15.—(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this Act or any written law, a Magistrate who takes cognizance of an offence upon receiving a complaint made by a private person under section 128 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68) may, if —
(a)
the offence is one for which a summons shall ordinarily issue in the first instance according to the fourth column of Schedule A to the Criminal Procedure Code; and
(b)
the Magistrate is of the opinion either from the nature of the case or the attitude of the parties or both that the matter may more appropriately be resolved by mediation,
refer the complaint to a mediator of a Community Mediation Centre for mediation with the consent of both the complainant and the person complained against.
(2) In making any referral under subsection (1), the Magistrate may order the personal attendance of the complainant or the person complained against before a mediator of a Community Mediation Centre at a time and place to be specified in the order of the Magistrate.
(3) Any person who fails to comply with the order of the Magistrate made under subsection (2) shall be guilty of contempt of court and action may be taken against him under section 8 of the Subordinate Courts Act (Cap. 321).
(4) In a referral by a Magistrate under this section, the mediator of a Community Mediation Centre shall record and notify the Magistrate of the outcome of the mediation to enable the Magistrate to take such further action as he thinks fit under the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code.