The Cameroon penal code is one of the laws that define the crime and punishment of offenses committed in the territory of Cameroon.
CAMEROON PENAL CODE
LAW N0, 2016/007 of 12/07/2016 RELATING TO THE PENAL CODE
The Parliament deliberated and adopted, the President of the Republic hereby enacts the Jaw set out below:
PART I
BOOK I
CRIMINAL LAW
APPLICATION OF CRIMINAL LAW
CHAPTER I – PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
SECTION 1: Content
The penal code is composed of:
a) book I comprising Sections 1 to 101;
b) book II comprising Sections 102 to 361 ;
c) the decree relating to regulatory provisions of the Penal Code which
define offences, comprising Sections 362 to 370;
d) sections 371 and 372, which lay down the transitional and final
provisions.
cameroon penal code (criminal law)
SECTION 1-1 : No exemption
All persons shall be subject to the criminal law.
Related Cameroon Criminal Laws
Cameroon Criminal Procedure Code
Cameroon Cybersecurity and Cybercriminality law
SECTION 2: General and special application
(1) This Code and every provision of criminal law shall be subject to the
rules of international law and to all treaties duly promulgated and published.
(2) Book I of this Code shall govern all other criminal law, unless special
provision has been made, even before the entry into force of this book,
concerning particularly the exclusion of suspension and the exclusion or
limitation of mitigating circumstances by a law or by regulations possessing
force of law. This Subsection shall apply actively from the 1st October 1966
inclusive.
(3) Any other general provision shall be subject to any special provision
on the same matter, save as otherwise provided.
CHAPTER 2 – APPLICATION OF CRIMINAL LAW IN TIME
SECTION 3: No retrospection
No criminal law shall apply to acts or omissions committed before its
coming into force or in respect of which judgment has not been delivered
before its repeal or expiry.
SECTION 4 : Less severe law
(1) A new provision of criminal law shall, if less severe, apply to any
offence in respect of which judgment has not been delivered before its
coming into force
(2) Where the new provision is more severe, the old law shall continue
to apply to offences committed before its coming into force.
cameroon penal code (criminal law)
SECTION 5: New preventive measure
A new law authorizing a preventive measure shall apply to any case
where judgment has not become final before its coming into force.
SECTION 6 : Abolition of offence, penalty or measure
Any penalty or preventive measure shall cease to be enforceable:
a) from the moment when the act or omission in respect of which it was
imposed is no longer an offence ;
b) on the abolition of the penalty or measure generally.
CHAPTER III – APPLICATION IN SPACE
SECTION 7: Offence within Territory
( 1) The criminal law of the Republic shall apply to any act done or
omitted within its territory.
(2) The territory of the Republic shall include its territorial waters and
the airspace above the said territory and waters, and all vessels and aircrafts
registered in the Republic.
Provided that no member of the crew of a foreign vessel or aircraft may
be tried for an offence committed against another member of the same crew
on board that vessel or aircraft, though within the territorial waters or airspace
of the Republic, unless the assistance of the local authorities shall have been
invoked or public order shall have been disturbed.
SECTION 8: Offence Partly or Wholly Abroad
The criminal law of the Republic shall apply:
a) to any offence of which any ingredient has taken place within its
territory ;
b) to any offence against the security of the State or of counterfeiting
the Great Seal or the current money of the State wherever
committed.
Provided that no foreigner may be tried for an offence to which the law
of the Republic applies solely by virtue of this Subsection unless he has been
arrested within the territory of the Republic or has been extradited to it.
cameroon penal code (criminal law)
SECTION 9: Abetment, Conspiracy, Attempt
The criminal law of the Republic shall apply:
a) to any act or omission within its territory constituting abetment,
conspiracy or attempt with a view to an offence without that
territory, provided that the said offence be also punishable by the
law of the place of commission ;
b) to any such act or omission without its territory with a view to an
offence within that territory.
SECTION 10: Offence Abroad by Citizen or Resident
(1) The criminal law of the Republic shall apply to any actor omission
abroad by a citizen or resident, which is punishable by the law of the place of
commission and is defined as a felony or as a misdemeanour by the law of
the Republic.
Provided that the sentence passed may not be more severe than that
provided by the foreign law.
(2) No citizen or resident may be tried for a misdemeanor against a
private party to which the law of the Republic applies solely by virtue of this
Section except at the instance of the authority controlling prosecution after
private complaint or after official request to the Government of the Repbublic by the Government of the place of commission.
SECTION 11: International Offences
The criminal law of the Republic shall apply to mercenary, racial
discrimination, piracy, trafficking in persons, slave trade, slavery, trafficking in
narcotics, trafficking In toxic wastes, money laundering, cyber criminality,
corruption and offences of misappropriation of public property committed
even outside the territory of the Republic.
Provided that, no foreigner may be tried in the Republic for such an
offence committed abroad unless he has been arrested in the Republic and
has not been extradited, and except at the instance of the authority controlling
prosecution.
SECTION 12: General Jurisdiction
Subject to the exceptions contained in this chapter, the Courts of the
Republic shall have jurisdiction to try any offence to which its criminal law is
applicable.
CHAPTER IV – FOREIGN CRIMINAL LAW AND JUDGMENTS
cameroon penal code (criminal law)
SECTION 13: Exclusion of Foreign Law
Subject to [wpcmtt id=”405″]Sections 9[/wpcmtt] and [wpcmtt id=”407″]10[/wpcmtt] of this Code and to this chapter, no foreign criminal law shall have any effect in the courts of the Republic.
SECTION 14: Foreign Judgments
No foreign criminal Judgment against any person shall have effect within
the territory of the Republic unless:
– the act or omission in question is defined by the law of the Republic
as a felony or misdemeanour under the ordinary law ;
– the regularity of the judgment, its finality, and its conformity with the
public policy of the Republic shall have been ascertained either by
the Court trying the person in question or by the Court of Appeal of
his residence at the instance of the authority controlling prosecution.
SECTION 15: Effect of Foreign Criminal Judgment
Such Judgment shall:
– be taken into consideration as a previous conviction for the purposes
of aggravation of sentence, of preventive confinement, of suspension
of sentence or revocation of such suspension, of revocation of
release on licence, of rehabilitation, and of amnesty ;
– found a good plea in the courts of the Republic convict or acquit,
provided that in the case of conviction the accused shall have served
his sentence or satisfied It by prescription or pardon.
SECTION 16: Exec ution of Foreign Judgment
(1) Any such judgment as is contemplated by Section 14 and has been
ascertained to conform to that Section, if passed against a citizen or against a
resident, and not enforced elsewhere, shall be capable of enforcement within
the territory of the Republic, unless enforcement shall have been barred by
release on licence, pardon, amnesty or prescription.
(2) Enforcement shall require the order of the court contemplated by
Section 14, which may also, in a fit case, impose the preventive measures
attracted according to the law of the Republic by the offence in question.
PART II – PUNISHMENT AND PREVENTION
CHAPTER I – PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
SECTION 17: Penalties and Offences to be prescribed
No penalty or measure may be imposed unless provided by law, and
except in respect of an offence lawfully defined.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 18: Principal penalties
The following are principal penalties:
a) for natural persons:
– death penalty ;
– imprisonment ;
– fine.
b) for corporate bodies
• dissolution;
• temporary or final closure ;
• fine
SECTION 18-1: Alternative Penalties
The following are alternative penalties:
– community service ;
– reparatory sentence.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 19: Accessory penalties:
The following are accessory penalties:
a) for natural persons:
– forfeiture ;
– publication of the judgment ;
– closure of an establishment :
– confiscation.
b) for corporate bodies:
– ban, for a specified period of time, on the direct or indirect exercise
of any or all of its activities ;
– placement under judicial supervision for a specified period of time ;
– closure, for a specified period of time, of establishments or branches
having served in the commission of offences :
– publication or media broadcast of the judgment ;
– any other accessory penalties provided for by special instruments.
SECTION 20: Preventive measures
The following are preventive measures:
a) for natural persons:
– ban on exercise of activity ;
– preventive confinement
– post-penal supervision and assistance ,
– confinement in a special health institution
– confiscation
b) for corporate bodies:
– ban on exercise of activity for a specified period of time ;
– confiscation :
– placement under judicial supervision, for a specified period of time.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 21 : Classification of Offences
(1) Offences shall be classified as felonies, misdemeanours and simple
offences according to the principal penalties provided for them, as follows:
– a felony shall mean an offence punishable with death or with loss of
liberty for a maximum of more than 10 (ten) years and fine where the
law so provides :
– a misdemeanour shall mean an offence punishable with loss of
liberty or with fine, where the loss of liberty may be for more than 1O
(ten) days but not for more than 10 (ten) years, and the fine more
than CFAF 25 000 (twenty-five thousand) ;
– a simple offence shall mean an offence punishable with
imprisonment for up to 10 (ten) days or with fine of up to CFAF25
000 (twenty-five thousand).
(2) The nature of the offence shall not be affected by:
– modification of the penalty imposed by reason of an excuse or of
mitigating circumstances;
– aggravation of the penalty imposed under Sections 88 or 89 of this
Code.
CHAPTER II – PRINCIPAL PENALTIES
A – DEATH
SECTION 22: Conditions Precedent to Execution
(1) Every sentence of death shall be submitted to the President of the
Republic for his decision on commutation.
(2) No death sentence may be executed until the President shall have
signified his decision not to commute.
(3) No woman with child may be executed until after her delivery.
(4) No execution may take place on Sunday or on a public holiday.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 23: Execution
(1) Execution of a death sentence shall be by shooting or hanging as
may be ordered by the judgment and shall be public unless otherwise ordered
in the decision not to commute.
(2) The bodies of persons executed shall be returned to their families at
their request, but on condition of a quiet funeral.
(3) Nothing may be published by the press beyond the official record of
the execution and any official communique that may be released.
(4) The detailed application of this Section shall be prescribed by
decree.
B – IMPRISONMENT
SECTION 24: Imprisonment
Imprisonment shall mean loss of liberty during which the offender shall
be obliged to work, subject to any contrary order of the court for reasons to be
recorded in the judgment.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 25: Prisoner’s fund
(1)The proceeds of every prisoner’s work shall be allocated as follows:
– 1/3 to the Treasury ;
– 2/3 to the building up of a reserve fund for the prisoner
(2) The conditions governing the 1mplementation of this Section
particularly those with regard to the management of the fund, shall be laid
down by regulation.
C – FINE
SECTION 25-1: Fine
(1) Fine shall mean a financial penalty by virtue of which a convict,
natural person or corporate body, pays an amount of money, specified by
Law, into the Public Treasury.
(2) The maximum amount of fine applicable to corporate bodies shall be
five times that provided for natural persons.
(3) Where a corporate body is guilty of an offence punishable with
imprisonment only, the fine to be paid shall be from CFAF 1 000 000 (one
million) to CFAF 500 000 000 (five hundred million).
D – DISSOLLUTION
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 25-2 : Dissolution
(1) Dissolution shall mean capital punishment which may be passed
against corporate bodies.
(2) A judgment on dissolution may be passed against a corporate body
that has acted in violation of its object clause.
(3) The judgment on the dissolution of a corporate body shall refer such
corporate body to the competent court for winding up at the instance of the
Legal Department.
E – CLOSURE OF AN ESTABLISHMENT
SECTION 25-3: Closure of an establishment
The penalty of closure of an establishment shall mean the temporary or
final closure of an establishment considered to be a corporate body.
Such penalty shall prohibit the accused corporate bo , rrom carrying
ocit the activity through which the offence was committed
Such temporary closure may not exceed 5 (five) years and may not be
suspended.
F – ALTERNATIVE PENALTIES
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 26: Community service
(1) Community service shall be a sentence passed for offences
punishable with imprisonment of less than two years or with fine only. Such
sentence shall be executed for the benefit of a public corporation, a private
corporation charged with a public service mission or an association entrusted
with performing a community service.
(2) The sentence provided under Sub-section (1) above shall be passed
by the trial court in lieu of imprisonment or fine, after ruling on the plea of
guilty with the prior consent of the accused person.
(3) The court shall fix the period of community service which shall not
be less than two hundred hours or more than 240 (two hundred and forty)
hours and shall not be suspended.
(4) Community service shall be free of charge.
(5) The judgment shall state the period of imprisonment that may be
served by the offender in case of non-performance of community service;
such a period of imprisonment shall not be suspended.
(6) Community service shall be laid down by a separate instrument.
SECTION 26 -1 : Reparatory sentence
(1) Reparatory sentence shall mean a sentence passed for offences
punishable with imprisonment for not more than 2 (two) years or with fine
only.
It entails the obligation, for the offender, to indemnify the victim within
the period and under the conditions laid down by the court.
(2) The sentence provided under Sub-section 1 above shall be
pronounced by the trial court in lieu of imprisonment or fine after ruling on the
plea of guilty and such sentence may not be suspended.
(3) The Judgment shall state the penod of imprisonment that may be
served by the offender in case of non-performance of the reparatory
sentence.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 26-2: Application of alternative penalties
The conditions governing the application of alternative penalties shall
be laid down by a separate instrument.
SECTION 26-3: Persons excluded from alternative penalties
The alternative penalties provided for in Sections 26 and 26-1 above
shall not apply to persons who violate the law on arms, those who commit
sexual offences and those who cause bodily injury as specified in this Code.
G – LOSS OF LIBERTY, COMMON PROVISIONS
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 27: Commencement of sentence
(1) Where the offender has not been remanded in custody or where no
arrest or imprisonment warrant is issued against him at the time of judgment
in the circumstances authorized by the Criminal Procedure Code, no
sentence of loss of liberty may be enforced until it has become final.
(2) No woman who is with child or who has been recently delivered may
begin to serve her sentence until six weeks after delivery.
(3) A woman with child already remanded in custody shall continue to
benefit from the regime of remand in custody until the expiry of the period
referred to in Subsection 2 above.
(4) Where a husband and wife have been sentenced for the same or
different offences to imprisonment for less than a year, and are not in custody
at the time of sentence, and show that they have a fixed common residence
and a child under the age of 18 (eighteen) supported by them and in their
charge, the sentence on one may be suspended until expiry of the sentence
on the other.
SECTION 28: Calculation of Sentence
(1) In a sentence of loss of liberty expressed in days, each day shall
mean 24 (twenty-four) hours.
(2) Sentence of one month shall mean 30 (thirty) days
(3) Sentence expressed in months or years shall be calculated by calendar date
(4) SubJect to Section 53, the duration of the sentence the duration of the sentence shall include and run from:
a) the day on which the offender was taken into custody under that sentence;
b) in a case of concurrent sentences passed on different dates, the day on which he was first taken into custody under any such sentence.
(5) In case of escape, the period of unlawful liberty shall not be counted in the duration of the sentence.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 29: Separation of Minors
An offender under the age of 18 (eighteen) shall serve his sentence in a special establishment, or, failing such establishment, shall be separated from offenders over that age.
