[72 Preliminary hearing: procedure up to appointment of trial diet]

[72  Preliminary hearing: procedure up to appointment of trial diet]

[(1)     A preliminary hearing shall be conducted in accordance with this section and section 72A.

(2)     The court shall—

(a)     where the accused is charged with an offence to which section 288C [or 288DC] of this Act applies; or

(b)     in any case—

(i)     in respect of which section 288E of this Act applies; or

(ii)     in which an order has been made under section 288F(2) of this Act,

before taking any further step under this section, ascertain whether the accused has engaged a solicitor for the purposes of the conduct of his case at or for the purposes of the preliminary hearing.

(3)     After complying with subsection (2) above, the court shall dispose of any preliminary pleas (within the meaning of section 79(2)(a) of this Act) of which a party has given notice not less than 7 clear days before the preliminary hearing to the court and to the other parties.

(4)     After disposing of any preliminary pleas under subsection (3) above, the court shall require the accused to state how he pleads to the indictment.

(5)     If the accused tenders a plea of guilty, section

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