- (a) arrange for the property to be disposed of by public auction or otherwise; and
- (b) apply the proceeds of the sale to meet the expenses incurred by the Commissioner in storing and disposing of the property, and pay the balance, if any, to the Consolidated Fund.
Power to administer estates of intestates
109.—(1) Whenever any person dies leaving movable property in Singapore under $1,000 in value, which property is, in the absence of any person entitled thereto, taken charge of by the police for the purpose of safe custody, the Commissioner may, if he thinks fit, order that property to be delivered, without letters of administration taken out, to any person claiming to be entitled to the whole or any part thereof, if he is satisfied as to the title of the claimant and the value of the property by the oath or affirmation of the claimant, or by such other evidence as he may require.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), where any such movable property referred to in that subsection is of a perishable nature and likely to deteriorate in value by being kept, the Commissioner may order the sale thereof, and the proceeds of such sale shall be dealt with in the same manner as the property is by this section to be dealt with.
(3) The Commissioner may, in his discretion, before making any order under subsection (1) or (2), take such security as he may think proper for the due administration and distribution of such property.
(4) Nothing in this section shall affect the right of any person to recover such property or any of it from the person to whom it may have been delivered pursuant to such order.
(5) If at the end of one month after any property (other than cash) taken charge under this section, no person has established a claim to the property to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, or immediately (even if less than one month) after the owner has given the Commissioner notice in writing that he is not claiming the property, the Commissioner may—
- (a) arrange for the property to be disposed of by public auction or otherwise; and
- (b) apply the proceeds of the sale to meet the expenses incurred by the Commissioner in storing and disposing of the property, and pay the balance, if any, to the Consolidated Fund.