CHAPTER III – ACCESSORY PENALTIES
A – FORFEITURES
SECTION 30: Definition
The forfeitures applicable under this Code shall be the following:
(1)removal and exclusion from any public service, employment or or office
(2) incapacity to be a juror, assessor, expert referee or sworn expert
(3) incapacity to be guardian, curator, deputy guardian or committee,
save of the offender’s own children, or member of a family council:
(4) prohibition wearing any decoration;
(5) prohibition on serving in the armed forces;
(6) prohibition on keeping a school, on teaching in
in any educational establishment, and in general on holding any post connected with
the education or care of children.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 31 : Where applicable
(1) A life sentence shall carry with 1t for life the forfeitures prescribed by
the last preceding Section.
(2) Any other senten ce for felony shall carry with it the same forfeitu res
for the duration of the sentence and for the 10 (ten) years following its expiry
or release on licence unrevoked.
(3) The trial court may in any case covered by the last preceding
subsection, for reasons to be recorded in the j udgment, relieve from one or
more of the said forfeitures, or reduce their duration to not less than 2 (two)
years.
(4) To a sentence for misdemeanour, and where so authorized by law
the competent court may, for reasons to be recorded in the judgment, add, for
not more than 5 (five) years, one or more of the forfeitures prescribed by the
last preceding Section.
SECTION 32: Forfeitures and judgment in default
Where j udgment is passed in default, any forfeiture shall take effect as
from the date of publication of the notices prescribed by the Criminal
Procedure Code.
B – OTHER ACCESSORY PENALTIES
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 33: Publication of judgment
(1) Where the competent court may order publication of its j udgment, it
shall be posted in manner to be prescribed by decree for up to 2 (two) months
in the case of felony or misdemeanour or (15) fifteen days for a simple
offence.
(2) In such case, the competent court may order publication of its
judgment in such media as it may indicate.
(3) Any such publication shall be at the expense of the convict.
(4) Posting may be limited to the operative part of the judgment.
(5) The provisions under Sub-sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 above shall also
apply to corporate bodies.
(6) Information through print media …
as well as fair comments shall be allowed:
SECTION 34: Closure of Establishment
Where the competent court orders the closure of a business or
industrial establishment, or of any premises devoted to gainful activity, which
was used for the commission of an offence, such closure shall imply a ban on
the exercise of the same business or industry or activity in the same
premises, whether by the offended or by any other to whom he may sell,
transfer or let the establishment or premises.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 34-1: Placement under judicial supervision
(1) The sentence of placement under court supervision shall be
applicable to corporate bodies found criminally liable and shall consist in the
appointment of a judicial representative whose control mission and period
thereof shall be prescribed by the Court.
(2) The mission referred to under sub-section 1 above shall concern
only the activity in respect of which the offence was committed.
(3) The judicial representative referred to in subsection 1 above shall
render account of his mission as regularly as necessary to the competent
State Counsel.
(4) At the end of the judicial representative’s mission and based on his
report, the competent State Counsel shall seise the Court that ruled on the
placement under court supervision, for the corporate body to be relieved of
the measure.
SECTION 35: Confiscation of “corpus delicti”
(1) On conviction for any felony or misdemeanour, the competent court
may order confiscation of any property, moveable or immoveable, belonging
to the offender and attached, which was used as an instrument of its
commission, or is the proceeds of the offence.
(2) Such confiscation may not be ordered on conviction for a simple
offence unless specially authorized by law.
CHAPTER IV – PREVENTIVE MEASURES
A – BANNED OCCUPATION
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 36: Banned Occupation
(1) Upon conviction for a felony or misdemeanour under the ordinary
law, the court may, for reasons to be recorded in the judgment, forbid the
convict from continuing to follow any occupation found to stand in a direct
relation to the offence, and his continuation in which would give grave reason
to apprehend a repetition.
(2) Subject to any contrary provision of law, the ban may not be for less
than a year nor for more than 5 (five) years, after completion of service of the
principal sentence.
(3) For corporate bodies, the ban referred to in Sub-sections (1) and (2)
above shall correspond to prohibition, for a specified period, from directly or
indirectly undertaking one or several activities contained in its purpose.
(4) In case of subsequent conviction under the conditions provided for
in Sub-section ( 1) above and Section 88 of this Code for felony or
misdemeanour, the ban shall be for life.
B – PREVENTIVE CONFINEMENT
SECTION 37: Definition
(1) Preventive confinement shall mean confinement for from 5 (five) to
20 (twenty) years under a programme of work and social reformation, during
which the offender shall, in default of a separate establishment, be confined
separately from convicts serving a sentence of imprisonment.
(2) The internal working of the establishment, the programme for the
inmates, the details of their work, and the manner of their reformation shall be
prescribed by decree.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 38: Offenders not liable
No sentence of preventive confinement may be passed on a person
who would be aged less than 25 (twenty-five) or more than 60 (sixty) years at
the expiry of his principal sentence
SECTION 39: Where Applicable
(1) Sentence of preventive confinement may be passed on any offender
subject to Section 88 of this Code by reason of the following convictions,
including that accompanying the sentence, within the space of 10 (ten) years
exclusive of any sentence served and any preventive measure involving
personal restraint:
a) two (2) convictions for felony punished with imprisonment or with death
commuted first into imprisonment ; or
b) one such conviction for felony and two for misdemeanour, each
punished with more than 1 (one) year of imprisonment ;
c) four (4) convictions for misdemeanour, each punished with more than 1
(one) year of imprisonment.
(2) The said space of 10 (ten) years shall be counted back from the
date of the latest relevant offence.
(3) To be counted for the purpose of preventive confinement a
conviction must have become final and must have been for an offence
committed after the preceding conviction to be counted has become final.
(4) Previous convictions the sentences which have been commuted,
pardoned or remitted shall be taken into account.
(5) Previous convictions expunged by rehabilitation or by amnesty shall
not be taken into account.
(6) Previous convictions for offences committed by persons under the
age of 18 (eighteen) shall not be taken into account.
C – POST-PENAL SUPERVISION AND ASSISTANCE
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 40: Definition and Duration
(1) Every offender sentenced to loss of liberty for more than a year may
on conviction, where the circumstances warrant and for reasons to be
recorded in the judgment, be subjected by the court for up to 5 (five) years to
post-penal supervision and assistance, consisting of general obligation and in a fit case, of added special obligations.
(2) The offender’s compliance with his obligations shall be
superintended by a Magistrate nominated m that behalf with the assistance of
salaried or honorary supervisors.
Provided that where the conviction is for felony or the offender was sentenced
under Section 88 of this Code for misdemeanour, his compliance shall be
superintended by the police.
(3) The detailed application of this Section shall be prescribed by
decree.
SECTION 41 : General Obligation
The obligations to which the offender shall always be subject shall be:
1. to establish his residence in a given place ;
2. to appear when called by the authority in charge of supervision and
assistance ;
3. to receive visits from the supervisor and give him all information and
papers useful for the verification of his means of support ;
4. to inform the supervisor in advance, and explain the reasons to him, of
any change of employment or residence ;
5. to inform the supervisor in advance of any absence of over 15 (fifteen)
days, and inform him of his return ;
6. to obtain the previous permission of the authority in charge before any
departure abroad.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 42: Special Obligations
In addition to the general obligations prescribed by the last preceding
Section, the Court may impose upon the offender any one or more of the
following special obligations:
1. to take up residence in one or more specified places ;
2. not to be present without special and temporary permission in
specified places ;
3. to remain in employment or follow a course of instruction or
vocational training ;
4. to submit to measures of control or of treatment, including treatment
in hospital, and in particular with a view to curing an addiction to
alcohol or drugs ;
5. to contribute to the family expenses or to pay regularly any
maintenance due from him,
6. to compensate any damage caused by this offence ;
7. not to drive any class of motor vehicle, defined in terms of the
classification in force for the purpose of driving licences ;
8. to avoid specified places, such as bars, race-courses, gaming-
houses ;
9. not to wager ;
10. to abstain from undue consumption of alcohol ;
11. to avoid the company of specified offenders, in particular his co-
offenders of the accessories to the offence ;
12. not to receive or lodge at his residence specified persons.
D – HEALTH INSTITUTION
SECTION 43: Insane Persons
(1) Upon acquittal for insanity on a charge of felony or misdemeanour
punishable wit h 2 (two) years imprisonment or more and where the liberty of
the accused shall have been found by the court to be a public danger, the
court shall order his confinement in a special institution.
(2) Such confinement may be terminated only by the same court upon
evidence by the competent medical authority that the liberty of the confined
person is no longer a public danger.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 44: Addict or partially insane
(1) Where an addict to alcohol or drugs, or a person suffering from
mental sickness is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor punishable with 2
(two) years imprisonment or more and related to his addiction or mental
condition, and where his liberty shall have been found to be a public danger,
the competent court may order his confinement in a special health institut ion.
(2) Such confinement shall not exceed 2 (two) years in the case of an
addict to alcohol or drugs, nor 5 (five) years in the case of the mentally sick.
(2)Such confinement may be earlier terminated by the court upon
evidence by the competent medical authority that the liberty of the
confined person is no longer a public danger.
E – CONFISCATION
SECTION 45: Confiscation
The confiscation of anything whose manufacture, custody, sale or use
is unlawful shall be ordered even if not belonging to the offender, and even if
the prosecution does not result in conviction.
CHAPTER V – RECOGNIZANCE
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 46: Wh ere applicable
(1) Any person who by his conduct or by his utterances shall have
exhibited an unambiguous intention to commit an offence which may disturb
the public peace may be required by the President of the District Court to
enter into a recognizance with or without solvent sureties in such sum as may
be therein fixed to refrain from commission of any offence of the like nature
for the duration of the period therein specified.
(2) The sum shall be fixed having regard to the resources of the person bound over.
SECTION 47: Period
Where the person required to enter into the recognizance is a habitual
offender, the period of the recognizance may extend to 3 (three) years, but
shall not otherwise exceed 1 (one) year.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 48: Recognizance by Parents
Where a person under the age of 18 (eighteen) shall have committed
any act defined as an offence, the President of the District Court may require
his parents, guardian or person responsible under customary law to enter into
the recognizance described by Section 46, to be forfeited if the said person
shall commit any similar act within the space of 1 (one) year, unless the
obligor shall prove that he took all reasonable steps to avoid the minor’s
committing the offence.
SECTION 49: Non-compliance
(1) Where a person required to enter into a recognizance does not do
so, or fails to find the sureties required, he may be immediately taken into
custody until he shall have complied with the order; but such custody may not
exceed the period for which the recognizance was required.
(2) Except under Section 48 the obligations described in Section 42 (1)
and (2) may be substituted for custody.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 50: Breach of Recognizance
(1) Upon conviction of an offence covered by the recognizance the
District Court shall without prejudice to any penalty incurred for the offence
order forfeiture of the sum therein fixed.
(2) Payment of the said sum shall be enforced as against the person
bound over in like manner as if it were a fine, and as against the sureties by
any civil process.
CHAPTER VI – CONCURRENT AND CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES
SECTION 51: Concurrent Sentences the Rule
(1) Where any person is convicted on several charges of felony or
misdemeanour tried jointly, or of simple offence tried with either, only one
sentence may be passed, not exceeding the maximum prescribed for the
most severely punished offence.
(2) Where any person is convicted on several such charges tried
separately, any sentence later passed may be ordered to run concurrently
with, or in the case of fines to be merged in, any earlier sentence; and where
it is not so ordered, the aggregate of the sentences may not exceed the
maximum prescribed for the most severely punished offence.
(3) In the calculation of such aggregate an earlier sentence reduced by
remission shall be counted at its reduced and not at its original length.
(4) No sentence may be ordered to run concurrently with, or to be
merged in, a sentence which had already become final before the act or
omission in respect of which the second sentence is passed.
(5) In respect of simple offences sentences shall not be concurrent or
merged unless the court shall so order.
(6) Subject to any contrary order of the court, several sentences other
than to principal penalties shall be consecutive as between themselves.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 52: Consecutive Sentences
(1) Sentences of loss of liberty shall be enforced in the chronological
order in which the imprisonment warrants were notified to the offender.
(2) Accessory penalties and confinement under Section 43 of this Code
shall run from the date when the sentence becomes final, while other
preventive measures shall commence from the expiry or suspension of the
principal sentence.
(3) Several consecutive preventive measures shall be enforced in the
following order:
a) Confinement in a health institution ;
b) Preventive confinement ;
c) Post-penal supervision and assistance.
(4) Where during the currency of any such measure the offender is
sentenced to loss of liberty for another felony or misdemeanour, the
preventive measure shall be suspended until the new sentence shall have
been served out.
SECTION 53: Remand in custody
(1) Where the offender has been remanded in custody, the duration of
such custody shall be wholly deducted from the computation of loss of liberty.
(2) Where the offender, after having been remanded in custody, is
sentenced with fine only, the Court shall relieve him wholly or in part of the
said fine.
CHAPTER VII – SUSPENSION AND REMISSION OF SENTENCE
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 54: Application and Effect
(1) Subject to any contrary provision of law, upon conviction for felony
or misdemeanour of an offender not previously sentenced to imprisonment, or
where after such sentence his conviction has been expunged, the court may,
for reasons to be recorded in the judgment, suspend for a period of from 3
(three) to 5 (five) years the enforcement of any sentence of imprisonment for
five (5) years or less, or for fine not imposed under Section 92 (2) (1) of this
Code
(2) Such suspension shall not affect any accessory penalty or
preventive measure resulting from the conviction.
(3) Where within the period so fixed, calculated from the date when the
judgment becomes final, the offender commits a further felony or
misdemeanour for which he is sentenced to imprisonment, and where such
sentence is not suspended on probation, both sentences shall be served
consecutively, that which has been suspended under this Section being
served first.
(4) The expiry of the said period shall otherwise produce the effects of
rehabilitation provided for by Section 676 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
B – PROBATION
SECTION 55: Where Applicable
(1) In any case where a sentence of 6 (six) months or more of
imprisonment may be suspended, suspension may be combined with
probation.
(2) When combined with probation suspension may also be granted to
an offender with a previous sentence of imprisonment suspended without
probation or with a previous sentence of imprisonment for less than 6 (six)
months not suspended.
(3) The period of probation may not be less than 3 (three) nor more
than 5 (five) years.
(4) Subject to subsections (1) and (2), Section 54 of this Code shall
apply to suspension on probation.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 56: Meaning of Probation
(1) Probation shall mean the subjection of the offender to general and,
in a fit case, to added special obligations of supervision and assistance.
(2) The offender’s compliance with his obligations shall be
superintended by a Magistrate nominated in that behalf, with the assistance
of salaried or honorary probation officers.
(3) The probation officer shall be chosen and may be replaced by the
Magistrate in charge.
(4) The Magistrate in charge at the offender’s residence may at any
time for reasons to be recorded in writing suspend all or any of the special
obligations or vary them, but not so as to make them more burdensome.
SECTION 57: General Obligati ons
An offender on probation shall always be subject to the general
obligations prescribed by Section 4 1 of this Code, save that for the supervisor
shall be substituted the probation officer.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 58: Special Obligations
In addition to the general obligations prescribed by the last preceding
Section, the judgment may subject the offender to one or more of the special
obligations described by Section 42.
