Statute Details
- Title: Fees (Central Narcotics Bureau) (Copies of Statements, Reports, Information, Documents and Records) Order
- Act Code: FeA1920-OR29
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Fees Act (Chapter 106, Section 2)
- Revised Edition: Revised Edition 1996 (15 May 1996)
- Commencement: Not stated in the provided extract (but the Order is shown as revised with earlier dates in the legislative history)
- Key Provisions (from extract): Section 1 (Citation); Section 2 (Fees for documents, etc.)
- Legislative History (as shown): G.N. Nos. S 241/90; S 239/91; S 484/94; S 520/95
What Is This Legislation About?
The Fees (Central Narcotics Bureau) (Copies of Statements, Reports, Information, Documents and Records) Order (“the Order”) is a piece of Singapore subsidiary legislation that sets out the fees payable to obtain certain categories of materials held by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB). In practical terms, it governs how much a person must pay when requesting copies of statements and other records, or when requesting that CNB conduct a search for such materials.
The Order sits under the Fees Act, which empowers the Government to prescribe fees for services and administrative actions. Here, the “service” is the provision of copies and the performance of searches relating to CNB-held records. The Order is therefore administrative in character: it does not create substantive rights to disclosure by itself, but it operationalises the cost of accessing specified categories of CNB records.
For lawyers, the key point is that the Order provides a clear, fixed fee schedule for particular request types. This matters for budgeting, advising clients, and ensuring that requests are properly framed and costed. It also helps avoid disputes about whether a fee is payable and, if so, how much.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) is straightforward. It states that the instrument may be cited as the “Fees (Central Narcotics Bureau) (Copies of Statements, Reports, Information, Documents and Records) Order”. Citation provisions are important for legal referencing, but they do not affect substantive rights or obligations.
Section 2 (Fees for documents, etc.) is the operative provision. It provides that there shall be leviable (i.e., payable) at the office of the CNB the following fees:
(a) Copy of every statement recorded from any person under section 122 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68) — $16. The Order specifies that a fee applies for “a copy of every statement recorded from any person” under section 122 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Section 122 (as referenced in the extract) is linked to the recording of statements from persons in the criminal process. In practical terms, if a person (or their representative) seeks a copy of such a recorded statement held by CNB, the fee is fixed at $16 per copy.
(b) Search for a statement, report, information, document or record in the possession of the Bureau — $14. The Order also imposes a fee for searching CNB’s possession for specified categories of material. The fee is $14 for “every search” for a statement, report, information, document or record. This is significant because it distinguishes between (i) paying for a copy and (ii) paying for the act of searching. A request that requires CNB to locate whether particular materials exist (or to identify them) may trigger the search fee even before any copying occurs.
(c) Copy of every document or record in the possession of the Bureau — $16. Finally, the Order provides a fee for copying: $16 for “a copy of every document or record in the possession of the Bureau.” This is broader than the statement-specific fee in paragraph (a). It covers “every document or record” held by CNB, subject to the categories implied by the request context (and the general structure of the Order).
The Order’s fee schedule is therefore modular: it contemplates both search and copying, with the same copying fee ($16) applying to both (a) statements recorded under section 122 CPC and (c) other documents/records. The search fee ($14) is separate and applies per search.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the most important interpretive questions typically concern what triggers each fee and how many fees apply. The text indicates that the search fee is charged “for every search” and the copying fees are charged “for a copy of every” relevant item. Accordingly, if a request is structured to require multiple searches (for example, across different categories or time periods, or for different items), CNB may charge multiple search fees. Similarly, if multiple documents or records are located and copied, the copying fee may apply per item copied.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is compact and consists of:
1. A citation section identifying the name of the instrument.
2. A single substantive section setting out the fee schedule for CNB-held materials. Section 2 is organised into three fee categories (a) through (c), covering (i) copies of statements recorded under section 122 CPC, (ii) searches for specified materials, and (iii) copies of documents/records in CNB’s possession.
Because the Order is short, it does not contain detailed procedural rules (such as application forms, timelines, or dispute mechanisms) within the extract provided. Those operational details—if any—may be found in administrative practice, other subsidiary instruments, or general disclosure/record-access frameworks. Nonetheless, the fee amounts and the basic charging logic are clearly stated in Section 2.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to persons who request access to, or copies of, certain categories of materials held by the Central Narcotics Bureau. It is directed at the charging authority (CNB’s office) and the paying party who seeks copies or searches of CNB-held records.
In terms of subject matter, the Order expressly references statements recorded under section 122 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68), and it also covers searches and copies of “statement, report, information, document or record” in CNB’s possession. Therefore, it is relevant in criminal proceedings and related administrative access contexts where CNB records are sought.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is limited to fees, it is practically important because it affects the cost and logistics of obtaining copies of CNB-held materials. For defence counsel, investigators, and litigators, access to statements and related records can be central to reviewing case theory, assessing evidential consistency, and preparing submissions. Knowing the fee schedule helps counsel manage client expectations and ensure that requests are made efficiently.
Second, the Order clarifies that CNB may charge not only for copies but also for searching for records. This matters in real-world practice: a request that is broad or unfocused may require CNB to conduct multiple searches, potentially increasing total costs. Lawyers may therefore wish to frame requests with sufficient specificity to minimise unnecessary searching while still capturing the relevant categories of material.
Third, the fixed amounts ($16 for copies; $14 for searches) support predictability. Unlike discretionary fee structures, a statutory fee schedule reduces uncertainty and can help resolve disputes about whether a charge is lawful and properly calculated. In a practitioner’s workflow, this can be used to verify invoices or to challenge overcharging where the fee basis does not align with the “per search” and “per copy of every” language in Section 2.
Finally, the Order’s reliance on the Criminal Procedure Code reference (section 122) underscores that the fee regime is tied to specific procedural recording mechanisms. This linkage can be relevant when advising clients about what kinds of statements are covered and what documentation they can reasonably expect to obtain for the stated fee.
Related Legislation
- Fees Act (Cap. 106), in particular Section 2 (authorising power for prescribing fees)
- Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68), in particular Section 122 (referenced for statements recorded from persons)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Fees (Central Narcotics Bureau) (Copies of Statements, Reports, Information, Documents and Records) Order for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.