CHAPTER 9 CRIMINAL CODE - justice

1 CRIMINAL code [CAP. 9. 1 CHAPTER 9 CRIMINAL CODETo amend and consolidate the Penal Laws and the Laws of CRIMINAL June, 1854 ORDER-IN-COUNCIL of the 30th of January, 1854, as amended by Ordinances: IV of1856, VIII and IX of 1857, X of 1858, IX of 1859, V of 1868, VI of 1871, IV of 1874, III of1877, I of 1879, III and VII of 1880, IV of 1882, III of 1885, II of 1886, IV and XVI of 1888,XIV of 1889, II of 1892, VIII of 1893, IV of 1894, III and X of 1896, IV of 1897; the Malta (Useof English Language in legal proceedings) Order-in-Council, 1899; Ordinances: III, VI, XIand XIII of 1899, XI, XII and XVI of 1900, VI and XVI of 1901, I of 1903, I and XII of 1904, XIof 1905, VIII of 1909, IV of 1910, IX of 1911, XII of 1913, II, VI and XII of 1914, IV of 1916,XIII and XIV of 1918; the Malta Constitution Letters Patent, 1921; Ordinance XVI of 1921;Acts: XII of 1922, I of 1924, XXVI of 1927, XVI of 1929; Ordinances: VI and VIII of 1930, XIIIand XXVI of 1931, XVI of 1932, VI of 1933; Acts: XXVIII, XXXV and XLI of 1933;Ordinances: XXII, XXX and XXXVII of 1934, IX and XIII of 1935, XIV and XX of 1936, III andXV of 1937, I, XXIV, XXVII and XXXV of 1938, I and VI of 1939, XXIX of 1940; GovernmentNotices Nos.]

2 124 and 248 of 1941. Incorporating also Article 3 of Ordinance II of 1867,Ordinance IV of 1872, Article 30 of Ordinance VI of 1880 and Ordinance XXXVII of code was subsequently amended by Ordinances: VIII, XII and XXI of 1944, XXIV of1946, VI of 1947; Acts: X of 1949, IX of 1950, IV of 1951, V of 1956, XII of 1957; EmergencyOrdinance XX of 1959; Ordinances: XV of 1959, X of 1960, XXV of 1962; Legal Notice 4 of1963; Acts: XVI and XXIII of 1963, XIII of 1964, XIX and XXXII of 1965; Legal Notice 46 of1965; Acts: XXXI and XLIII of 1966, II, XXV and XXXI of 1967, XXVII of 1970, III and XXI of1971, XXXIII of 1972, II, III, XI, XV, XXXVIII and XLVI of 1973, IV, VIII, XXXV and LVIII of1974, XXIV, XXVII and XXXVII of 1975, III, XIV, XVIII, XIX and XXII of 1976, XI of 1977,XIII and XVIII of 1980, XLIX and LIII of 1981, IX of 1982, XIII and XIV of 1983, I of 1984,XXXII of 1986, XIII of 1987, XXII of 1988, XXIX of 1989, VIII and XXIX of 1990, XII of 1991,XIX of 1992, XXI of 1993, IV and XXIV of 1994, XXIV of 1995, XVI and XVII of 1996, XXXIIof 1997, II and X of 1998, VII of 1999, X of 2000, III and VI of 2001, III, XIII, XXIV and XXXIof 2002, IX of 2003, III of 2004, I, V, VI, XIII, XX and XXII of 2005, XVI of 2006.

