(7) The criminal jurisdiction of a Family Court shall be the same as that of a District Court under section 50 of the State Courts Act (Cap. 321) and section 8 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68).
(8) When a Family Court exercises criminal jurisdiction, or jurisdiction of a quasi-criminal nature, in any proceedings—
- (a) the Family Court shall have all the powers of a District Court exercising criminal jurisdiction; and
- (b) the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code shall apply to the Family Court and those proceedings with the following modifications:
- (i) except as provided in sub‑paragraph (iii), any reference to a District Court or a State Court shall be read as a reference to a Family Court;
- (ii) any reference to a District Judge shall be read as a reference to a judge of a Family Court;
- (iii) any reference to the Registrar of the State Courts shall be read as a reference to the Registrar.
(9) Subject to any other written law, a Family Court may, either on its own motion or on the application of any person, order any party to any proceedings in a Family Court, or any child who is a subject of such proceedings, to undergo such mediation or counselling, or to participate in such family support programme or activity, as the Family Court may direct.
Assessors to assist Family Court
27.—(1) In any proceedings before a Family Court, the Court may, if it thinks fit on the application of any party, or on its own motion, summon to its assistance, in such manner as may be prescribed by the Family Justice Rules or, prior to their enactment, the Rules of Court, one or more persons of skill and experience in the matter to which the proceedings relate who may be willing to sit with the Court and act as assessors.
(2) The remuneration of assessors for sitting under this section shall be at such rate as may be prescribed by the Family Justice Rules or,
