(1) The court may -
(a) proceed under section 161 before it sentences the defendant for the offence (or any of the offences) concerned, or
(b) postpone proceedings under section 161 for a specified period.
(2) A period of postponement may be extended.
(3) A period of postponement (including one as extended) must not end after the permitted period ends.
(4) But subsection (3) does not apply if there are exceptional circumstances.
(5) The permitted period is the period of two years starting with the date of conviction.
(6) But if -
(a) the defendant appeals against his conviction for the offence (or any of the offences) concerned, and
(b) the period of three months (starting with the day when the appeal is determined or otherwise disposed of) ends after the period found under subsection (5),
the permitted period is that period of three months.
(7) A postponement or extension may be made -
(a) on application by the defendant;
(b) on application by the prosecutor;
(c) by the court of its o
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