Interpretation of this Part
157. In this Part —“Case for the Defence” means the document by that name mentioned in section 165;
“Case for the Prosecution” means the document by that name mentioned in section 162;
“co-accused” means any person who is to be tried jointly with an accused and to whom the criminal case disclosure procedures apply by virtue of section 159;
“court” means a Magistrate’s Court or a District Court, as the case may be;
“criminal case disclosure conference” means any conference held under Division 2 in respect of any offence to which the criminal case disclosure procedures apply by virtue of section 159;
“criminal case disclosure procedures” means the procedures under Division 2.
Reading of charge
158. In a case to be tried in a Magistrate’s Court or District Court, the following provisions apply:(a)
when an accused is first charged in the court for an offence, a charge must be framed, read and explained to the accused;
(b)
the accused must be asked whether he or she wishes to claim trial or plead guilty to the charge unless either party to the case applies for, and the court grants, an adjournment without the plea being recorded;
(c)
if the accused, after he or she has been asked to plead —(i)
pleads guilty to the charge, Division 3 of Part 11 applies;
(ii)
refuses to plead or does not plead or claims trial to the charge, and the case is subject to the criminal case disclosure procedures by virtue of section 159, Division 2 applies; or
(iii)
refuses to plead or does not plead or claims trial to the charge, and the case is not subject to the criminal case disclosure procedures by virtue of section 159, Division 4 applies.
When criminal case disclosure procedures apply
159.—(1) The criminal case disclosure procedures apply to an offence which ––(a)
is specified in the Second Schedule; and
(b)
is to be tried in a District Court.[Act 5 of 2024 wef 14/02/2025]
(2) [Deleted by Act 5 of 2024 wef 14/02/2025]
(3) For any offence other than an offence mentioned in subsection (1), the criminal case disclosure procedures do not apply unless all parties consent to have the procedures apply.
—(1) The criminal case disclosure procedures apply to an offence which ––(a)
is specified in the Second Schedule; and
(b)
is to be tried in a District Court.[Act 5 of 2024 wef 14/02/2025]
(2) [Deleted by Act 5 of 2024 wef 14/02/2025]
(3) For any offence other than an offence mentioned in subsection (1), the criminal case disclosure procedures do not apply unless all parties consent to have the procedures apply.
