Trials in absentia are typically considered a last resort after exhausting all practical measures to ensure the defendant’s attendance. In the criminal judicial system, a trial in absentia is a legal action in which the defendant is not physically present in court during their trial. These trials usually take place when the accused has absconded from the jurisdiction, is missing intentionally or accidentally, or cannot be found or escaped to another country of jurisdiction. For a variety of reasons, countries enact laws allowing for trials in absentia; frequently, these laws aim to strike a compromise between the accused’s rights and the requirement for efficient administration of justice. Regular criminal courts, military courts, and international criminal tribunals all hold trials in absentia and they are recognized everywhere.
The court can continue the trial without the defendant or accused in specific circumstances where they knowingly flee or become a fugitive in order to evade prosecution. This legal theory, sometimes referred to as the fugitive disentitlement concept, is used in situations where it is believed that the offender is intentionally trying to avoid justice. Trials in absentia are also governed by international law and conventions, with many nations having a duty to guarantee that people are not put through trials that infringe their rights. Trials in absentia are also governed by international law and conventions, with many nations having a duty to guarantee that people are not put through trials that infringe their legal rights.
An accused person cannot often be tried and found guilty in absentia. However, absentia trials are held in Pakistan, as well as in many other nations, when the accused is not present in court due to a variety of circumstances, including escaping the law on purpose, living abroad, or being a fugitive. This clause aims to protect any evidence that might be used against the fugitive if he is found and brought before the court. To address immediate security issues or avoid prospective harm, a trial in absentia is required in cases involving major crimes or risks to national security.
A century-old statute known as the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 governs trials in absentia. The Penal Code and other rules pertaining to the trial of offences have a strong foundation for this practice. The Criminal Procedure Code of 1898 governs the process for issuing proclamations in sections 87 and 88. The accused’s immovable property may, therefore, be attached by the court pursuant to section 88 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, allowing the accused to appear in court. If the court determines that the accused has been properly served with a summons or warrants and that there is no justifiable basis for their absence, it may proceed with the accused’s trial even though they are not present, as permitted under Section 512 of the Cr.PC. The legal framework may evolve overtime, and different countries have different policies on the admissibility and particular guidelines for trials in absentia.
Section 4 of the Suppression of Terrorist Activities (Special Courts) Act 1975, Section 9 of the Terrorist Affected Areas (Special Courts) Act 1992, Section 21 of the Anti Terrorism Act 1997, Section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (which has been added to the list of offences only triable under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997), Section 172,173,174 PPC and Section 31 of the NAB ordinance, 1999 are among the special statutes that also offer the mechanism for trial in absentia. Before using this clause, nevertheless, a proclamation designating the accused as an absconder or proclaimed criminal must be made.
Before the trial can be held in absentia, the following legal requirements must be met:
I. The accused is purposefully hiding his identity in order to obstruct justice;
II. The state will pay for legal representation for the accused.
III. In accordance with Section 87 Cr.PC., an appropriate proclamation has been issued.
IV. That nobody has been able to serve him with a notice to appear in court and someone (typically a process server) needs to take care of this in person.
V. That all attempts to get the accused to appear have been unsuccessful, and even warrants could not be carried out.
VI. The trial’s date, time, and place must be duly communicated to the defendant throughout the legal process. Usually, formal summonses or notices are used to notify the defendant and are delivered to their known address.
VII. The accused’s inability to appear in court to respond to the charges or stand trial must be proven to the court’s satisfaction.
VIII. Based on the evidence and arguments put forward during the trial, the court can issue a verdict at the conclusion, declaring the defendant guilty or not guilty.
In addition to Pakistan, the United Kingdom, India and other sub-continental countries too permitted to hold trials in absentia. Trials in absentia are also permitted in a number of European nations including France, Italy and Spain, with certain restrictions and with legal protections. There are legal provisions for trials in absentia in a few Middle Eastern nations, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Simultaneously, Denmark, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Portugal, Ireland, Hungary, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Cyprus, Malta, Luxembourg and Russia, also permitted the trials to be held in absentia.
A trial in absentia proves to be a valuable tool for cross-border offenses where the defendant deliberately avoids appearing in person for the trial, operating outside the jurisdiction. Holding such trials offers multiple advantages, especially in cases involving individuals who have fled their country or committed crimes across international borders. Defendants found guilty in absentia usually retain the option to contest the verdict or file an appeal upon their return or apprehension. When defendants evade justice or refuse cooperation, conducting a trial in absentia ensures the continuity of legal proceedings, expediting them by bypassing prolonged extradition processes or jurisdictional disputes. Particularly in cases involving organized crime, national security, corruption or influential figures, an absentee trial safeguards witnesses and victims from potential harm or intimidation by the defendant. Extradition procedures are initiated to bring back individuals found guilty in absentia, ensuring they face the consequences of the trial’s verdict if located in another country. This efficiency is paramount in addressing crimes with extensive international implications related to heinous acts and national security concerns.”
—The writer is practicing Advocate of Supreme Court. He has earlier served as Chairman Customs, Excise and Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal, senior Advisor Federal and Tax Ombudsman.
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views expressed are writer’s own.
