize or take possession of, and place in safe custody all things other than the necessary clothing found upon the person, and any of those things which there is reason to believe were the instruments or other evidence of the infringement or offence may be detained until the discharge or acquittal of the person.
(5)
Whenever it is necessary to cause a woman to be searched, the search shall be made by another woman with strict regard to decency.
(6)
If, by reason of its nature, size or amount, it is not practicable to remove any record, book, account, document, computerized data or other thing seized under this section, the Commission officer shall by any means seal such record, book, account, document, computerized data or other thing in the premises or container in which it is found.
(7)
A person who, without lawful authority, breaks, tampers with or damages the seal referred to in subsection (6) or removes any record, book, account, document, computerized data or other thing under seal or attempts to do so commits an offence.