3 Legal Notice274 of 2007; Acts VI, XXIV and XXXI of 2007; Legal Notice 407 of 2007; Acts VIII of 2008, XIof 2009, VII and XXII of 2010, XXI of 2011 and VIII of 2012; Legal Notice 426 of 2012; ActsIV and XVIII of 2013; Legal Notice 246 of 2013; Acts I, II, III, IV, V, IX, XXIV, XXXI andXXXIV of 2014; Legal Notice 37 of 2015; and Acts II, III, VIII and XXXVII of 2015. 2 CAP. 9.] CRIMINAL code ARRANGEMENT OF CODEA rticlesTitle 1 Preliminary Provisions2-6 BOOK FIRSTPENAL LAWSPART IOF PUNISHMENTS AND GENERAL RULES FOR THEIR APPLICATION, OF THE WILL AND AGE OF THE OFFENDER, OF ATTEMPTED OFFENCE, OF ACCOMPLICES AND OF RECIDIVISTST itle IOf Punishments and General Rules for their application7-32 Sub-title IOf Punishments to which Offences are subject7-15 Sub-title IIGeneral Provisions respecting the Infliction and Executionof Punishments16-30 Sub-title III Of the Ascent and Descent from one Punishment to another 31-32 Title II Of the Will and Age of the Offender 33-40 Title III Of Attempted Offence 41 Title IV Of Accomplices 42-48 Title IV Bis Of Conspiracy48 ATitle V Of Recidivists 49-54 PART IIOF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTST itle I Of Genocide.

4 Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes 54A-54 ITitle I Bis Of Crimes against the Safety of the Government 55-62 Title II Of Crimes against the Public Peace 63-83 AGeneral Provision applicable to Offences which areracially aggravated or motivated by Xenophobia 83 BTitle III Of Crimes against the Administration of justice and otherPublic Administrations84-162 Sub-title I Of the Usurpation of Public Authority and of the Powersthereof 84-90 Of the Usurpation of Functions 84 Of the Unlawful Assumption by Private Persons of Powersbelonging to Public Authority85-90 Sub-title II Of Outrage and Violence against Public Officers 91-99 Sub-title III Of Calumnious Accusations, of Perjury and of Falseswearing100-111 Sub-title IV Of Abuse of Public Authority 112-141 Of Unlawful Exaction, of Extortion and of Bribery 112-121E Of Abuses committed by Advocates and Legal Procurators 122-123 Of Malversation by Public Officers and Servants 124-127 Of Abuses relating to Prisons 128-130 Of the Refusal of a Service lawfully due 131-132 Of Abuse of Authority, and of Breach of Duties pertainingto a Public Office133-140 General Provision applicable to Public Officers 141 Sub-title VOf the Violation of Public Archives, Public Offices, PublicPlaces of Confinement, and Public Monuments142-162 CRIMINAL code [CAP.]

5 9. 3 Articles Of the Breaking of Seals, and of the Purloining ofDocuments or Deposits from the Public Archives orother Public Offices142-150 Of the Violation of Public Places of Confinement, of theEscape of Persons in Custody or Suspected orSentenced, and of the Harbouring of Offenders151-160 Of the Violation of Public Monuments161-162 Title IVOf Crimes against the Religious Sentiment 163-165 Title VOf Crimes affecting Public Trust 166-190 Sub-title IOf Forgery of Papers, Stamps and Seals166-178 Sub-title II Of Forgery of other Public or Private Writings 179-188 General Provisions applicable to this Title 189-190 Title VIOf Crimes against Public Trade191-195 Of Bankruptcy Offences191-195 Title VIIOf Crimes affecting the Good Order of Families196-210 Sub-title IOf Crimes relating to the Reciprocal Duties of theMembers of a Family196-197 Sub-title IIOf Crimes against the Peace and Honour of Families andagainst Morals198-209 Sub-title IIIOf Crimes tending to Prevent or Destroy the Proof of theStatus of a Child210 Title VIIIOf Crimes against the Person211-257 Sub-title IOf' Wilful Homicide211-213 Sub-title IIOf Wilful Offences against the Person214-222 ASub-title IIIOf Justifiable

6 Homicide or Bodily Harm223-224 Sub-title IVOf Involuntary Homicide or Bodily Harm225-226 BSub-title VOf Excuses for the Crimes referred to in the foregoing Sub-titles of this Title227-238 Sub-title VIOf the Concealment of Homicide or Bodily Harm, and ofthe Concealment of Dead Bodies 239-240 Sub-title VIIOf Abortion, of the Administration or Supplying ofSubstances Poisonous or Injurious to Health,and of theSpreading of Disease 241-244 ASub-title VIII Of Infanticide and of the Abandonment, Exposure and Ill-treatment of Children245-248 BisSub-title VIIBisOf the Traffic of Persons248A-248 ESub-title IXOf Threats, Private Violence and Harassment249-251 DSub-title XOf Defamation, and of the Disclosing of Secret Matters 252-257 Title IXOf Crimes against Property and Public Safety 261-337 HSub-title IOf Theft261-289 Of Aggravated Theft261-283A Of Simple Theft284-288 General Provision applicable to this Sub-title289 Sub-title IIOf other Offences relating to Unlawful Acquisition andPossession of Property290-292 Sub-title IIIOf Fraud293-310 CSub-title IVOf Crimes against Public Safety, and of Injury to Property 311-328 Sub-title IV AOf Acts of Terrorism.

