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58. Search and seizure with warrant

(1) if it appears to a Magistrate, upon written information on oath from the Registrar and after such inquiry as he considers necessary, that there is reasonable cause to believe that an offence under this Act or its subsidiary legislation is being or has been committed on any premises, so that any evidence or thing which is necessary to the conduct of an investigation into an offence may be found in any premises, the Magistrate may issue a warrant authorizing the Registrar named in the warrant to enter the premises at any reasonable time by day or by night, with or without assistance and if need be by force and there to search for and seize any such evidence or thing, provided that nothing shall authorize any court other than the court to grant a warrant to search for a postal article, telegram or other document in the custody of the postal or telegraph authorities.

(2) Without affecting the generality of subsection (1), the warrant issued by the Magistrate may authorize the search and seizure of-

   (a) copies of any books, accounts or other documents, including computerized data, which contain or are reasonably suspected to contain information as to any offence so suspected to have been committed; or

   (b) any other document, equipment, instrument or matter that is reasonably believed to furnish evidence of the commission of the offence.

(3) The Registrar conducting a search under subsection (1) may, for the purpose of investigating into the offence, search any person who is in or on the premises.

(4) The Registrar making a search of a person under subsection (3) or section 59 may seize, or take possession of, and place in safe custody all things other than the necessary clothing, found upon the person, and any other things, for which there is reason to believe were the instruments or other evidence of the crime, and they may be detained until the discharge or acquittal of the person.