(4) Any person who contravenes subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
(5) Nothing in this section affects a court's powers under section 7 of the State Courts Act (Cap. 321) or section 8 of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Cap. 322).
(6) In this section, a reference to an offence under Part 2 includes a reference to an abetment of, or a conspiracy or an attempt to commit, the offence.
Assistance to trafficked victims
19.—(1) The Director of Social Welfare appointed under section 3(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act (Cap. 38) may provide to a trafficked victim such assistance as the Director considers practicable and necessary in the particular circumstances of the case, including—
- (a) temporary shelter; and
- (b) counselling services.
(2) The Director of Social Welfare may
- (a) appoint any public officer; or
- (b) with the approval of the Minister charged with the responsibility for social support services, authorise in writing any other person,
to perform the Director's function under subsection (1), subject to such conditions and limitations as the Director may specify.
(3) To avoid doubt, any appointment or authorisation under subsection (2) does not restrict or prevent the Director of Social Welfare from exercising the function under subsection (1).
(4) Any person authorised under subsection (2)(b) is deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of the Penal Code (Cap. 224).
