PART VI - PROCEDURE IN TRIALS BEFORE THE DISTRICT COURT
151 Court may proceed with hearing in absence of accused in certain cases
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 145 of this Act, if an accused who has sent to the Court a plea of guilty in writing or is charged with any offence for which upon conviction the maximum sentence which can be imposed is a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars or imprisonment, otherwise than in default of payment of a fine, for a period not exceeding six months or both such fine and imprisonment does not attend in the District Court at the time and place appointed in and by the summons or by any bond for his attendance that he may have entered into, and his personal attendance has not been dispensed with under section 61 of this Act, the Court may, on being satisfied that the plea of guilty in writing is unequivocal or on proof of the proper service of the summons a reasonable time before, or on production of the bond, as the case may be, proceed to hear and determine the case in the absence of the accused or may adjourn the case and issue a warrant for the arrest of the accused in accordance with the provisions of section 63 of this Act.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding subsection, no person shall be tried in his absence unless he has consented thereto :
Provided that, where any person has been served with a summons containing a direction made under section 61 for his personal attendance to be dispensed with and the summons is endorsed with a notice that, if he does not attend, he will be deemed to have consented to the trial taking place in his absence, he shall be deemed to have so consented.
Fair trial standards
Trials in absentia
EDIT.