30 March 2014

Rogues, Vagabonds and Conycatchers

From Singapore's Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act -
27. Rogues and vagabonds
(1) Every person —
(a) committing any of the offences mentioned in section 26, after having been previously convicted as an idle and disorderly person;
(b) pretending or professing to tell fortunes in any manner which causes or is likely to cause a public nuisance, or using any subtle craft, means or device, by palmistry or otherwise, to deceive and impose upon any person; [ie a survival of the Elizabethan prohibition on fortune telling and practice of "subtle craft" noted here.]
(c) wilfully exposing to view, in any street, road, highway or public place, any obscene print, picture or other indecent exhibition;
(d) wilfully, openly, lewdly and obscenely exposing his person in any street, road or public highway, or in the view thereof, or in any place of public resort, with intent to insult any female;
(e) going about as a gatherer or collector of alms, or endeavouring to procure charitable contributions of any nature or kind, under any false or fraudulent pretence;
(f) having in his possession without lawful excuse any instrument or material with intent to commit any offence;
(g) being found in or upon any dwelling-house, or premises for the custody of property, or in any enclosed yard, garden or area, for any unlawful purpose; or
(h) arrested as an idle and disorderly person who violently resists arrest and being subsequently convicted of the offence for which he was arrested, shall be deemed to be a rogue and vagabond within the meaning of this Part and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both. [10/89; 12/96]
(2) Every suspected person or reputed thief, frequenting or loitering in or about any river, canal or navigable stream, dock or basin, or any quay, wharf or warehouse near or adjoining thereto, or any street, highway or avenue leading thereto, or any place of public resort, or any avenue leading thereto, or any street, highway or place adjacent thereto, or in any highway or any place adjacent to a street or highway, with intent to commit a seizable and non-bailable offence, shall be deemed to be a rogue and vagabond within the meaning of this Part and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.
(3) In proving the intent referred to in subsection (2), it shall not be necessary to show that the person suspected was guilty of any particular act or acts tending to show his purpose or intent, and he may be convicted if, from the circumstances of the case, and from his known character as proved to the court, it appears that his intent was to commit a seizable and non-bailable offence. 
Section 17 of the Act ('Penalty for depositing corpse or dying person') provides that
Any person who deposits or causes to be deposited any corpse or any dying person in any public place or in any private place without the consent of the owner shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.