or a member or an employee of a partnership or firm, acting in the course of the business of the partnership or firm, every director and officer of the company or corporation or every member of the partnership or firm (as the case may be) shall be guilty of the like offence unless he proves that the act or omission constituting the offence took place without his knowledge or consent. Punishment 17.—(1) A person who is guilty of an offence under this Act by reason of section 3 shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years. (2) A person who is guilty of an offence under this Act by reason of section 5, 6, 8 or 11 shall be liable on conviction before a District Court to a fine not exceeding $2,000 and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years. A person charged with an offence by reason of a section mentioned in this subsection may with the consent of the Public Prosecutor be tried before a Magistrate’s Court, and such person shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months. [15/2010] (3) A person who is guilty of an offence under this Act by reason of section 9 or 10 shall be liable on conviction before a District Court to a fine not exceeding $2,000 and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, and shall be liable on conviction before a Magistrate’s Court to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months. Jurisdiction of District Court 17A. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68), a District Court shall have jurisdiction to try any offence under this Act and shall have power to impose the full penalty or punishment in respect of the offence. [9/2003] Minister may confer police powers on suitable person 18. The Minister may confer upon any person, whom he considers fit and suitable, the powers of a police officer not below the rank of sergeant for the purposes of this Act. [21/73; 7/97] Powers under Criminal Procedure Code not restricted 19. Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to limit or restrict any powers conferred by the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68). Singapore Statutes Online Current version as at 25 Sep 2018 PDF created date on: 25 Sep 2018