Cap. 101 Art. 31Direction for trial by the Court of Magistrates as a court of criminal judicature.

Notwithstanding that the Attorney General has directed in accordance with the provisions of article 22(2), that a person be tried in the Criminal Court, he may, at any time before the filing of the bill of indictment or at any time after filing the bill of indictment before the jury is empanelled, and with the consent of the accused, direct that that person be tried before the Court of

Magistrates, and upon such direction the Court of Magistrates as a court of criminal judicature shall become competent to try that person as if no previous direction had been given. Where the Attorney General has given such new direction after the filing of the bill of indictment, the registrar of the Criminal Court shall cause the record to be transmitted to the Court of Magistrates, and shall cause a copy of the Attorney General’s direction to be served on the Commissioner of Police.