(8)If it is proved that an offender under this Act has absconded and that there is no immediate prospect of arresting him, the commanding officer or other prescribed person may, in his absence, examine any person who might appear to him to be acquainted with the case and record their depositions on oath and any such deposition may on the arrest of such person be used in evidence against him in any proceeding under this Act, if the deponent is dead or incapable of giving evidence or his attendance cannot be procured without an amount of delay, expense or inconvenience which under the circumstances of the case would be unreasonable.
