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(1) The Board may appoint a person to conduct an investigation into any matter related to the conduct of procurement proceedings by a procurement entity, or the conclusion or operation of a procurement contract if it considers that an investigation is necessary or desirable to prevent, or detect a contravention of this Act.

(2) An investigator may, subject to subsection (3),

(a) at any time during normal office hours, without previous notice, enter the premises of the procurement entity tenderer, supplier, contractor, or consultant concerned with the procurement proceedings under investigation;

(b) require an officer, employee or agent of the procurement entity or tenderer, supplier, contractor, or consultant to produce any books, records, accounts or documents;

(c) search premises for any books, records, accounts or documents;

(d) examine and make extracts from and copies of books, records, accounts or documents of the procurement entity, tenderer, supplier, contractor or consultant;

(e) remove books, records, accounts or documents of the procurement entity, tenderer, supplier, contractor or consultant for as long as may be necessary to examine them or make extracts from or copies of them, but the investigator shall give a detailed receipt for the books, records, accounts or documents removed;

(f) require an officer, employee or agent of the procurement entity or tenderer, supplier, or contractor or consultant,

(i) to explain an entry in the books, records, accounts or documents;

(ii) to provide the investigator with information concerning the management or activities of the procurement entity or tenderers as may be reasonably required.

(3) The powers of entry and search conferred by subsection (2)(a) and (c) of this section shall not be exercised except with the consent of the procurement entity or tenderer, supplier, contractor, or consultant concerned or of the person in charge of the premises unless there are reasonable grounds to believe that it is necessary to exercise those powers for the prevention, investigation or detection of an offence or to obtain evidence relating to an offence.

(4) Any person who, without just cause, hinders or obstructs an investigator in the exercise of a function under this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 500 penalty units or a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or to both.