{"id":81,"date":"2025-12-05T06:08:28","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T06:08:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/courts\/?page_id=81"},"modified":"2025-12-17T07:10:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T07:10:46","slug":"first-appearance","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/courts\/courts\/criminal\/first-appearance\/","title":{"rendered":"First Appearance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Home<\/a><\/span> \u00bb Courts<\/a><\/span> \u00bb Criminal Proceedings<\/a><\/span> \u00bb First Appearance<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n
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First Appearance
in a Criminal Court<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

This page will provide you with information about
a first appearance before a criminal court.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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First Appearance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are two ways a criminal case may be brought against you;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. By charge at the police station; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. By summons served on you telling you when and where you need to attend court and what the accusation against you is.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    If you are served a summons, you may also be served a Plea in Absence Form.  This form gives you the opportunity to enter your plea (‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’) before the court without attending the hearing.  If you enter a guilty plea you will be notified of the outcome of your matter.  If you enter a not guilty plea, arrangements will be made to list your case for trial, which you will need to attend.  You will be notified after the first hearing when you need to attend the court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you are charged by the police and given a date to attend court or, you are served a summons only you are required to attend court on the date and time detailed on your charge sheet or summons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Things you should know for your court hearing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n