Section 131, The Criminal Procedure Act, 2024

(1) The Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff or other appropriate officerauthorised by him, shall, after having received a copy of the indictment, notice of trial and the other documents referred to in section 130, serve each defendant with the same and explain to each defendant the nature and contents of the documents so served. (2) The time limited for service of the notice of trial and the other documents shall be, in the case of indictment filed - (a) pursuant to committal proceedings, be at least 7 days; and (b) without committal proceedings, be at least 14 days, before the day specified in the indictment for trial or within such lesser time as the Court may for good cause order. (3) The Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff or other appropriate officer shall, where the defendant is not in custody or shall have been admitted to bail and cannot readily be found, leave a copy of the indictment and notice of trial, together with the other documents with someone in the defendant's household for the defendant and if none can be found, affix the copies and notice to the outer or principal door of the known accommodation of the defendant and if the defendant is in custody, the same shall be served on him at the correctional facility or lock-up where he is held. (4) The period of 7 or14 days, as the case may be, limited for service of the notice of trial and the other documents may be reduced to a shorter period, with the consent of the person charged. 72 73 Filing of indictment and its effects. Endorsement Copy of indictment and notice of trial to be delivered to Sheriff. Time and mode of summoning parties on