SECTION 59: Duties of Probation Officer
(1) The probation officer shall be bound to satisfy himself that the
offender observes the general and special obligations of his probation, and in
addition to stimulate and encourage the offender’s efforts in the direction of
reform, in particular his family and occupational readaptation.
(2) He shall be bound to afford the offender all moral support in his
power, and it shall be his duty, where the offender is in need of financial
support, to apply to the Magistrate in charge to approach any social
assistance organization with a view to a grant.
(3) He shall report regularly to the said Magistrate on the progress of his
task, and shall refer to him in case of difficulty.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 60: Breach of Obligations
(1) Where during the period of probation the offender shall have broken
any general or special obligation, the court which suspended the sentence
may order its enforcement.
(2) Such order shall not carry with it revocation of any
suspension without probation.
13) Where a suspended sentence has not been revoked under this
Section or Section 54 of this Code, the expiry of the period shall produce the
effects provided for in Section 676 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
C – RELEASE ON LICENCE
SECTION 61: Definition
(1) Release on licence shall mean the premature release of a person
sentenced to loss of liberty, or subjected, by a convicti on decision, to a similar
preventive measure. Such release on licence shall be granted and revoked
by decree.
(2) The general conditions and detailed procedure for grant and
revocation of release on licence shall be prescribed by decree.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 62: Suspension of Measures
(1) The decree granting release on licence also suspends enforcement
of any order of confinement in a special health establishment, or of preventive
confinement, or of post-penal supervision and assistance, or of banned
occupation which would follow on release from the principal penalty.
(2) Such suspension shall become definitive 5 (five) years after the
expiry of the principal penalty.
SECTION 63: Time for Grant
(1) Release on licence from a principal penalty may not be granted
before service of half the sentence, or of the aggregate of consecutive
sentences, regard being had to remissions if any. It may not be granted to a
recidivist before service of two-thirds of the sentence.
(2) A person under preventive confinement may not be granted release
on licence before service of 5 (five) years of the sentence.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 64: Revocation
(1) Release on licence may be revoked on conviction for felony or
misdemeanor later committed or for breach of any of the general or special
conditions of the licence.
(2) In case of revocation the period of liberty shall not be counted in the
duration of the sentence.
D – SUSPENSION OF POST-PENAL MEASURES
SECTION 65: Suspension of Post-penal Measures
(1) On the proposal of the authority contemplated by Section 40 (2), the
court which has ordered post-penal measures, may at any time, for reasons
to be recorded in the order, suspend all or any of the special obligations
imposed, or vary them, but not so as to make them more burdensome.
(2) Such suspension may at any time in like manner be revoked.
(3) The duration of such suspension, whether or not revoked, shall be
counted in the duration of the measures.
E – PARDON – PRESCRIPTION – DEATH
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 66: Pardon
Pardon shall mean the commutation or remission, in whole or in part
and with or without conditions, of a penalty or preventive measure or of the
obligations of a probation order.
SECTION 67: Prescription
(1) Where a principal penalty has remained unenforced for the following
periods after judgment has become final, neither it nor any accessory penalty
or preventive measure accompanying it may any longer be enforced:
a) for felony: 20 (twenty) years ;
b) for misdemeanour and simple offence tried with mi’sdemeanour: 5
(five) years ;
c) for any other simple offence: 2 (two) years.
(2) Prescription shall be suspended while enforcement of the sentence
is prevented by any consideration of law or of fact apart from the offender’s
will.
Time shall begin to run again on the intervention of an enforcement
measure taken before the completion of the period.
A person convicted in default may no longer appear to serve his
sentence after prescription
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 68: Death
The offender’s death shall not prevent enforcement of pecuniary
sentences against his estate or closure of an establishment, or confiscation.
A – REHABILITATION
SECTION 69: Definition and Effect
(1) Rehabilitation is a measure which, unless otherwise provided by
law, expunges a conviction for felony or misdemeanour. It puts an end to any
accessory penalty and to any preventive measure except to confinement in a
health institution and closure of an establishment.
(2) Where a person has been convicted more than once, rehabi litation
shall apply to all the convictions.
(3) Rehabilitation shall be as of right or by court judgment.
(4) a) In order to be rehabilitated, an offender shall show proof of
payment of all costs and damages or of any reduction thereof granted him.
Otherwise, he shall prove that he served an imprisonment term in default of
payment.
b) Where he is convicted of fraudulent bankruptcy, he shall prove
the discharge of his liabilities relating to capital, interest and expenses or
prove that a reduction was granted him.
c) Where the civil party cannot be found, the amount due him shall
either be paid to his representative or, otherwise, into the deposit and
guarantee fund.
d) Where the offender claims that the civil party has refused the
amount due him, he shall show proof of such refusal and pay the said amount
into the deposit and guarantee fund.
e) The four-year prescription shall not be applicable hereto.
(5) a) Rehabilitation shall not as of right restore any decoration forfeited
nor automatically reinstate the person rehabilitated in any orders from which
he would have been debarred;
b) Police supervisory and security measures against the offender
shall remain enforceable,
c) Amounts paid in satisfaction of pecuniary sentences and
confiscations from the person rehabilitated shall remain with the Public
Treasury and shall be non-refundable;
d) Rehabilitation shall not as of right reinstate anyone in public office
or employment, rank, public or ministerial positions nor shall it give rise to any
reconstitution of his career.
However, the person rehabilitated shall regain the rights forfeited such
as parental authority, guardianship, electoral rights and the right to appear as
a witness in court.
e) Rehabilitation shall not bar an application for review of judgment
with a view to establishing innocence.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 70: Rehabilitation as of Right
(1) An offender who has not had any further sentence of imprisonment
for felony or misdemeanour shall as of right be rehabilitated upon expiry of
the following periods:
– Five (5) years, for a sentence of fine ;
– ten (10) years for a single sentence of imprisonment of up to six
months;
– fifteen (15) years for a single sentence of up to two years ;
– twenty (20) years for a single sentence of up to five years.
(2) The period shall be 15 (fifteen) years for an aggregate sentence of
more than1 (one) year but not more than 2 (two) years.
(3) Sentences ordered to run concurrently shall be counted as a single
sentence.
(4) The said periods shall run, in the case of a sentence of fine, from the
date of payment or of prescription, and in the case of loss of liberty, from the
date of expiry of the sentence, taking into consideration any remission or
prescription.
(5) The partial or total remission of a sentence shall amount to its partial or total execution.
SECTION 71 : Rehabilitation by Court
(1) Any offender may apply to the court for rehabilitat,or’
(2) Rehabilitation may only be applied for after 5 (five) years in the case
of a conviction for felony and after 3 (three) years in the case of a conviction
for misdemeanour. These time-limits shall run from the date following the day
of his release in the case of a sentence to loss of liberty, or payment in the
case of a fine.
(3) The time-limit prescribed in Subsection (2) above shall be doubled in
the case of persons with a previous conviction
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 72: Rehabilitation after death
(1) In the case of death of the offender, the application may be followed
up or even filed by his spouse, his ascendants or his descendants.
(2) In the case of death of the applicant, any application for
rehabilitation already filed may be continued by the Legal Department.
B – AMNESTY
SECTION 73: Effects of Amnesty
(1) Without prejudice to any civil right, an amnesty shall expunge a
conviction and shall put an end to the enforcement of all penalties, whether
principal or accessory, and of all preventive measures pronounced in
consequence of the conviction, save confinement in a health institution and
closure of an establishment.
(2) Unless otherwise expressed, an amnesty shall bar the
commencement or continuation of any prosecution.
(3) Unless so expressed, an amnesty shall not relieve of the liability for
any expenses due to the Treasury in respect of a conviction which has
become final.
(4) Unless so expressed, it shall not affect the right of the Treasury to
any sums already collected in satisfaction of expenses, fines or confiscation.
(5) Unless so expressed, it shall by itself neither restore to any
decoration nor restore to any order forfeited.
–
(6) Unless so expressed 1t shall not ot 1tseIf restore to anv 0ublic
service employment or ffice, and shall give no right to restoration on the
positIon In a public service which, but for the convictlon, would have been
attained
(7) It shall be no bar to an application for revision with a view to
establishing innocence in fact
PART III – CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY OF NATURAL PERSONS AND CORPORATE BODIES
CHAPTER I – GENERAL PROVISIONS
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 74: Punishment and Responsibility
(1) No penalty may be imposed except upon a person criminally
responsible.
(2) Criminal responsibility shall lie on him who intentionally commits
each of the ingredient acts or omissions of an offence with the intention of
causing the result which completes it.
(3) Save as otherwise provided by law, no criminal responsibility shall
arise from the result, though intended, of an omission.
(4) Save as otherwise provided by law, there shall be no criminal
responsibility unless subsection (2) of this Section has been satisfied.
Provided that responsibility for a simple offence shall not require any
intention to act or to omit or to cause the result.
SECTION 74-1: Criminal responsibility of corporate bodies.
a) Corporate bodies shall be criminally responsible for offences committed
on their behalf by their organs or representatives.
b) The provisions of the subsection (a) above shall not apply to the State
and its agencies.
c) The criminal responsibility of natural persons who are authors of
reprehensible acts may be compounded with that of corporate bodies.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 75 . Ignorance of Law and Motive
Neither ignorance of the law nor motive shall be material to cnmIna1
responsibility
SECTION 76: Execution of the Law
No act or omission in execution of the law or authorized by law, and
performed in accordance with the conditions prescribed by law, shall
constitute an offence.
CHAPTER II – IRRESPONSIBILITY AND DIMINISHED RESPONSIBILITY
SECTION 77: Accident and Physical Compulsion
No criminal responsibility shall arise from accident or from irresistible physical compulsion.
SECTION 78: Insanity
(1) No criminal responsibility shall arise from the act or omission of a
person suffering from mental illness which deprives him of all will-power or of
the knowledge that what he does is blameworthy.
(2) Mental illness whose consequences are only partial shall diminish
responsibility.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 79: Intoxication
Involuntary intoxication shall have the same effect as mental illness.
SECTION 80: Infancy
(1) No criminal responsibility shall arise from the act or omission of a
person aged less than 10 (ten) years.
(2) An offence committed by a person aged not less than 10 (ten) years
and not less than 14 (fourteen) years may attract only such special measures
as may by law be provided.
(3) For an offence committed by a person aged over 14 (fourteen) and
under 18 (eighteen) years, responsibility shall be diminished.
(4) A person aged 18 (eighteen) years or over shall be responsible as
ar adult
(5) The age relevant to this Section shall be that attained at the date of
commission.
SECTION 81 : Threats
(1) No criminal responsibility shall arise from submission to threats, not
otherwise avoidable, of imminent death or of grievous harm as defined by this
Code.
Provided that where the act committed is defined as an offence
punishable with death or has resulted in death or in grievous harm, the
responsibility of the person committing the act shall be merely diminished.
(2) This Section shall not apply to a person who has voluntarily exposed
himself to the risk of such threats.
SECTION 82: Compulsion
Responsibility shall be diminished for an offence committed:
a) by a person aged less than 18 (eighteen) years under the compulsion
of his parents or of the person having charge of him, or responsible for
him under customary law ;
b) by an employee or subordinate under the compulsion of his employer or
superior.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 83: Obedience to Lawful Authority
(1) No criminal responsibility shall arise from an act performed on the
orders of a competent authority to whom obedience is lawfully due.
(2) This Section shall not apply where the order is manifestly unlawful.
SECTION 84: Lawful Defence
(1) No criminal responsibility shall arise from an act dictated by the
immediate necessity of defence of the person acting or of any other person,
or of any right of himself or of any other, against an unlawful infringement:
Provided that the means of defence be proportionate to the seriousness of
the infringement threatened.
(2) Intentional killing shall be proportionate tc a•· attack causing a
1easonable apprehension of deatt of grievous harm as aefined by this Code
of rape or of sodomy.
SECTION 85: Provocation
(1) Responsibility shall be diminished for an offence immediately
provoked by the unlawful act of another against the offender or, in his
presence, against his spouse, descendant or ascendant, brother or sister,
employer or employee, or a minor or incapable in his charge.
Provided that the reaction be proportionate to the provocation.
(2) Intentional killing or wounding shall be proportionate to a
provocation by violent blows or injuries.
(3) Intentional killing or wounding of a spouse or of his or her lover shall
be proportionate to the provocation of finding them in the act of adultery.
(4) In order to diminish responsibility provocation must be of a kind to
deprive an ordinary person of self-control.
SECTION 86: State of Necessity
No criminal responsibility shall arise from an infringement of a right of
property, not justified as lawful defence under Section 84, but inflicted in order
to protect the person acting or any other person, or his or another’s property,
from a grave and imminent danger not otherwise avoidable. Provided that the
means of protection be proportionate to the harm.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 87: Effect of Diminished Responsibility
(1) Wherever responsibility is by law diminished, the penalty provided for
the offence shall be reduced as follows:
a) The penalty of death or of loss of liberty for life shall be reduced to loss
of liberty for from 2 (two) to 10 (ten) years;
b) Any other penalty for felony shall be reduced to loss of liberty for from 1
(one) to 5 (five) years;
c) The maximum penalty for misdemeanour, whether of loss of liberty or of
fine, shall be reduced by half, and the minimum to that provided by
Section 92 (1) of this Code.
(2) Where responsibility is reduced for more than one reason or where
there are in addition ‘Tiitigating circumstances the minimum shall be that
provided by Section 92 ( 1).
CHAPTER III – AGGRAVATION OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITYOF NATURAL PERSONS AND CORPORATE BODIES
SECTION 88: Previous convictions of natural persons and corporate bodies
(1) A recidivist shall be:
a) any natural person or corporate body who, having been convicted for a
felony or misdemeanour, commits another simple offence classified as
felony or misdemeanour within the time-limit running from the date of
final conviction and which expires 5 (five) years after the execution or
expiry of the sentence ;
b) any natural person or corporate body who, having been convicted for a
simple offence commits another simple offence within the time-limit
running from the date of final conviction, which expires 12 (twelve)
months after the execution or expiry of the sentence.
(2) In case of recidivism, the maximum penalty provided for shall be
doubled.
SECTION 89: Public servants
(1) Subject to any special penalties provided for felonies or
misdemeanours committed by national, foreign or international public
servants, national, foreign or international public officers or national, foreign
or international officials, the fact of being a public servant established or
otherwise shall aggravate the responsibility of any such person guilty of any
other felony or misdemeanour against which it is his duty to guard or to take
action.
(2) In case of aggravating circumstances, the maximum penalty
provided for shall be doubled.
CHAPTER IV – MITIGATION AND SELECTION OF SENTENCE
SECTION 90: Mitigation
The benefit of mitigating circumstances may be given, for reasons to be
recorded in the judgment, save where they are by law expressly excluded.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 91: Mitigation in Case of Felony
(1) Upon a finding of mitigating circumstances in favour of any person
convicted of felony, the sentence may be reduced to not less than 10 (ten)
years’ loss of liberty if the offence be punishable with death, to not less than 5
(five) years if it be punishable with loss of liberty for life, and to not less than 1
(one) year in any other case.
(2) Where the penalty is reduced under the last subsection to 10 (ten)
years or less the court may add a fine of up to CFAF 2 000 000 (two million).
