Print Options

(1) In criminal matters a District Court has jurisdiction to try summarily-

(a) an offence punishable by a fine not exceeding 500 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or both;

(b) any other offence (except an offence punishable by death or by imprisonment for life or an offence declared by any enactment to be a first degree felony) if the Attorney-General is of the opinion that having regard to the nature of the offence, the absence of circumstances which would render the offence of a grave or serious character and all other circumstances of the case, the case is suitable to be tried summarily;

(c) an attempt to commit an offence to which paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection applies;

(d) abetment of or conspiracy in respect of any such offence.

(2) Subject to the other provisions of this section, a District Court shall in the exercise of its jurisdiction in criminal matters not impose a term of imprisonment exceeding 2 years or a fine exceeding 500 penalty units or both.

(3) A District Court does not have jurisdiction to try an offence under paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of subsection (1) where the enactment creating the offence has prescribed in relation to the offence a minimum penalty that exceeds the penalty permitted to be imposed by a District Court under subsection (2).

(4) Where under any enactment increased punishment may be imposed upon any person previously convicted of a crime, a District Court may impose the increased punishment, or twice the maximum punishment prescribed by subsection (2) whichever is the lesser.

(5) The Attorney-General may by legislative instrument amend the amount or value specified in subsections (1) and (2) of this section.