Section 99, The Criminal Procedure Act, 2024

(1) At the first appearance, the substance of the chargeor charges shall be read out to the defendant and he shall be asked if he admits or denies the truth of the charge. (2) A Magistrate Court shall record the exact words of the answer to the charge made by the defendant and if the answer does not consist merely of the words "guilty" or "not guilty", as the case may be, the Magistrate Court shall record its interpretation of the answer and whether in the opinion of the Court it amounts to a plea of guilty or not guilty, as the case may be.