Criminal Procedure Code 2010 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 15 · Judgment
298. Mode of delivering judgment
Feedback & supportThe court must deliver judgment in every criminal trial, criminal appeal, case stated, criminal revision, criminal reference or criminal motion in open court immediately after the trial, appeal, case stated, criminal revision, criminal reference or criminal motion, or at a later time of which due notice must be given to the parties or their advocates.
court
“court” means the Court of Appeal, the General Division of the High Court, a Family Court, a Youth Court, a District Court or a Magistrate’s Court (as the case may be) which exercises criminal jurisdiction;
A judgment must be delivered either orally or by written grounds of decision.
Where a judgment is delivered by written grounds of decision, the judgment may be delivered by pronouncing the court’s decision with an oral summary of the written grounds, and giving a copy of the written grounds to the parties or their advocates either on the date of the court’s decision or at a later date.
Where a trial judge had delivered judgment in any manner referred to in subsection (2), the trial judge may, at any time before the appeal is heard, give further grounds for his or her decision, which may include grounds other than the grounds of decision given earlier by the trial judge.
Judge
“Judge” means a Supreme Court Judge, a Senior Judge or a Judicial Commissioner sitting in the General Division of the High Court in accordance with the Constitution and the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1969;
Where an appellate court had delivered judgment orally, it may, at a later date, give in writing the grounds of its decision, which may include grounds other than the grounds of decision given earlier by the appellate court.
writing
“writing” includes any mode of representing or reproducing words, figures, drawings or symbols in a visible form, whether permanent or otherwise.
Where the appellate court comprises more than one judge, it must ordinarily give only one judgment, which may be delivered by the presiding judge or by such other member of the appellate court as the presiding judge may direct.
Separate judgments must be delivered if the presiding judge so directs.
The judgment of any judge who is absent may be delivered by any other judge.
If the accused is in custody, the accused must be produced before the court.
If the accused is not in custody, the accused must attend to hear judgment delivered except when the accused’s personal attendance during the trial has been dispensed with and the sentence is one of fine only.
fine
“fine” means any fine or financial penalty imposed by any court upon any conviction of any offence;
Where the court reserves judgment in a trial, appeal, case stated, criminal revision, criminal reference or criminal motion, it may grant bail to the accused, with or without sureties, and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.