7 Funding of Terrorism and AncillaryOffences328A-328 MSub-title IV BOf Piracy328N-328 OGeneral Provisions applicable to this Title329-337 AASub-title VOf Computer Misuse337B-337 HPART IIIOF CONTRAVENTIONS AND PUNISHMENTST itle IOf Contraventions338-340 Sub-title IOf Contraventions affecting Public Order 338 Sub-title IIOf Contraventions against the Person 339 4 CAP. 9.] CRIMINAL code Sub-title IIIOf Contraventions against Property 340 ArticlesTitle IIOf the Punishments for Contraventions 341-344 General Provision345 BOOK SECONDLAWS OF CRIMINAL PROCEDUREPART IOF THE AUTHORITIES TO WHICH THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICEIS ENTRUSTED Title IOf the Powers and Duties of the Executive Police inrespect of CRIMINAL Prosecutions346-366 General346-350 Sub-title IPower to Stop and Search351-354 Sub-title IIRoad Checks355-355 DSub-title IIIP owers of Entry.

8 Search and Seizure under Warrant355E-355 JSub-title IVPowers of Entry and Search without Warrant355K-355 OSub-title VSeizure and Retention355P-355 USub-title VIPowers of Arrest and Detention355V-355 AFSub-title VIIW arrants355AG-355 AKSub-title VIIID etention355AL-355 ARSub-title IXRights of Persons Detained355AS-355 AUSub-title XTaking of Samples, Fingerprinting and other InvestigativeProcedures355AV-BCSub-title XIPowers and Duties of the Police in respect of CourtProceedings356-366 Title II Of the Court of Magistrates367-429 Sub-title IOf the Court of Magistrates as Court of CriminalJudicature370-388 Sub-title IIOf the Court of Magistrates as Court of CRIMINAL Inquiry 389-409 AGeneral Provisions applicable to the Court of Magistrates.

9 Whether as Court of CRIMINAL Judicature or as Court ofCriminal Inquiry410-412 DSub-title IIIOf Appeals from Judgments of the Court of Magistrates asCourt of CRIMINAL Judicature413-429 Title IIIOf the Attorney General 430-435 ETitle IVOf the CRIMINAL Court436-496 Title VThe Court of CRIMINAL Appeal497-515 Provisions applicable to the Courts of CRIMINAL justice 516-534 PART IIOF MATTERS RELATING TO CERTAIN MODES OF PROCEDURE AND TO CERTAIN TRIALST itle IOf Reports, Informations and Complaints535-545 Title IIOf Inquiries relating to the ''In genere'', Inquests and''Reperti''546-569 Title IIIOf Counsel for the Accused570-573 Title IVOf Bail574-587 Title VOf the Indictment588-602 CRIMINAL code [CAP.]

10 9. 5 Title VIOf Jurors603-619 ArticlesTitle VIIA llegation of Insanity and other Collateral Issues beforethe CRIMINAL Court620-628 Title VIIIOf Mutual Assistance in CRIMINAL Matters628A-628 BPART IIIOF MATTERS APPLICABLE TO ALL CRIMINAL TRIALST itle IOf Witnesses and Experts629-657 Sub-title IOf Witnesses629-649 Sub-title IIOf Experts650-657 Title IIOf Confessions658-661 Title IIIOf Decisions and their Execution662-666 Title IVOf Property belonging to the Person Charged or Accused orto other Persons and connected with CRIMINAL Proceedings 667-679 Title VOf the Respect due to the Court686 Title VIOf Prescription687-694 Title VIIOf Fees695 Title VIIIG eneral Provisions696-698 SCHEDULESS chedule AFees payable