SECTION 92: Mitigation in Other Cases
(1) Upon a finding of mitigating circumstances after conviction of
misdemeanour or of a simple offence, the court may reduce to 5 (five) days
any sentence of loss of liberty, and any sentence of fine to CFAF 1 (one), and
may pass sentence of one such penalty only.
(2) Where the offence is by law punishable with loss of liberty only, the
court may substitute a fine of up to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million) for
misdemeanour or up to CFAF 25 000 (twenty-five thousand) for a simple
offence.
SECTION 93: Selection of Sentence
Sentence of penalty or measure shall vary, within such limits as may be
prescribed or authorized by law, according to the circumstances of the
offence, and to the public danger which it may represent, to the
circumstances of the offender and to the likelihood of his reformation, and to
the practical means of carrying it out.
CHAPTER V – ATTEMPT AND CONSPIRACY
SECTION 94: Attempt
(1) An attempt to commit a felony or misdemeanour shall mean the
performance of any act towards its commission unambiguously indicating an
irrevocable intention to commit it, and shall be treated, where execution has
been arrested or has failed solely by reason of circumstances independent of
the offender’s will. as the commission of the felony or misdemeanour
attempted.
(2) An attempt shall be punishable notwithstanding that complete
execution was impossible by reason of a circumstance of fact unknown to the
offender.
(3) Mere preparation shall not constitute an offence.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 95: Conspiracy
(1) Conspiracy shall mean the resolve concerted and determined
between 2 (two) or more persons to commit an offence.
(2) There can be no conspiracy between husband and wife.
(3) Conspiracy to commit a felony or misdemeanour shall be treated,
where execution has failed solely by reason of circumstances independent of
the conspirators’ joint will as the commission of the felony or misdemeanour
resolved.
(4) The responsibility of a conspirator voluntarily withdrawing from the
conspiracy before execution has commenced shall be diminished.
(5) No penalty may be imposed upon a conspirator who prevents the
execution of the offence resolved or who before any attempt at execution
informs the administrative or judicial authorities of the conspiracy.
CHAPTER VI – PARTICIPATION
SECTION 96: Co-offenders
A co-offender shall mean a person who, in agreement with another,
takes part with him in the commission of an offence.
SECTION 97: Accessories
( 1) An accessory shall mean a person who abets the commission of a
felony or misdemeanour, that is:
a) who orders or in any manner causes the commission of an act or
omission so defined; or
b) who aids or facilitates the preparation or the commission of such an
offence.
(2) Attempted abetment shall be treated as abetment.
SECTION 98: Punishment of Co-offenders and Accessories
(1) Subject to any special provision of law, a co-offender and an
accessory shall be punishable in like manner as a sole or principal offender.
(2) Circumstances resu lting in the irresponsibility of any person, or in
his exemption from punishment or reduction or increase of his punishment,
shall, where personal, affect only the person concerned.
(3) Circumstances other than personal shall affect any co-offender or
accessory who could have foreseen them.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 99: Foreseeable Consequences
(1) Any co-offender or accessory to the commIssIon or attempted
commission of a felony or misdemeanour shall also be responsible in respect
of any other offence committed or attempted as a foreseeable consequence
of the agreement or abetment.
(2) Any person habitually frunishing place of refuge or assembly to malefactors of whose felonious conduct he is aware shall also be liable to punishment as their accessory.
SECTION 100: Accessory after the Fact
(1) An accessory after the fact sha mean a person who after the
commission of a felony or misdemeanour shelters an offender or his
accessories from arrest or from Investigation, or who has custody of or
disposes of anything taken, misappropriated or otherwise obtained by means
of the offence.
(2) This Section shall not apply as between husband and wife.
(3) An accessory after the fact shall oe punished under special provisions of law.
PART IV – STATE LAWS
SECTION 101: Breach of State Laws and Others
(1) Where any law of either Federated State expressly so provides, any
breach of such law which is not defined o r punishable under this Code or any
other federated law shall be punished with imprisonment for up to 1 (one)
year or with fine of from CFAF 25 000 (twenty-five thousand) to CFAF
500 000 (five hundred thousand) or with both such imprisonment and fine.
(2) Breach of any order lawfully issued under such law shall constitute a
simple offence.
BOOK II – PARTICULAR CRIMES
PART I – FELONIES AND MISDEMEANOURS AGAINST THE STATE
CHAPTER 1 – THE SECURITY OF THE STATE
A – EXTERNAL SECURITY
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 102: Hostilities against the Fatherland
Any citizen:
a) taking part in hostilities against the Republic;
b) or assisting or offering to assist the said hostilities;
shall be guilty of treason and punished with death.
SECTION 103: Other Felonies Punishable with Death
Shall, if a citizen, be guilty of treason and, if a foreigner, be guilty of
espionage, and shall in e ither .case be punished with death whoever:
a) instigates a foreign power to undertake hostilities against the Republic;
or
b surrenders or offers to surrender to a foreign power or to its agents any
troops, territory, installations or equipment employed in me defence of
the nation, or any defence secret, or who in wh atever manner acquires
such a secret with intent to surrender it to a foreign power;
c) with intent to inJure the defence of the nation, damages any
construction, installation or equipment, or commits any malpractice
liable to prevent their normal working or to lead to an accident.
SECTION 104: Penalties of Ordinary Law
On reduction of the penalty provided by Sections 102 and 103, any loss
of liberty shall be imprisonment.
SECTION 105: Prejudice Punishable with Ten Years
Shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 10 (ten) years
or with fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to CFAF
10 000 000 (ten million), or with both such imprisonment and fine whoever in
time of peace:
1. otherwise than in order to surrender it to a foreign power, acquires a
defence secret, or reveals such secret to a person not entitled to
know it ;
2. with intent to surrender them to a foreign power collects information,
articles, documents or processes, where advantage could be taken
of such collection to injure the defence of the nation ;
3. intrudes by any deceitful means into any installation, ship, aircraft or
vehicle employed in the defence of the nation ;
4. carries out any drawing, survey or photographic or topographical
operation within any defence installation or within any prohibited area
around it as laid down by the defence authorities and without their
permission ;
5. loiters within a fixed distance prohibited by competent authority
around a defence installation ;
6. fl ies without permission in a foreign aircraft over the territory of the
Republic ;
7. sets up secretly a means of correspondence or of long distance
transmission liable to injure the defence of the nation ;
8. by any activity not approved by the Government exposes the
Republic to reprisals ;
–
9. enlists or undertakes training without prior permission of the competent Cameroon authorities.
In the Armed Forces or Police Forces of a
foreign country and engages in activities injurious to the defence of
the nation or in activities capable of eventually exposing the Republic
to a rebellion or an insurrection.”
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 106: Prejudice Punishable with Five Years
Shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years or
with fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 5 000 000 (five
million). or with both such imprisonment and fine whoever in time of peace:
1. carries on with the agents of a foreign power a course of
communication liable to injure the defence or diplomatic position of
the Republic ;
2. Within the territory of the Republic and without the permission of the
Government recruits or enlists any person for any foreign armed
forces ; or
3. by any activity not approved by the Government exposes any citizen
to reprisals; or
4. without permission from the Government surrenders or
communicates to a foreign power or its agents any invention
connected with the defence of the nation, or any information, study
or process regarding such an invention, or any industrial application
connected with the defence of the nation; or
5. by rashness, carelessness, or breach of any regulation, permits the
removal or observation, whether in whole or in part, and for however
short a time, of any article, equipment, document or information
entrusted to him or in his care, and knowledge of which is liable to
lead to the discovery of a defence secret; or
6. by rashness, carelessness, or breach of any regulation permits the
damage or destruction of any object, equipment or document
entrusted to him or in his care, where such damage or destruction is
prejudicial to the defence of the nation; or
7. being in control of any supplies, concern or undertaking on behalf of
the armed forces. or being agent for any supplier or a subcontractor,
causes the service to fail or to be delayed, be it merely by
carelessness; or
8. being in control of any supplies, concern or undertaking on behalf of
the armed forces commits a fraud in respect of the description, the
quality or the amount of works, of labour or of articles supplied.
9. enlists undertakes training without prior permission of the competent
Cameroon authorities, in the Armed Forces or Police Forces of a
foreign country
SECTION 107: Failure to Report
Any citizen who in time of peace fails to inform the defence,
administrative or legal authorities, so soon as he comes to know of it, of any
activity liable to injure the defence of the nation shall be punished as under
the last foregoing Section.
SECTION 108: Wartime
(1) Any citizen or resident who in time of war and without permission
from the proper authority
a) carries on any correspondent or relations with the subjects or agents of
the enemy; or
b) concludes, directly or indirectly, any business transaction with a subject
or agent of the enemy, or with any person residing in his territory.
(2) Shall be punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty)
years Whoever in time of war:
a) joins in any undertaking to spread alarm and despondency in the
defence forces or in the nation, with intent thereby to injure the defence
of the nation; or
b) commits any offence described by Sections 105, 106 or 107.
(3) Shall be punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty)
years. Whoever in time of war commits any act of any kind liable to injure the
defence of the nation shall, if no higher penalty be provided, be punished with
imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years, or with fine of from CFAF 50
000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 5 000 000 (five million), or with both such
imprisonment and fine.
(4) For the purposes of subsections 2 and 3 of this Section, any state of
emergency, mobilization or siege shall be treated as time of war.
SECTION 109: Defence Secret
For the purposes of this Code a defence secret shall mean any
information of whatever kind liable to assist hostile undertakings against the
Republic and not already made public.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 11 0: Extension to Foreign Power
The provisions of the foregoing Sections may be extended by decree so
as to apply in like manner to acts committed against foreign powers.
B- INTERNAL SECURITY OF THE STATE
SECTION 111: Secession
(1) Whoever undertakes in whatever manner to infringe the territorial
integrity of the Republic shall be punished with imprisonment for life.
(2) In time of war, or in a state of emergency or siege, the penalty shall
be death.
SECTION 112: Civil War
Whoever provokes civil war by arming the people, or by inciting them to
take arms against each other, shall be punished with death.
SECTION 113: Propagation of False Information
Whoever sends out or propagates false information liable to injure
public authorities or national unity shall be punished with imprisonment for
from 3 (three) months to 3 (there) years and with fine of from CFAF 100 000
(one hundred thousand) to CFAF 2 000 000 (two million).
On reduction of the penalty provided by Sections 111 (2) and 112, any
loss of liberty shall be imprisonment.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 114: Revolution
Whoever by force attempts to alter the laws composing the Constitution,
or to overturn the political authorities set up by the said laws or to render
them incapable of exercising their powers shall be punished with
imprisonment for life.
SECTION 115. Armed Band
(1) Whoever, with intent to commit a felony defined by Sections 11 1,
112 and 114, or to hinder the operations of the forces of order against those
committing any such felony, forms an armed band, or holds any office or
command in it or joins in such band’s commission of or attempt to commit
such felony shall be punished with imprisonment for life.
(2) Any other member of such band shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 10 (ten) to (twenty) years.
(3) For the purposes of this Section an armed band shall mean any
gathering of 5 (five) or more persons of whom any one bears any arm, open
or concealed.
(4) The provisions of Section 95 (5) of this Code shall apply to this
Section.
SECTION 116: Insurrection
Whoever during an insurrection:
a) instigates or encourages by whatever means the gathering of the
insurgent; or
b) hinders by whatever means the summoning, the assembly or the
operations of the forces of order, or usurps their command; or
c) invades or destroys any public or private building; or
d) holds or seizes any weapon, ammunition or explosives ; or
e) wears any official uniform, garb or emblem, whether civil or military,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1O (ten) to 20 (twenty) years.
SECTION 117: Weapons
For the purposes of the foregoing Section a weapon shall include both
an arm properly so called and any other article carried with intent thereby to
inflict bodily harm or material damage.
C – ACCESSORY PENALTIES
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 118: Specific Confiscation
On conviction for any felony or misdemeanour defined by this Chapter
the confiscation prescribed by Section 35 of this Code shall be ordered and
may also be extended to property not belonging to the offender.
SECTION 119: Confiscation of Unlawful Property
(1) Upon conviction for any felony or misdemeanour defined by this
Chapter, the Court may order confiscation of the offender’s property, of
whatever nature and whether or not held jointly, to which he can show no
lawful title.
(2) In time of war such confiscation shall always be ordered.
SECTION 120: General Confiscation
Upon conviction for any felony defined by this Chapter the Court may in
addition order the confiscation of all or part of the offender’s property lawfully
acquired.
SECTION 121: Forfeiture
(1) Upon conviction for a felony defined by this Chapter the duration of
the forfeitures described in Section 30 may not be reduced below 5 (five)
years.
(2) Upon conviction for a misdemeanour and sentence under this
Chapter to loss of liberty the Court may order such forfeiture for not less than
five nor more than 10 (ten) years.
(3)The duration of the post-penal measures described in Section 40 of
this Code may be extended to 10 (ten) years.
(4) Where the offender, in case either of felony or misdemeanour, is an
officer or official of the public service or a member of the armed forces, the
disqualification from public service may be for life.
CHAPTER II – OFFENCES AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION
A – ELLECTORAL OFFENCES
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 122: Electoral Fraud
(1)Whoever
a) registers on electoral registers using a false identity or
or who, during registration, conceals the fact that he has has been:
– convicted for an offence, even in default ;
– sentenced to an imprisonment term of more than 3 (three) months without suspension;
– sentenced to an imprisonment term of more than 6 (six) months
with suspension or probation;
– the subject of an arrest warrant;
– bankrupt, not rehabilitated and whose bankruptcy has been
declared either by a Cameroonian court or by a judgment
rendered abroad and enforceable Cameroon;
b) through false statements or certificates, registers himself unduly on an ellectoral register or who, through the same means, unduly register or cancels the name of a citizen;
c) upon losing his right to vote, participates in the poll;
d) votes, either by virtue of a false registration or by using the name and capacity of other registered votes;
e) votes several times, following multiple registrations;
f) charged during an election with receiving and counting the vote of citizens, subtracts, adds or modifies the ballot papers or includes a name that is not registered;
g) through false information, slanderous statements or any other fraudulent acts, cancels or diverts votes or causes one or several voters to abstain from the vote;
h) before or after the poll, failing to comply with legislative or regulatory provisions or through any other fraudulent act violates secrecy of the poll, prejudices its fairness, breaches the conduct of the poll and modifies the results thereof;
i) is found guilty of fraudulent acts in the issuance or production of certificates of registration or striking off from electoral registers;
j) uses personal data contained in the electoral register for purposes
other than elections
K) on polling day with or without violence, is found to be the author or
an accessory of the stealing of a ballot box or any other election
material
shall be punished with imprisonment of from 3 (three) months to 2 (two)
years or a fi ne of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred
thousand) or with both such imprisonment and fine;
(2) Where the author of the offence or his accessory is a public servant,
as defined under Section 131 of this Code, he shall be liable to imprisonment
of from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years.
