An interesting day at court

Today something quite interesting happened while I was at one particular court. The Magistrate was on leave, hence the Registrar was given the duty of hearing the criminal cases.

A friend of mine, Mr. M______, stood up when his case was called.

“Puan, hari ini ditetapkan untuk bicara penuh kes. Pegawai Pendakwaan tidak hadir. Ini adalah kali ke-___ kes ini ditangguh. Saya pohon supaya OKT dibebaskan tanpa dilepaskan. Pegawai Pendakwaan boleh memanggil semula OKT untuk mendakwanya apabila pihak pendakwaan sedia untuk memulakan perbicaraan.”

The Registrar was worried. She didn’t know whether she had the power to give a DNAA order. (DNAA means “Discharge Not Amounting to Acquittal”)

My friend continued: “Puan, Puan mempunyai kuasa untuk membebaskan OKT.”

Immediately the burly policeman by the door came by and said in a low voice, “Puan tidak punyai kuasa untuk melepaskan OKT.”

My friend said again, “Puan mempunyai kuasa untuk membebaskan OKT dan berikan DNAA.”

I pulled out my trusty Practitioner’s Edition: Subordinate Court Practice. Turning to the Subordinate Courts Act 1948, Fourth Schedule, it was found that “Senior Registrars and Registrars of the Subordinate Courts” qualify as “Ex Officio Second Class Magistrates”.

The Prosecuting Officer, Mr. K___, hurried by and said, “Puan is a Registrar only, she’s not a first class magistrate but a second class magistrate. Section 88 doesn’t give her that power to DNAA!”

Here is what section 88 of the Subordinate Courts Act 1948 says:

“A Second Class Magistrate shall only have jurisdiction to try offences for which the maximum term of imprisonment provided by law does not exceed twelve months’ imprisonment or which are punishable with fine only:

“Provided that if a Second Class Magistrate is of the opinion that in the circumstances of the case, if a conviction should result, the powers of punishment which he possesses would be inadequate, he shall take the necessary steps to adjourn the case for trial by a First Class Magistrate.”

Mr. M________, having seen the section, said: “Puan, saya dengan rendah diri pohon supaya tarikh akhir diberikan. Jika Pegawai Pendakwaan masih tidak hadir, saya pohon supaya DNAA diberikan oleh Mahkamah.”

Everyone sighed in relief. Especially the Second Class Magistrate (Registrar) who sat on the bench.