SPF property seizure statistics over past three years and efficiency rate of return process

Ms Hany Soh: To ask Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs in the past three years (a) what are the number and proportion of cases investigated by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) where there was seized property; and (b) how does SPF ensure that all properties are returned without delay to their rightful owners.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs:

1. The Police do not track the number and proportion of cases investigated with seized properties.

2. There are established procedures to ensure that seized properties are returned to the rightful parties when they are no longer required for investigations or prosecution. Otherwise, they will be returned to the rightful parties only upon the conclusion of the case. Parties who require their seized properties to be returned urgently may contact their Investigation Officer (IO)-in-charge, who will assess the request carefully. In all cases, a Court Order must be obtained before the seized property can be returned.