Whoever:
a) through menacing gatherings, clamours or demonstrations, disrupts
election operations or infringes the exercise of the right or freedom to
vote ;
b) On polling day, is found guilty of insult or violence against the local
polling commission or any of its members, or through assault or threats,
delays or obstructs election operations;
c) through gifts, generosity, favours, promise of public or private
employment or any other specific benefits offered with the purpose of
influencing the vote of one or several electors, obtains their vote, either
directly or through a third party;
d) directly or through a third party, accepts or requests from candidates
the above-mentioned gifts, generosity, favours or benefits;
e) through assault, violence or threats against an elector, either by making
him fear to lose his job qr expose himself, his family or fortune to
danger, influences his vote,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 2
(two) years or with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 100 000
(one hundred thousand) or with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 123-1: Weapons during Elections
(1) Any person who enters a polling station with a visible weapon shall
be punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) days to 2 (two) months or
with a fine of from CFAF 25 000 (twenty-five thousand) to CFAF 250 000 (two
hundred and fifty thousand) or with both such imprisonment and fine.
(2) The imprisonment term may be extended to 4 (four) months d •ne
fine to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand) if the weapon is hidden.
SECTION 123-2 : Political Demonstrations during the Electoral Period
(1) Any activity or manifestation of a political character shall be
prohibited within public establishments as well as in school and university
establishments.
(2) Any infringement of the provisions of Subsection 1 above shall be
punished with imprisonment for from ten (10) days to four (4) months or with
fine of from CFAF 25 000 (twenty-five thousand) to CFAF 250 000 (two
hundred and fifty thousand) or with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 123-3: Misappropriation of Public Funds in Election Matters
Whoever, acting on his personal behalf or on behalf of a political party,
uses funds received in the context of public funding for purposes other than
those provided for under the Law relating to the Electoral Code, shall be liable
to with the punishment provided for in Section 184 of the Penal Code.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 123-4: Criminal Proceedings in Election Matters
Save in case of flagrante delicto, no criminal proceedings shall be
instituted against a candidate for infringement of any of the provisions of Book
II Part I Chapter 2 (A) of this law before the proclamation of the election
results.
B – CONCERT
SECTION 124: Against the Law, the Operation of a Public Service, or the Security of the State
(1) Any person in whom is vested any part of public authority, and any
public servant, who with any other such person concerts or determines:
– any measure contrary to law or to any regulation lawfully issued
thereunder; or
– any measure, including collective resignation, designed primarily to
obstruct or to interrupt the carrying on of a public service.
Shall be punished with detention for from 6 (six) months to 3 (three)
years.
(2) Where the object is between civil and military … f-
punishment shall be imprisonment … 1 (one) to 10 (ten) years
(3) Where the object of the concert described the last preceding
subsection is a felony against the security of the State, the punishment shall
be death.
C – TRESPASS
SECTION 125: On Legislature
Any public servant who:
a) assumes the exercise of legislative power ;
b) refuses to enforce any provision of law,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 5 (five)
years.
SECTION 126: By Executive and Judiciary Reciprocally
Whoever:
– being the representative of the executive authority, issues any order
or prohibition to any Court; or
– being a legal or judicial officer, issues any order or prohibition to any
execution or administrative authority – shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 5 (five) years.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 127: By Judicial or Particular Immunities
Any judicial, legal or investigating police officer who prosecutes, arrests
or tries anyone in violation of any law conferring immunity shall be punish
with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years.
SECTION 128: Unlawful Use of Force
Whoever requires or orders the intervention or the use of public force
against the enforcement of any provision of law or regulation, or against any
lawful order, whether judicial or administrative, shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 3 (three) to 10 (ten) years, and with fine of from CFAF
20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 200 000 (two hundred thousand).
SECTION 129: Non-Compliance with Requisition
Any commander of any public force who does not comply with a lawful
requisition for its use by the civil authorities shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 2 (two) years
E • ACCESSORY PENALTIES
SECTION 130: Forfeitures
On conviction for any misdemeanour under this Chapter the Court may
impose for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years the forfeitures described by Section
30 of this Code.
CHAPTER III – OFFENCES COMMITTED BY PUBLIC SERVANTS
A – PRELIMINARY
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 131: Definition of Public Servant
For the purposes of any criminal law, a public servant shall include, any
judicial or legal officer, any law official, any employee or official of the State or
of any other body corporate governed by public law, or of a corporation or
semi-public corporation, of a law official, any Armed Forces or Gendarmerie
serviceman, any employee of the National Security or Prison Administration
and any person charged, whether continuously or occasionally with any
public duty, mission or task, while acting in the discharge of his office or in
relation to the said office.
SECTION 131-1: Foreign or International Public Servant
For the purposes of this Code, a foreign or international public official
shall include any appointed or elected legislative, executive, administrative, or
judicial officer of a foreign country, or of a public international organization,
and any public service employee of a foreign country or of any other public
corporate body.
SECTION 132: Aggravation for Public Servants
(1) Any public servant who uses force to any person shall be punished,
where no heavier punishment is provided, with imprisonment for from six
months to five years.
(2)The punishment provided by Sections 189 … Governmen
papers); 206 (licences and similar documents), 207 (official certificates); 291
(1) (false arrest), 292 (forced labour), 299 (invasion of residence); 300
(tampering with correspondence); 310 (professional secrecy); 315 (forged
certificate) shall be doubled where the offender is a public servant.
SECTION 133: Forfeitures, Confiscation and Publicity
(1) Upon conviction for any offence defined in this Chapter, or sentence
under Section 89 of this Code, the Court may impose on the public servant
found guilty the forfeitures described by Section 30 of this Code.
Provided that the Court shall be bound to impose the forfeitures listed in
Section 30 in the cases covered by Sect ions 134, 134-1 , 135, 136 and 161of
this Code.
(2) Where sentence is passed for any offence referred to in Sections
134, 134-1, 135, 136 and 161 of this Code, the Court shall be bound to order
the confiscation provided for in Section 35 and that its judgment be made
known by print, audiovisual and cybernetic media.
B – UNDUE ADVANTAGE
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 134: Active Corruption
(1) Any national, foreign or international civil servant or public employee
who, for himself or for a third party, solicits, accepts or receives any offer,
promise, gift or present in order to perform, refrain from performing or
postpone any act of his office shall be punished with imprisonment of from 5
(five) to 10 (ten) years or with fine of from CFAF 200 000 (two hundred
thousand) to CFAF 2 000 000 (two million).
(2) The penalty provided for in Subsection 1 above shall be
imprisonment for from one to 5 (five) years and with fine of from CFAF 100
000 (one hundred thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million) where the act is
not part of the duties of the corrupt person but has been facilitated by his
position.
(3) Any national or international public official who solicits and accepts
any retribution in kind or in cash for himself or a third party, in remuneration
for an act that has or has not been performed, shall be punished with the
penalties provided for under Sub-section 2 above.
(4) Penalties provided for under Subsections 1, 2 and 3 shall be
doubled where the offender 1s a Judicial or Legal Officer a Judicial Police
Officer an employee of the institution in charge of the fight against corruption
the head of an administrative unit or any other sworn public servant or
employee
SECTION 134-1: Passive corruption
(1) Whoever makes promises, offers, gifts and presents or yields to
requests liable to result in corruption in order to obtain either the
performance, postponement or abstention from an act or one of the favours
or benefits defined in Section 134 above, shall be punished in like manner as
under Section 134 (1) above, whether corruption produced its effects or not.
(2) Whoever makes gifts or presents or yields to requests for
remuneration for an act performed or deliberately not performed shall be
punished with penalties provided for in Section 134 (2) above.
SECTION 134-2: Exemption from Criminal Proceedings
In the application of Sections 134 and 134-1 above, criminal
proceedings shall not be brought against the person approached provided he
reports the acts of corruption to judicial authorities.
SECTION 135: Interest in grant
(1) Any public servant or government employee who takes or accepts
any interest, direct or indirect:
a) In any grant, contract or selection of tenders subject to his opinion or
which he supervised, controlled, administered or drew up; or
b) In any private concern, cooperative or corporation in which the State
has shares, in any authority or concession subject to his supervision or
control; or
c) In contracts or agreements signed on behalf of the State or a local
authority with a natural person or corporate body; or
d) In any business for which it is his duty to authorize payment or
liquidation;
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years and
with fine of from CFAF 200 000 (two hundred thousand) to CFAF 2 000 000
(two million).
(2) The provisions of this Section shall be applicable to former public
servants as defined in Section 131 of this Code who, within 5 (five)
years from cessation of duties as a result of resignation, dismissal,
leave, placement on reserve or retirement or for any other reason
having any kind of interest in any grant, operation or concern
mentioned above and previously subject to their supervision, control
and administration or for whose payment or liquidation they were
responsible.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 135-1: Insider Trading
Whoever being:
a) a commercial or industrial company manager, or a natural person, who
by reason of their duties or professions, has insider information on the
situation or prospects of the issuer of stocks and shares whose
transferrable securities are on the market, performs or knowingly helps
to perform either directly or indirectly, transactions before public
disclosure of such Information, with the objective of obtaining an undue
profit;
b) a natural person who, in the course of his duties or profession, has
access to privileged information on the situation or prospects of the
issuer of stocks and shares whose transferrable securities are on the
market, and who beyond the scope of his ordinary duties of profession,
transmits the information to a third party with a view to obtaining an
undue profit;
c) natural person, in the exercise of his profession or duties, possesses
privileged information that is considered confidential, relating to the
implementation of a project by the State, regional and local authority or
any other public corporate body, uses the information to his advantage
or that of a third party so as to delay the envisioned project or to include
additional costs;
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 2 (two) years
and with fine of from CFAF 1 000 000 (one million) to CFAF 10 000 000 (ten
million) ;
The punishment shall be doubled where the offender …
or a public employee as defined by the Code
SECTION 135-2: Interference w ith the Financial Market
(1) Any natural person or corporate body who:
rigs the functioning of the market ;
– gives undue advantage to persons who would not have had it under
normal market conditions ;
– violates the right to equal information and treatment of investors or
their interests ;
– allows issuers and investors to engage in practices contrary to their
obligations ;
– habitually provides investment services to third parties without
authorization ;
– carries out negotiations or transactions other than those provided for
by the regulations in force on securities listed on the stock market
without referring to an investment service provider,
shall be punished with fine of from CFAF 500 000 (five hundred
thousand) to CFAF 5 000 000 (five million).
(2) Any natural person or corporate body who knowingly propagates
false or deceptive information on the situation or prospects of an issuer
whose securities are on the market such as to influence the prices, or
interfere or attempt to interfere, in any manner, with the proper functioning of
the market, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 2
(two) years or with fine of from CFAF 1 000 000 (one million) to CFAF
10 000 000 (ten million) or with both such imprisonment and fine.
(3) The accessory penalties provided for in Sections 33, 34 and 35 of
this Code may also be imposed by the competent court.
(4) The competent court may, in addition, and if need be, impose a fine
higher than the amounts provided for in Subsection 1 above and up to ten
fold the profit made. The amount imposed shall not be lower than the said
profit.
SECTION 136: Interest in concern
( 1) Any person whose duties include the supervision of any concern
undertaking or concession, or the expression of an opinion on its operations.
and who, in any manner, assists or shares in its financing or operation,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 2 (two) years
or with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 2 000 000 (two
million) or with both such imprisonment and fine.
(2) The like assistance or sharing, except by way of shares inherited,
within 5 (five) years of cessation of such duties shall be punished as provided
for in Subsection 1 above.
SECTION 136 -1: Prohibited Employment
Any public employee holding administrative functions, whether
temporary or not, of control, supervision, or counseling in a private company
who, before the expiry of a period of 3 (three) years, with effect from the end
of his functions, joins the managerial staff or enters into a contract of
employment with the said company, shall be punished with imprisonment for
from 6 (six) months to 2 (two) years or with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty
thousand) to CFAF 2 000 000 (two million) or with both such imprisonment
and fine.
C – OFFENCES AGAINST THE PUBLIC I
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 137: Indulgence against the State
Any public servant or public employee who grants exemption from any
fee, due, duty, tax or contribution, or who sells at a lesser price than that
prescribed, any property of the State, of a cooperative, or of any authority or
corporation either public or subject to the administrative control of the State,
or in which the State holds, whether directly or not, the majority of the shares,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 2 (two) to 10 (ten) years and
with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 2 000 000 (two
million).
SECTION 138: Failure to Report Deficiency
Any public servant or foreign public employee, having knowledge of any
cash or book deficiency in the accounts of a public employee under his orders
or supervision, and fai ling to report the deficiency to the legal authorities or to
his immediate superior, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one)
to 5 (five) years and with fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million).
SECTION 139: Negligent Custody
Any custodian who by negligence permits
– destruction, defacement or abstraction of any property described by
Section 187 of this Code, shall be punished with imprisonment for
from 1 (one) month to 1 (one) year and with fine of from CFAF
10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) ;
– abstraction, removal or destruction within the meaning of Section
188, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months
to 1 (one) year and with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to
CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) ;
– breach of seals as described by Section 191, shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 6 (six) days to 6 (six) months;
– escape or rescue within the meaning of Section 193, shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 2 (two) months to 2 (two) years
D – OFFENCES AGAINST PRIVATE INTERESTS
SECTION 140: Abuse of function
(1) Any public servant or foreign public employee who takes advantage
of his position to infringe any private right or interest, shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 3 (three) years or with fine of from CFAF
5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) or with both such
imprisonment and fine.
(2) Where the offence is committed with the intent to procure to the
offender or to another any
gain of any kind, imprisonment, shall be for from 2 (two) to 10 (ten) years and
with fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one
million).
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 141 : Against Civic Rights
Any public servant who obstructs the exercise by a citizen of his
electoral rights, or his exercise or enjoyment of the rights mentioned in
Section 30 (1), (2), (4) or (5) of this Code, shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years.
ss
SECTION 142 Undue Dema11d
Any public servant or public employee, notary public, public auctioneer,
bailiff or process server or representative of any such wh o demands any fee,
due, duty or tax which is not due, or any material benefit otherwise than on
payment of the proper price, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 2
(two) to 10 (ten) years and with fine of from CFAF 200 000 (two hundred
thousand) to CFAF (two million).
SECTION 143: Favouritism
(1) Any public servant who decides between parties based on favour or
ill will shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years.
(2) Where that person is a judicial and legal officer or an administrative
SECTION 144: Forgery of Official Act
(1) Any public servant or public employee who falsely makes or alters,
whether in its substance or in the dates or signatures of the parties or
witnesses, any deed entry or other writing which it is his duty to draw up,
record, certify or serve, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten)
to 20 (twenty) years and with fine of from CFAF 300 000 (three hundred
thousand) to CFAF 3 000 000 (three million).
(2) Whoever uses such document shall be punished as provided fo
Subsection (1) above.
E – CULPABLE ABSTENTION
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 145: Failure to Suppress Riot
Any public servant who, having the power, the duty and the means so to do,
refrains from dispersing a riot within the meaning of Section 232 of this Code,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 2 (two)
years.
SECTION 146: Failure to Protect Private Rights
Any civil servant, who, having the power, the duty and the means so to
do, refrains from preventing the use of force against any person, or his
deprivation of liberty or any obstruction to the exercise of his civic or
individual rights within the meaning of Section 141 of the Code shall be,
punished as an accessory
SECTION 147: Denial of Justice
Any person exercising judicial functions who declines, after having been
duly moved in that behalf, to issue a decision, shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 2 (two) years.
