Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Magistrates' Court Act 1989 - SECT 54A

Non-appearance of corporate defendant

54A. Non-appearance of corporate defendant



(1) If a defendant that is a body corporate does not appear in answer to a
summons to answer to a charge for an offence to which section 53(1) applies,
the Court may hear and determine the charge summarily in the defendant's
absence if-

   (a)  the Court is satisfied that the charge and the mention date in
        relation to it has been brought to the notice of the defendant; and

   (b)  the Court is of the opinion that the charge is appropriate to be
        determined summarily-

even though the defendant has not consented to a summary hearing.

(2) If the Court proceeds to hear and determine a charge summarily in
accordance with subsection (1) and finds the defendant guilty, the Court must
cause written notice of any sentencing order made by it to be served on the
defendant.