Filing and service of copy of indictment

(1) Subject to the provisions contained in this section, every indictment shall be filed in the registry three days at least before the day of trial of the accused person charged in the indictment. (2) The Registrar shall, two days at least before the day of trial, deliver or cause to be delivered to the keeper of the prison to which the accused person has been admitted to bail, a certified copy of the indictment, and the copy shall be given by the keeper to the accused person forthwith, if he is in custody, and when he calls for it, if he is on bail. (3) For the purposes of sub-section (2)– (a) the delivery to the keeper of the copy may be made by transmitting it in a registered letter by post properly addressed to him; (b) any receipt purporting to be given by any officer of the Post Office for the registered letter shall be deemed prima facie evidence of the posting on the day stated therein of the letter addressed as described in the receipt; and (c) a certificate, signed by the Registrar, that a certified copy of an indictment was enclosed in the registered letter shall be deemed prima facie evidence that that copy reached the accused person charged in the indictment. (4) An accused person may dispense with either or both of the requirements as to time specified in sub-sections (1) and (2). (5) Whenever the court orders or allows another indictment to be preferred at the same sitting of the court for the same offence or for a minor offence, the accused person shall not be entitled to have a copy served upon him for a longer period than twenty-four hours before his arraignment on the other indictment. 64