SECTION 148: Refusal of Service
Any public servant, notary public, public auctioneer, bailiff or process
server who, having been lawfully required, refrains from performance of any
duty of his office, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three)
months to 2 (two) years.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 149: Neglect of Preliminaries to Marriage
(1) Any registrar of births, marriages and deaths who registers a
marriage celebrated by himself:
a) without checking that all consents required for its validity have been
given; or
b) before the expiry of such time as may be prescribed in case the wife
has already been married,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 1 (one) year
and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 70 000 (seventy
thousand).
(2) The consequences of the irregularity in civil law shall be immaterial
to the applicability of this Section.
SECTION 150 : Keeping of Civil Status Register
(1) Any civil status registrar who:
a) makes any entry elsewhere than in the registers prescribed for that
purpose or fails to make such entries ;
b) having received a birth or death declaration fails to register it;
c) celebrates a marriage for which he is not territorially competent ;
d) makes an entry other than those provided for ;
e) knowingly registers a marriage for which banns were not published or to
which the impediment raised has not been lifted ;
f) regIsters a customary marriage which may not … certified by the customary heads or the two spouses
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 3 (three) months
and with fine of from CFAF 2 000 (two ·thousand) to CFAF 40 000 (forty
thousand).
(2) Whoever, though bound by law to declare a vital event, and for no
legitimate reason, fails to do so, or makes a false or inaccurate declaration,
shall be punished as provided fo r in Subsection 1 above.
SECTION 151 : Persistent Neglect
(1) Any public servant or private sector employee whose persistent
neglect or obstruction is the cause of procrastination, delay or confusion, or
who persistently refrains from performing any duty of his office shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 2 (two) years and
with fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred
thousand).
(2) Proceedings may be instituted only upon the prior complaint of his
superior.
CHAPTER IV – OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC AUTHORITY
SECTION 152: Contempt
(1) A contempt shall mean any defamation, abuse or threat conveyed
by gesture, word or cry uttered in any place open to the public, or by any
procedure intended to reach the public.
(2) The exceptions defined by Section 306 shall be applicable to
contempt.
(3) Prosecution shall be barred by the lapse of four months from
commission of the offence or from the last step in preparation or prosecution.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 153: Contempt of President
(1) Whoever commits a contempt of the President of the Republic or
any person exercising the whole or a part of their prerogatives, or of any
foreign Head of State shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to
5 (five) years or with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF
20 000 000 (twenty million) or with both such Impnsonment and fine.
(2) Whoever commits a contempt of any foreign Head of Government,
or of any minister in charge of foreign affairs of a foreign Government, or of a
diplomatic representative accredited to the Government of the Republic shall
be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 2 (two) years or
with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 20 000 000 (twenty
million), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
(3) The truth of the defamatory matter may never be proved.
SECTION 154: Contempt of Public Bodies and Public Servants
(1) Whoever commits a contempt:
–
a) of any Court, of any of the armed forces, or of any public body or
public administration; or
b) in relation to his office or position, of any Member of Government or
of Parliament, or of any public servant;
shall be punished, unless, in the case of defamation, he proves the truth of
the defamatory matter, with imprisonment for 3 (three) months to 3 (three)
years, or with fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to CFAF
2 000 000 (two million), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
(2) Whoever, whether in speech or in writing intended for the public,
incites to revolt against the Government or institutions of the Republic shall
be punished with the penalties provided in subsection (1) above.
SECTION 155: Where not Public
Where any defamation, abuse or threat has been committed otherwise
than publicly against any person defined by either of the last two foregoing
Sections; the punishment whether of loss of liberty or of fine, shall be halved.
SECTION 156: Assault on Public Servant
(1) Whoever uses force on a public servant or otherwise interferes with
him, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) month to 3 (three)
years and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 100 000
(one hundred thousand).
(2) Where the force or interference is premeditated, or where it results,
intentionally or otherwise, in harm within the meaning of Sections 277 or 280
of this Code, the punishment shall be imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 10
(ten) years and fine of from CFAF= 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand)
(3) The Court may In any case impose the forfeitures described by
Section 30 of this Code
(4) Where the force or interference res ults unintentionally in death, the
punishment shall be imprisonment for life.
(5) Where the force or interference is intended to cause death the
punishment shall be death.
8 – RESISTANCE
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 157: Resistance
(1) Whoever:
a) by any means whatever incites to the obstruction of the execution of
any law, regulation, or lawful order of the public authority;
b) by force or other interference obstructs the performance of lawful,
duty by any person engaged in the execution of any law, regulation,
decision in the administration of justice or other lawful order shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 4 (four) years.
(3)In the case provided under subsection 1 (b) above, the punishment,
shall be for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years if the offender or any co-offender is
armed.
SECTION 158: Collective Resistance
(1) Where the offence defined in the last foregoing Section is committed
by 5 (five) or more persons together the punishment shall be imprisonment
for from 1 (one) to (3) three years, and where at least 2 (two) of them openly
bear arms the imprisonment shall be for from 5 (five) to 15 (fifteen) years.
(2) Any co-offender who himself bears arms, open or concealed, shall
be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to15 (fifteen) years.
SECTION 159 – Political Resistance (repealed).
C- 1NFLUENCE AND FRAUD
SECTION 160: Compulsion of Public Servant.
Whoever by interference or threat procures a public servant improperly
to perform or to refrain from any act of his office, shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 2 (two) to 10 (ten) years and with fi ne of from CFAF
20 000 (twenty thousand) to 1 000 0 00 (one million).
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 161: Procuring Influence.
(1) Whoever by assault or threat or by gift or promise corrupts a person
having any influence, real or supposed, with interest to procure any
advantage from any public authority, shall be punished in like manner as
under Section 160.
(2) Any public servant or public employee who for himself or a third
party solicits, receives or accepts any offer, promise or gift to procure any
advantage from any public authority or body placed under the control of the
public authority, any contract, operation or other benefit arising from
agreements concluded with pubic authority or a body placed under the control
of the public authority and in this way taking undue advantage of the real or
supposed influence that his status or office has conferred upon him shall be
punished in like manner as under Section 160 of this Code.
SECTION 162: Misleading Public Servant.
(1) Whoever by any false statement influences the conduct of a public
servant shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 3
(three) months and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF
50 000 (fifty thousand).
(2) Where the statement is a report relating to the registration of any
birth, marriage or death, the imprisonment shall be from 3 (three) months to 3
(three) years.
(3) Where the statement is made on oath the imprisonment shall be
from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years.
(4) Whoever by any means procures the entry in the criminal record of
any one person of the conviction of any other shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 1 (one) to (5) five years.
(5) Whoever by any means procures the improper issue to himself of an
extract from the criminal record of another person shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 1 (one) month to 1 (one) year
SECTION 163: Fraud at Examinations
Whoever commits any fraud at an examination or competition with
intent thereby to procure his entry into any public service, or any degree
certificate or qualification issued by the State or by a public service, whether
national or foreign shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one)
month to 3 (three) years or with fine of from CFAF 25 000 (twenty-five
thousand) to CFAF 2 000 000 (two million), or with both such imprisonment
and fine.
SECTION.163 – 1: Corruption in administrative competitive examinations
or other examinations
(1) Whoever, through corruption facilitates the success or causes the
failure of a candidate in an administrative competitive examination or other
examinations shall be punished with imprisonment for from 2 (two) to 5 (five)
years or with fine of from CFAF 200 000 (two hundred thousand) to CFAF
2 000 000 (two million) or with both such imprisonment and fine.
(2) Whoever through corruption declares successful one or more
candidates who did not sit for an examination shall be punished as provided
for in Subsection 1 above.
D- PERVERSION OF JUSTICE
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 164: Perjury
(1) Whoever in any proceeding gives on oath or affirmation false
evidence capable of influencing the decision, shall be punished, where he
may no longer alter it:
a) Where the proceeding terminates in an order of discharge, with
imprisonment for from 3
(three) months to 1 (one) year and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five
thousand) to CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) ;
b) Where the proceeding is a criminal trial and the charge is:
– of simple offence, with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 3 (three)
years and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF
100 000 (one hundred thousand);
– of misdemeanour, with improsinment for from one to 5 (five) years and with fine of from CFAF 10 000(ten thousand) to CFAF 500 000
hundred thousand);
– of felony, with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years and with
fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand’ to CFAF 2 000 000 (two
million);
– of felony punishable with death, with imprisonment for life.
c) In the case of any other proceeding with imprisonment for from 1 (one)
to 5 (five) years and with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to
CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
(2) Where the false witness has received any gift or accepted any promise,
any penalty of limited duration and any fine shall be doubled, and any such
gift shall be confiscated.
(3) Any interpreter who in any proceeding distorts the meaning of any
words or writing which he is bound to translate shall be punished in like
manner as if he had committed perjury.
SECTION 165: False Expert Report
An expert referee making a false report which he may no anger a ter
shall be punished as provided by Section 164 (2).
SECTION 166: False Oath
Any party to judicial proceedings other than criminal who swears falsely
to any point the truth of which has been committed to his oath shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years and with fine of
from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
SECTION 167: Concealment of Proceeding
Any party to judicial proceedings who keeps his opponent, by any false
pretence within the meaning of Section 318 (1) (c), in ignorance of any step
against him shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to
2 (two) years or with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF
1 000 000 (one million) or with both such imprisonment and fine.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 168: Concealment and Fabrication of Evidence
– (1) Whoever with intent to influence any judicial proceeding:
destroys or conceals any physical evidence or obstructs the
attendance of a witness; or
– fabricates or uses false physical evidence or misleads a witness;
shall be punished in like manner as if he had committed perjury, according to
the distinctions drawn by Section 164.
(2) Whoever obtains from any person a promise not to report a felony or
misdemeanour, or not to give evidence, shall be punished in like manner.
Provided that this subsection shall not apply to a promise obtained without
the aid of the means described by Section 161 from the victim of a
misdemeanour or his legal representative.
SECTION 169: Prejudicial Comment
(1) Whoever refers publicly to any judicial proceeding not yet terminated
by final judgment in a manner liable to influence, whether intentionally or not,
the opinion of any person for or against any party, shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 3 (three) months and with fine of
from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand).
(2) Nothing in this Section shall apply to an account in good faith of
proceedings in open Court.
(3) Where the offence is committed through the print media, radio or
television, the imprisonment shall be from three months to two years and the
fine from one hundred thousand to five million francs.
SECTION 170: Forfeitures
Upon conviction under any of the last five foregoing Sections the Court
may impose the forfeitures described by Section 30 of this Code.
E – REFUSAL TO ASSIST JUSTICE
SECTION 171 : Non-Intervention
Whoever being able so to do by his own immediate action and without –
risk to himself or to any other person, refrains from preventing the
commission of any felony or of a misdemeanour against the bodily integrity of
any person, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) month to 3
(three) years or with, fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF CF-AF
1 000 000 (one million) …
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 172: Refusal to Clear
Whoever, being able so to do without incriminating himself his spouse,
or any ascendant or descendant, refrains from communicating, to the judicial
or police authorities, evidence of the innocence of any person in custody
awaiting trial for felony or misdemeanour, or, notwithstanding that the
judgment may not be final , convicted of felony or misdemeanour, shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) month to 3 (three) years or with
fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million)
or with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 173: Defaulting Witness
(1) Any person regularly summoned as a witness in any proceeding
who without just cause fails to appear or declines to take oath or to affirm, or
to give evidence, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) days to
3 (three) months and with fine of from CFAF 1 000 (one thousand) to CFAF
50 000 (fifty thousand).
(2) Whoever, having publicly referred to a felony or misdemeanour and
publicly proclaimed his knowledge of the offender or of his accessories,
refuses to answer or evades the questions on such point of the judicial or
legal officer having jurisdiction, shall be punished with imprisonment for from
6 (six) days to 1 (one) year or with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty
thousand) to CFAF 400 000 (four hundred thousand), or with both such
imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 174: Defaulting Expert
Any person whose assistance has been regularly required as expert,
medical practitioner or interpreter by any judicial or legal authority and who
without just cause declines to furnish it shall be punished with fine of from
CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
SECTION 175: Defaulting Juror or Assessor
Any person summoned as juror or assessor who without just cause fails
to appear or to take oath or to affirm as required by law or withdraws before
the termination of his duties, shall be punished with imprisonment for 6 (six)
days to 3 (three) months and with fine of from CFAFS 000 · to
CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand).
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 176. False Excuse
Whoever falsely excuses himself under any of the last three foregoing
Sections, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 3 (three)
months.
F – DISOBEDIENCE TO JUDICIAL ORDERS
SECTION 177: Banned Residence
Whoever appears in any place from which he has been banned, or
removes from any place to which he has been restricted, under Section 42 of
this Code, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) month to 1
(one) year.
SECTION 178: Other Penalties and Measures
Whoever:
a) follows an occupation which has been forbidden him under Section 36
of this Code; or
b) reopens any premises closed under Section 34 of this Code; or
c) infringes any forfeiture or obligation not covered by the last foregoing
Section which has been imposed upon him under Sections 31 , 41 or 42
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 6 (six)
months and with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF
100 000 (one hundred thousand).
SECTION 179: Custody of Minor
(1) Whoever fails to return a minor to the person to whom his custody
has been granted by order, whether permanent or temporary, of a Court, shall
be punished with imprisonment for from one 1 (one)month to (1) one year and
with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one
million).
(2) Where the offender has been deprived of parental power, the
imprisonment may extend to 3 (three) years.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 180: Maintenance
(1) Whoever lets pass two months without paying in full any
maintenance which he has been ordered by a Court to pay to his spouse,
ascendant or descendant, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1
(one) month to 1 (one) year or with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty
thousand) to CFAF 400 000 (four hundred thousand) or with both such
imprisonment and fi ne.
(2) Any such default shall be presumed to have been intentional, save
otherwise proven. However, any inability to pay arising from drunkenness or
other habitual misconduct shall under no circumstances serve as a defence
for the debtor.
SECTION 180 -1 : Survivor’s Pension
Whoever deprives a surviving spouse or orphans from benefitting from
the survivor’s pension to which they are entitled shall be punished as
provided for in Section 180 (1) above.
SECTION 181 : Willful Insolvency
Whoever after the decision of any Court, final or otherwise, ordering
payment of a sum of money, contrives to be insolvent shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years.
SECTION 181 -1 : Refusal to enforce a court judgment that has become final
(1) Whoever refuses to enforce a court judgment that has become final
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years.
(2) Whoever obstructs the enforcement of a court judgment that has
become final without referring to the judge in charge of enforcing court
judgments shall be punished as provided for in Subsection (1) above.
Where the offender is a public servant as defined by Section 131 of this
Code, criminal prosecution shall not bar disciplinary proceedings.
(3) Where the offender is a corporate body, as defined in Section 74-1
of this Code, the penalty shall be a fine of from CFAF 200 000 (two hundred
thousand) to CFAF 10 000 000 (ten million).
