Section 424 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Singapore)

Section 424 of the Criminal Procedure Code which falls under PART XXII: MISCELLANEOUS states: Duty to give information of certain matters

424. Every person aware of the commission of or the intention of any other person to commit any arrestable offence punishable under Chapters VI, VII, VIII, XII and XVI of the Penal Code (Cap. 224) or under any of the following sections of the Penal Code:

Sections 161, 162, 163, 164, 170, 171, 211, 212, 216, 216A, 226, 270, 281, 285, 286, 382, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 402, 430A, 435, 436, 437, 438, 440, 449, 450, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 459, 460, 489A, 489B, 489C, 489D and 506,

shall, in the absence of reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which shall lie upon the person so aware, immediately give information to the officer in charge of the nearest police station or to a police officer of the commission or intention.

=Relevance to Section 377A of the Penal Code=

Section 377A of the Penal Code falls under Chapter 224: Chapter XVI: Offences affecting the human body: Sexual offences as highlighted in bold above.

This means that under Section 424 of the Criminal Procedure Code, everyone who is aware of the commission or intention of a male person to commit "any act of gross indecency" with another male as specified under Section 377A of the Penal Code is obliged to report the person to a police officer at the nearest police station.

The penalty for failing to do so is punishable up to one month's imprisonment or a fine of up to $1,500 as specified under Section 176 of the Penal Code ('Omission to give notice or information to a public servant by a person legally bound to give such notice or information) which states: 176. Whoever, being legally bound to give any notice or to furnish information on any subject to any public servant, as such, intentionally omits to give such notice or to furnish such information in the manner and at the time required by law, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to $1,500, or with both; or, if the notice or information required to be given respects the commission of an offence, or is required for the purpose of preventing the commission of an offence or in order to the apprehension of an offender, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 months, or with fine which may extend to $3,000, or with both.

=See also=
 * Section 377A of the Penal Code
 * Section 176 of the Penal Code
 * Section 119 of the Penal Code

=References=
 * Penal Code, Statutes Online:
 * [[Criminal Procedure Code, Statutes Online:

=Acknowledgements=

This article was written by Roy Tan.