Heavier penalties for abuse of office

As the Crimes Decree comes into effect today, the charge of abuse office will carry heavier penalties compared to the Penal Code.

Under the Penal Code which has been repealed, the maximum penalty for abuse of office was three years imprisonment.

However, under Section 139 of the Crimes Decree, a person commits an indictable offence which is triable if, being employed in the public service, the person does or directs to be done, in abuse of the authority of his office, any arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of another.

The penalty for this is ten years imprisonment.

The Decree also states that if the act of abuse of office is done or directed to be done for gain, then the penalty is 17 years imprisonment.

Heavy penalties have also been included for people giving or receiving bribes.