for the purpose of having the offender
brought before the Local Court for conviction and sentencing, or for
sentencing, as the case requires.
(2A) In deciding whether to issue, or
authorise an authorised officer to issue, a warrant for the arrest of an
absent offender who has lodged a written plea in accordance with section 182
of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 for the offence concerned, the Local Court
must consider whether it is more appropriate to adjourn proceedings.
(3) This
section does not limit the power that any court other than the Local Court may
have, apart from this section, to deal with an offender whom it has found
guilty or convicted in his or her absence.
(4) In this section--
"absent offender" means an offender who is being dealt with in his or her
absence, including a person who does not attend court because the person has
lodged a written plea in accordance with section 182 of the
Criminal Procedure Act 1986in respect of the offence concerned.