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 182 Re-entry on lmmoveable Property
Whoever within 3 (three) months of execution of or submission to an
order against him for possession of any immoveable property retakes
possession from the party to whom 1t has been awarded by the Court shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 6 (six) months.
G- OBSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC SERVICE
SECTION 183: Refusal of Tax
(1) Whoever by any means organizes a collective refusal to pay any tax
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 2 (two)
years and with fine of from CFAF 200 000 (two hundred thousand) to CFAF
2 000 000 (two million).
(2) Whoever instigates the public to refuse or to delay the payment of
any tax shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 1
(one) year and with fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF
1 000 000 (one million).
SECTION 184: Misappropriation of Public Property
(1) Whoever, by whatever means, fraudulently takes or keeps any
property, movables or immovables belonging to, destined or entrusted to the
State, cooperative, council or public establishment under the supervision of
the State or in which the State directly or indirectly holds the majority of the
shares shall be punished:
a) where the value of the property exceeds CFAF 500 000 (five hundred
thousand) francs with imprisonment for life;
b) where the value of the property is above CFAF 100 000 (one hundred
thousand) but below or equal to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred)
thousand, with imprisonment of from 15 (fifteen) to 20 (twenty) years;
c) where the value of the property is less than or equal to CFAF 100 000
(one hundred thousand) with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten)
years and with fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty) to CFAF 500 000 (five
hundred thousand).
(2) The penalties provided in subsection 1 above may not be reduced by
mitigating circumstances respectively below 10 (ten), 5 (five) or 2 (two) years and … year and execution may not be suspended sentence may not be granted.
(3) Where Section 87(2) of this Code is applicable the minimum
punishment may be 5 (five) years, 2 (two years) and 1 (one) year and
execution may not be suspended except In case of diminisheo responsibility
of infancy.
(4) Confiscation under Section 35 of this Code shall be ordered in every
case and the forfeitures described in Section 30 shall be imposed for from 5
(five) to 10 (ten) years.
(5) Publication of the j udgment shall be ordered.
(6) This Section shall not apply to misappropriation and receiving of
military property covered by the military justice codes.
SECTION 185: Disturbance
Whoever disturbs the operation of any public service to which he does
not belong shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) days to 1
(one) month or with fine of from CFAF 1 000 (one thousand) to CFAF 50 000
(fifty thousand).
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 186: Resistance to Works
Whoever by assault or threat resists the carrying out of any works
lawfully ordered or authorized by public authority, or who destroys, conceals
or removes any boundary mark thereto appertaining, shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 2 (two) years and with fine of from
CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand).
SECTION 187: Damage to public or protected property
Whoever destroys or defaces any monument, statue or other property
dedicated to public use or adornment and erected by public authority or by
leave of the said authority, or any protected immovable or movable object or
natural feature or site, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one)
month to 2 (two) years and with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand)
to CFAF120 000 (one hundred and twenty thousand).
SECTION 187-1 : Offences relating to Nationl Cultural and Natural Heritage
1) Whoever:
– unlawfully exploits or exports the natural and cultural property of the
State and carries out any other activity that devalues it;
refuse to include … the inventory or to record movables and immovables belonging to the State, regional and local authorities …
any natural person or corporate body and, that from a historical, artistic, philosophical, scientific, technical or touristic perspective, has value that
makes it worthy of preservation;
– refuses to classify or declassifies a cultural and natural property
belonging to the State;
– disposes of the classified property either gratuitously or for profit;
– posts notices or installs advertisement equipment on classified
monument;
– exports any classified or to-be classified property, save with a special
temporary exportation
authorizati on issued by the competent authority,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 2 (two)
years and with fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to
CFAF 3 000 000 (three million).
2) Whoever, without the authorization of the competent authority:
– destroys, depreciates, transforms or excavates, disposes of or pollutes
any cultural property;
– displaces or transfers ownership of a to-be classified property and
carries out any work other than routine maintenance or ordinary
exploitation;
– destroys or carries out restoration or conversion works on classified
property;
– erects buildings or creates easements on classified property;
– carries out archaeological excavations and explorations of classified or
to-be classified sites;
– exports non-classified property , in particular, antique,
shall be punished with the penalties provided for in Sub section 1 above.
SECTION 188: – Removal and Destruction of Public Records
(1) Whoever abstracts, removes or destroys any document in the
custody of any public authority shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1
(one) to 5 (five) years and with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to
CFAF 200 000 (two hundred thousand).
(2) Whoever destroys or damages any register, record or other original
document of any public authority shall be punished with imprisonment for
\
from 5 (frve) to 10 (ten) years and with fine of from CFAF 25 000 (twenty five
thousand) to CFAF 200 000 (two hundred thousand)
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 188-1 : Removal and Misappropriation of Public or Private Records
Whoever removes or misappropriates public or private records to which he
has access by virtue of his duties shall be punished as provided for in
Subsection 188 (2) above.
SECTION 188-2: Unlawful Destruction, Transfer and Exportation of Public or Private Records
Whoever unlawfully destroys, transfers or exports public or private
records shall be punished as provided for in Subsection 188 (2) above.
SECTION 189:. Copies of Government Papers
Whoever takes, without authority or permission, a copy of any
document the property of the Government shall be punished with
impri sonment for from 1 (one) month to 1 (one) year.
SECTION 190 : Misappropriation of Attached Property
Whoever misappropriates, destroys or damages any attached or
garnished property shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5
(five) years and with fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF
1 000 000 (one million).
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 191: Breach of Seals
Whoever breaks any seal lawfully affixed shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to (2) two years and with fine of from
CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
SECTION 192: Communication with Persons in Custody
Whoever contrary to the rules governing the custody of any person
lawfully detained facilitates his relations with any outside party, shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 2 (two) years.
SECTION 193: Escape
Whoever escapes irom lawful custody or who be,ng permitted to
1 1)
work out of the pnson leaves his place of work without permission shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) yer to 3 (three) years
(2) Whoever rescues any person from lawful custody shall be punished
in like manner.
(3) For escape or rescue effected by force to th e person or to property
the punishment shall be imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years; and
for escape or rescue with arms the punishment shall be imprisonment for
from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years.
(4) Where the person in custody is charged with felony or has been
sentenced to loss of liberty for more than 10 (ten) years the punishment shall
be imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years.
SECTION 194: Accessory after the Fact by Shelter
(1) An accessory after the fact to felony or misdemeanour by shelter of
the offender, whether convicted or not, shall be punished with imprisonment
for from 2 (two) months to 2 (two) years.
(2) Where the principal offence is punishable with death, the accessory
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 2 (two) to 10 (ten) years.
(3) No defence absolving from responsibility a principal not yet
acquitted shall be available to the accessory.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 195: Subscription for Fine
Whoever publicly invites subscriptions for the purpose of Indemnifying
any person against any pecuniary sentence passed on him by a criminal
court shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 6 (six)
months or with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF
. – – –~
10 000 000 (ten million), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 196: Defacement of Posters
Whoever removes, obliterates or defaces any notice posted under
Section 33 of this Code shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15
(fifteen) days to 6 (six) months or with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) or with both such imprisonment
and fine.
SECTION 197: Revenge on Witness
Whoever
a) commits a contempt of a witness by reason of the evidence which he
has given, unless, in the case of defamation, he proves the truth of the
defamatory matter; or
b) causes any loss to a witness by reason of the evidence which he has
given.shall be punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) days to (1)
one year, or with fine of from 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 200 000
(two hundred thousand), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 198: Forbidden Publications
(1) Whoever publishes:
– any record of any proceeding of a Court or of the Legal Department
in respect of felony or misdemeanour before it has been read out in
open Court; or
– any account of proceedings in camera or in any juvenile court; or
– any conviction of a minor mentioning any particular allowing of his
identification; or
– any information on the proceedings of parliamentary inquiry
committees before their report has been laid on the table of the
House, except a communique issued by the bureau of the said
committees; or:
– any information on the proceedings of the Higher Judicial Council
except a communique issued by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of
the Council,
shall be punished with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to
CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
(2) Whoever publishes any deliberation in chambers by any Court shall
be punished with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 3 000
000 (three million).
(3) In case of publication by the press the penalties shall be doubled.
(4) Whoever in a Courtroom during Court proceedings w•thout the
authorization of the presiding judge
a) makes any sound recording, or
b) shoots any image shall be punished as provided for in Subsection (21)
above.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 199: Innkeeper’s Register
Any keeper of an inn or common boarding house, who, contrary to any
regulation, does not register, or registers under a false name, any person
staying in the said inn or boarding house shall be punished with imprisonment
for from 6 (six) days to 3 (three months), and with fine of from CFAF 10 000
(ten thousand) to CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand).
SECTION 200: Illicit Burial
Whoever disposes of a human corpse otherwise than as prescribed by
law or regulation shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) days to
3 (three) months and with fine of from CFAF 2 000 (two thousand) to CFAF
15 000 (fifteen thousand).
CHAPTER V – OFFENCES AGAINST STATE GUARANTEES
A – FORGERY AND COUNTERFEITING
SECTION 201 : Great Seal
(1) Whoever forges the Great Seal or makes use of such forged Seal
shall be punished with imprisonment for life.
(2) Whoever makes use of the Great Seal improperly procured shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty) years.
(3) Whoever acts in contravention of the regulations in force on
ordering, manufacturing, and affixing of the Great Seal, shall be punished
with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years and with fine of from
CFAF 40 000 (forty thousand) to CFAF 4 000 000 (four million).
(4) In case of conviction, the Court shall also order the forfeitures
provided for in Section 30 of this Code for a period of from 5 (five) to 10 (ten)
years.
SECTION 201-1: Other Public Seals
(1) Whoever contravenes the regulations on ordering, manufacturing,
keeping and affixing of other public seals shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years and fine of from CFAF 40 000
(forty thousand) to CFAF 4 000 000 (four million).
(2) In case of conviction, the Court may order the forfeitures provided
for in Section 30 of this Code for a period of from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 202: Treasury Security
Whoever forges or alters any security issued by the public treasury
under its stamp or mark or makes use of any such forged or altered security,
shall be punished with imprisonment for life.
SECTION 203: Signature, Stamps and Punches
(1) Whoever forges or alters the signature of the President of the
Republic, of either Prime Minister or of any minister, deputy minister or
secretary of state, or any Government stamp or any punch for hall-marking or
silver, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty)
years.
(2) Whoever makes use of any such forged stamp or punch, or of any
document or object bearing such forged or altered signature, stamp or mark
shall be punished in like manner.
(3) Whoever makes use of any such stamp or punch, or of any
document or object bearing such signature, stamp or mark where
genuine but improperly procured, shall be punished in like manner.
SECTION 204: Marks and stationery
(1) Whoever forges or alters:
a) any seal, stamp or mark of a legislative assembly o of a Court or of
an administrative office; or
b) the printed stationery or forms of any legislative assembly, Court or
administrative office; or
c) any punch or mark designed to be placed in the name of the
government on weights or measures, or on merchandise; or
d) any hammer used for punching government forestry marks; or
e) any postage stamp, postmark or reply coupon issued by the postal
administratior or any revenue stamp or impressed stam~
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years and
with fine of from CFAF 40 000 (forty thousand) to CFAF 4 000 000 (four
million).
(2) Whoever distributes, sells or makes use of such forged or altered
seal, stamp, punch, mark, post-mark, paper or coupon, shall be punished in
like manner.
(3) Whoever distributes, sells or makes use of any such thing where
genuine but improperly obtained, shall be punished in like manner.
SECTION 205: Public Act, Document or Record
(1) Whoever forges or alters, whether in its substance or in its date,
signatures or countersignatures, any act of the legislature, of the executive
(including a passport) or of the judiciary, or any document or record drawn up
by a person having exclusive authority so to do, shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty) years.
(2) Whoever makes use of any such document or record so forged or
altered shall be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years
and with fine of from CFAF 40 00 (forty thousand) to CFAF 2 000 000 (two
million).
SECTION 206: Licences and Similar Documents
Whoever:
– forges or alters an identity card, driving licence, game licence,
elector’s card, family booklet or military booklet: or
– procures the issue for himself or for another of any such document
under a wrong name; or
– makes use of any such document, whether forged, altered or issued
in a wrong name; or
– makes dishonest use of any genuine document of such nature
belonging to another ,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 3 (three)
years.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 207: Official Certificates
1) Whoever forges or alters any official certificate shall be punished
with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 3 (three) years
(2) Whoever makes use of any such certificate shall be punished 1n like
manner.
SECTION 208: Postage and Revenue Stamps
Whoever makes use of any postage or revenue stamp already used, or
surcharges any postage or revenue stamp, or makes unauthorized use of any
postal privilege, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) days to
1 (one) year, and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF
50 000 (fifty thousand).
SECTION 209: Postal Documents
(1) Whoever forges or alters
a) any postal identity card, whether national or foreign, or any
subscription card in respect of poste restante; or
b) any label, stamp, postmark or reply-coupon issued by a foreign
postal administration,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) days to 6 (six)
months and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 50 000
(fifty thousand).
(2) Whoever sells, offers for sale or makes use of any such matter shall
be punished in like manner.
SECTION 210 : Colourable Resemblance
Whoever manufactures, sells, distributes or makes use of any object or
printed matter bearing to any object or printed matter described in Sections
201 to 209 above, a resemblance liable to facilitate their acceptance in place
of the object or matter imitated, or to mislead the public, shall be punished
with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) days to 6 (six) months, and with fine of
from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 200 000 (two hundred
thousand).
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 21 1: Counterfeit Note and Coin
(1) Whoever
a) counterfeits or alters any currency note or any gold or silver coin
being legal tender In the
Republic; or
b) imports into the Republic any such counterfeit or altered note or coin;
or
c) utters any such counterfeit note or coin
shall be punished with imprisonment for life.
(2) In the case of any other currency note or coin national or foreign,
and whether or not legal tender, the punishment shall be imprisonment for
from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty) years.
(3) Where the alteration consists in the mere colouring of coin, whether
or not legal tender in the Republic or abroad, the punishment shall be
imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 5 (five) years.
(4) Where the coin or note has been received in ignorance of the fact
that it was counterfeit or altered, and uttered after knowledge of the same, the
punishment shall be imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 3 (three) years
and fine of 3 (three) times the face value of the said coin or note.
SECTION 212: Counterfeiting Equipment
Whoever without authority manufactures or possesses any instrument,
apparatus, machine or material designed for the forgery of the Great Seal,
any treasury security, or any punch, stamp or mark, or for the counterfeiting
of note or coin, whether national or foreign, shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years and with fine of from CFAF
50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million).
SECTION 213: Improper Possession
Whoever without authority possesses anything or document described
in section 201 to 211 inclusive of this Code shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years.
SECTION 214: Accessory Penalties
(1) On conviction for any misdemeanour defined in the foregoing
thirteen sections the Court may impose the forfeitures described in section 30
of this Code.
(2) On any convIctIon under the said sections confiscation under section
35 shall be ordered
8 – USURPATION
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 215: Striking Money
Whoever without authority:
a) strikes coin of whatever form or denomination, or prints any note
payable to bearer, or imports, or utters such coin or note; or
b) manufactures or possesses any machine, apparatus, instrument or
material capable of use for the striking or printing of any note or coin
liable to be mistaken for lawful money •
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years and
with fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 150 000 (one hundred
and fifty thousand).
