PROVISIONS AS TO CERTAIN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Legal representation of certain persons
7. (1) The court before which -
(a) any person is brought up for trial for an offence under section 3; or
(b) a protected prisoner of war is brought up for trial for any offence,
shall not proceed with the trial unless -
(i) the accused is represented by an advocate; and
(ii) it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that a period of not less than 14 days has elapsed since instructions for the representation of the accused at the trial were first given to the advocate,
and if the court adjourns the trial for the purpose of enabling the requirements of this subsection to be complied with, then, notwithstanding anything in any other enactment, the court may remand the accused for the period of the adjournment.
(2) Where the accused is a protected prisoner of war, in the absence of an advocate accepted by the accused as representing him, an advocate instructed for the purpose on behalf of the protecting Power shall, without prejudice to the requirements of subsection (1)(ii), be regarded for the purposes of subsection (1) as representing the accused.
(3) If the court adjourns the trial in pursuance of subsection (1) by reason that the accused is not represented by an advocate -
(a) the court shall direct that an advocate be assigned to watch over the
interests of the accused at any further proceedings in connection with the offence; and
(b) at such further proceedings, in the absence of an advocate either
accepted by the accused as representing him or instructed as mentioned in subsection (2), the advocate assigned in pursuance of this subsection shall, without prejudice to the requirements of subsection (1)(ii), be regarded for the purposes of subsection (1) as representing the accused.
(4) An advocate shall be assigned in pursuance of subsection (3) in such manner as the Minister may be regulations prescribe, and any advocate so assigned shall be entitled to be paid out of moneys appropriated by the Maneaba ni Maungatabu such sums in respect of fees and disbursements as the Minister may by regulations prescribe.
(5) In this section "advocate" means, in relation to proceedings before any court, a legal practitioner who has a right of audience in that court.
Rights during trial - legal assistance
EDIT.