Section 29, The Refugees Protection Act, 2007

(1) Every police officer and every immigrationofficer shall be an authorised officer for the purposes of this Act. (2) The Minister may, by Government Notice, designate members of other government, local or border authority to be authorised officers for the purposes of this Act. (3) An authorised officer may, for the purpose of exercising his functions under this Act– (a) subject to subsections (4) and (5), search any person or property; (b) take the finger-prints, palm-prints or photograph of any recognized refugee or protected person or any person who claims to be a refugee for the purposes of this Act or any member of the family of such person; (c) question any recognised refugee or protected person or any person who claims to be a refugee for the purposes of this Act or any member of the family of such person. International co-operation. Co-operation with Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Co-operation with African Union. Authorised officers. No. Refugees Protection Act 2007No. Refugees Protection Act 200730 31 (4) No search of any person or property shall be conducted under paragraph (a) of subsection (3) unless the authorized officer concerned has reasonable grounds for believing that the search is necessary for the prevention, investigation or detection of– (a) a contravention of this Act; or; (b) a fraudulent misstatement or concealment, by a recognised refugee, protected person or person claiming to be a refugee for the purposes of this Act or any member of the family of such a person, of any fact relevant to his identify or status. (5) Whenever it is desired to search the body of a woman under paragraph (a) of subsection (3), such search shall only be made by a medical practitioner or a woman and shall be conducted with strict regard for decency and, if there is no woman available who is an authorised officer, such search may be made by any woman specifically named for the purpose by an authorised officer.