Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 16 January 2025.#Criminal proceedings against IR.#Request for a preliminary ruling from the Sofiyski gradski sad.#Reference for a preliminary ruling – Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Directive (EU) 2016/343 – Article 8 – Right to be present at the trial – Information regarding the holding of the trial and the consequences of non-appearance – Inability to locate the accused person notwithstanding the reasonable efforts of the competent authorities – Possibility of a trial and a decision in absentia – Article 9 – Right to a new trial or to another legal remedy which allows a fresh determination of the merits of the case – No such right where the person concerned absconds.#Case C-644/23.