SECTION 216: Usurpation of Office
(1) Whoever assumes any public office, whether civil or military, to
which he is not appointed, or performs any act belonging to any such office,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 5 (five) years.
(2) In the case of a public servant continuing to act in an office after
official notice of his cessation from the said office, whether temporary or final ,
the punishment shall be imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 2 (two)
years.
(3) On conviction the Court may also impose the forfeitures described
by section 30 of this Code.
(4) Where the offender takes advantage of his usurpation to commit any
offence defined by Chapter Ill of this Part, he shall be punished as if he held
the office usurped.
SECTION 217: Irregular Solemnisation of Marriage
Any minister of religion who
a) not being authorised to perform a civil marriage, solemnises a
religious ceremony of marriage without having seen a certificate of marriage
already performed by a registrar of births. marriages and deaths; or
b) being authorised to perform a civil marriage,
– solemnises only a religious ceremony of marriage; or
– performs a civil marriage without having seen a certificate of no
impediment from the said registrar , shall be punished with fine of
from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 30 000 (thirty thousand),
and on subsequent conviction within the meaning of section 88 of
this Code, with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years.
SECTION 218: Usurpation of Uniform or Decoration
Whoever wears in public any uniform or decoration to which he is not
entitled, or which bears a colourable resemblance to the same, shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 2 (two) years or with
fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred
thousand) or with both such imprisonment and fine.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 219: Usurpation of Qualification
Whoever without being entitled thereto makes use of a qualification
belonging to a profession legally regulated, or of an official degree, certificate
of education or diploma, or of a title governed by public regulation, shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 2 (two) years or with
fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to CFAF 2 000 000 (two
million), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 219 -1: Usurpation of Designation
Whoever, unauthorized by the laws and regulations applicable, uses the
designations cooperative society, union of cooperative societies, federation of
cooperative societies, or confederation of cooperative societies alongside any
qualifier, as well as any other designation referring to any of the groups
mentioned in this Section, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1
(one) month to 1 (one) year or with fine of from CFAF100 000 (one hundred
thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million) or with both such imprisonment
and fine.
SECTION 220: Title of Honour
Whoever makes public use of any title of honour to which he is not
entitled shall be punished with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to
CFAF 2 000 000 (two million)
SECTION 221 : Common Provisions
(1) The three last foregoing sections shall be equally applicable to any
foreign uniform, decoration, title or qualification.
(2) The said sections shall not apply to the actors at a public
entertainment nor to children’s games.
(3) On conviction under any one of the said sections the Court shall
order the marginal annotation of the said judgment on any notarial deed or
register of births, marriages and deaths in which the title has been assumed,
and may also order publication of its judgment.
C- GUARANTEES TO THE NATIONAL ECONOMY
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 222: Credit of the State
(1) Whoever by any means, with intent to injure the credit of the State:
a) spreads publicly any false or misleading rumour likely to undermine
confidence in the stability of the currency or in the value of any public
funds or of the funds of any cooperative, or of any authority or
corporation either public or subject to the administrative control of the
State, or in which the State holds directly or indirectly the majority of the
shares; or
b) encourages the public to withdraw funds from any public deposit or
from any establishment compelled by law to pay into a public deposit, or
to sell any Government loan or other treasury paper, or discourages the
public from purchase of or subscription to the same;
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 2 (two)
years and with fine of from CFAF 200 000 (two hundred thousand) to CFAF
2 000 000 (two million).
(2) On conviction under this sect ion the Court shall order publication of
the judgment.
SECTION 223: Legal Tender
Whoever refuses a, note or coin being Legal tender in the Republic
and to the extent that it is legal tender, shall be punished with imprisonment
for from 10 (ten) days to 3 (three) months, or with fine of from CFAF 1 000
(one thousand) to CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand), or with both such
imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 224: National Development
Whoever with intent to injure the national development transfers abroad
any specialized staff or delivers abroad any industrial or commercial secret,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 2 (two) years
and with fi ne of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to CFAF
5 000 000 (five million).
SECTION 225: Loans and Subsidies
Whoever puts to any use other than that for which it was granted a loan
or subsidy from the Federal or Federated State, from a co-operative, or from
an authority or corporation described by Section 184 of this Code, shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 10 (ten) years and with fine of
from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million).
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 226: Standard Regulations
Whoever infringes any regulation prescribing standards for any produce
to be exported, shall be punished with fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty
thousand) to CFAF 4 000 000 (four million), and with confiscation of the
goods in question.
PART II – FELONIES AND MISDEMEANOURS AGAINST THE GENERAL INTEREST
CHAPTER I – PUBLIC SAFETY
SECTION 227: Arson and Destruction
(1)Whoever sets fire, directly or indirectly, and notw1
be the owner:
a) to any place used for another’s dwelling ; or
b) to any land, sea or air vehicle in which are one or more persons ; or
c) to any working mine or its appurtenances
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) to 10 (ten) years
and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one
million).
(2) Destruction of such property shall be punished in like manner as arson.
SECTION 228: Dangerous activities
(1) Whoever fails properly to provide against risk of bodily harm to any
person from his dangerous activities shall be punished with imprisonment for
from 6 (six) days to 6 (six) months.
(2) Whoever rashly and in manner liable to cause harm to any person:
a) makes use of fire, or of any inflammable or explosive matter, or of
electricity, or of any machinery or,
b) demolishes in whole or in part any construction or any uninhabited
building, notwithstanding that he may be the owner; or
c) furnishes medical or surgical treatment, or furnishes or administers any
drug or other substance or,
d) leads, drives, rides, stops or leaves any animal or vehicle on the public
highway.shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months
to 3 (three) years, or with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to
CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand), or with both such imprisonment
and fine.
(3) Whoever drives any vehicle when drunk or under the influence of
drugs shall be punished in like manner.
(4) Upon conviction under subsection (2) (d) in respect of a vehicle, or
under subsection (3), the Court may add disqualification from holding a
driving licence for up to 2 (two) years.
SECTION 229: Explosive Substances
Whoever infringes any regulation governing the manufacture, storage,
transport, import or export of, or trade in explosive substances, shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) month to 1 (one) year, or with
fine of from CFAF 2 000 (two thousand) to CFAF 100 000 (one hundred
thousand), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 229-1: Toxic waste
(1) Whoever unauthorized does not, with immediate eftect
discard of dangerous or toxic waste generated by its company shall be
punished with imprisonment of from 5 (five) 10 10 (ten) years and a fine of
from CFAF 5 000 000 (five million) to CFAF 500 000 000 (five hundred
million)
(2) The provisions of Sections 54 and 90 of this Code relating to
suspended sentence and mitigation shall not apply.
(3) The court seized shall order the person found guilty of
introducing, producing, storing, holding, transporting, causing to transit, or
releasing dangerous or toxic waste to dispose of it with immediate effect and
restore the site.In addition, the court may order the closure of the company.
SECTION 230: Public Highway
(1) Whoever without lawful permission obstructs the use of any public-
highway or waterway, or renders passage less convenient, whether by
damaging the surface of the highway or diverting the course of the waterway,
or by any erection, or by excessive use, or by use of his own adjacent land,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) month to 2 (two) years.
(2) Whoever, being bound to repa ir any highway or any work connected
with it, refrains f rom
so doing, shall be punished in like manner.
SECTION 231 : Unlawful Public Meetings and Processions
(1) Whoever:
a) takes part in the organization of any public meeting which has not
been the subject of a prior declaration ;
b) makes a declaration that is intended to mislead authorities on the
conditions and purpose of the meeting ;
c) convenes a procession in any manner whatsoever before filling the
declaration or after it has been legally prohibited ;
d) makes an incomplete or false declaration in order to conceal the
conditions of the planned procession ; shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 6 (six) months and with
fine of from CFAF 5 00C’ five thousand) ‘” CFAF 100 000 (one
~undred thousand)
(2) Whoever organizes any public procession without the required
declaration or after th e notification of legal prohibition shall be punished with
the penalties provided for in Subsection 1 above.
SECTION 231 -1 : Political Procession in a Public Establishment and in Schools
Whoever organizes a political procession in any public establishment,
school or university shall be punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten)
days to 4 (four) months or with fine of from CFAF 25 000 (twenty-five
thousand) to CFAF 250 000 (two hundred and fifty thousand) or with both
such imprisonment and fine.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 232: Riot
(1) A riot shall mean an assembly on the public highway of 5 (five) or
more persons in manner liable to disturb the public peace.
(2) Whoever takes part in a riot and does not withdraw the first call of
the proper authority shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen)
days to 6 (six) months.
(3) The penalty shall be doubled for any person who continues in the
riot until it be dispersed by force.
SECTION 233: Armed Riot
(1) Whoever takes part in a riot which is armed within the meaning of
sections 115 (3) and 117 of this Code, and himself bears any weapon or
does not withdraw on the first call of the proper authority, shall be punished
with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 2 (two) years.
(2) The punishment shall be imprisonment for from 2 (two) to 5 (five)
years for any person who continues in the riot until it be dispersed by force.
(3) The punishment shall be imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten)
years for any person who takes part in the riot at the moment when any such
weapon is used.
(4) All punishment under this section shall be doubled where the riot
takes place at night.
SECTION 234: Forfeitures
Upon convIctIon under section 233 above the CoLJrt may add the
forfeitures described by section 30 of this Code.
SECTION 235: Seditions Cries
Whoever in any place open to the public utters any seditious cry or song
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 8 (eight) days to 1 (one)
month, or with fine of from CFAF 2 000 (two thousand) to CFAF 50 000
(fifty thousand), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 236: Depredation by Band
(1) Whoever as a member of an assembly or band, and by open
force, plunders or damages any moveable or immoveable property, shall
be punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty) years.
(2) For such felony committed in a state of emergency or siege the
punishment shall be imprisonment for life.
(3) For such felony committed in time war the punishment shall be death
SECTION 237: Possession and Carriage of Arms
(1) Whoever without such permission as may be required by law
manufactures, exports, imports, keeps, transfers or sells any firearm or
ammunition shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months
to 1 (one) year or with fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF
300 000 (three hundred thousand), or with both such imprisonment and
fine.
(2) The punishment shall be doubled for carriage of any such arm
outside the offender’s residence.
(3) Whoever delivers any such arm or ammunition to any person
without ascertaining that he is licensed to keep it shall be punished as his
accessory.
(4) Confiscation under section 35 of this Code shall be ordered in every
case; and on any subsequent conviction within the meaning of section 88
the Court may impose the forfeitures described by section 30 and order the
closure of the establishment to whatever other use it may be put.
SECTION 238: Dangerous Carriage of Arms
Whoever whether licensed or not to bear arms shall bear any weapon
within the meaning of section 117 of this Code in a place open to the public
in manner liable to disturb the public peace or to alarm any person. shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 2 (two) years or
with fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 300 000 (three
hundred thousand). or with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 239: Disturbance of Quiet Enjoyment
Whoever in manner liable to disturb the public peace enters upon land
quietly enjoyed by another to whomsoever belonging, shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 1 (one) year.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 240: False News
(1) Whoever publishes or propagates by any means whatever any news
without being able to prove either its truth or that he had good reason to
believe it to be true, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5
(five) years and with a fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF
10 000 000 (ten million).
(2) The penalty shall be doubled for anonymous publication or
propagation.
SECTION 241 : Contempt of Race or Religion
(1) Whoever commits a contempt, within the meaning of section 152 of
this Code, of the race or religion of a number of citizens or residents shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) days to 6 (six) months and with
fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred
thousand).
(2) Where the offence is committed by means of the press or wireless
the fine may extend to CFAF 20 000 000 (twenty million).
(3) Where the offence is committed with intent to arouse hatred or
contempt between citizens, the penalties provided by the foregoing subsections shall be doubled.
SECTION 242: Discrimination
Whoever excludes another from any place open to the public or from
any employment, by reason of his race, religion, sex or health status. where
such status does not endanger anyone shall be punished with imprisonment
for from 1 (one) month to 2 (two) years and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five
thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
SECTION 243: Public Drunkenness
(1) Whoever.
a) commits t he offence of public drunkenness within 12 (twelve) months
of a previous conviction,
b) Shall be licensed to sell alcoholic beverages and delivers any such
beverage on his premises to any person manifestly drunk,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 1 (one)
month and with a fine of from CFAF 2 000 (two thousand) to CFAF
35 000 (thirty-five thousand).
(2) Where the offender is so licensed the Court may order closure of his
establishment for up to 2 (two) years, and order publication of the judgment.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 244: Subsequent Convictions
(1) Section 88. (1) (b) of this Code shall apply to any subsequent
conviction under the last foregoing section.
(2) The Court may add the forfeitures described by section 30 (1) and
(2) of this Code.
(3) Where the offender is so licensed the Court may order closure of his
establishment for up to 4 (four) years, and order publication of its judgment.
SECTION 245: Begging
Whoever, having means of subsistence, or being able to earn such by
working, begs in any place for alms shall be punished with imprisonment for
from 3 (three) months to 3 (three) years and with fine of from CFAF 50 000
(fifty thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
SECTION 246: Aggravated Begging
Whoever, whether or not able-bodied and having or not means of
subsistence, begs for alms in any of the following manners:
‘<:.,:EN.::E De LAREf’UBllOUE
a) with abuse, threats, or assault ;
b) after entering any dwelling or enclosure thereto appurtena nt without the
occupant’s permission
signs wounds or a disability in order to attract the generosity or play
over the intelligence of a third party ,
d) In company, save husband and wife , or father and mother with their
young children, or a blind man and his guide,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 6 (six)
years and with fine of from CFAF 1 000 (one thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000
(one million).
SECTION 247: Vagrancy
(1) Whoever is found in a public place being of no fixed abode and with
no means of support shall be guilty of vagrancy and shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 2 (two) years.
(2) The punishment prescribed above shall be doubled:
a) Where the vagrant is found in possession of any weapon or any
instrument with which an offence may be committed;
b) Where the vagrant has committed (or attempted to commit) any
act of violence against an individual or individuals.
(3) In addition, the measures prescribed under section 42 (1), (2) and
(3) shall be pronounced.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 248: Dangerous Preparations
(1) Whoever with intent to commit any felony or misdemeanour carries
any instrument fit for the forcing of entry to any immovable property shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) days to 1 (one) year.
(2)The intent shall be presumed where the facts charge were
committed at night.
SECTION 249: Gaming and Lotteries
(1) Whoever:
a) operates a casino, public lottery or betting establishment without a
concession agreement ;
b) organizes a commercial lottery or operates online gaming without
authorization ;
c) uses the operating licence for a casino, public lottery or betting
establishment belonging to another ;
d) uses the authorization to organize commercial lottery or operate online
gaming belonging to another shall be punished with ·mprisonment for
from 6 (six) months to 2 (two) years or fi ne of from CFAF 5 000 000
(five million) to CFAF 25 000 000 (twenty-five million) or both such
imprisonment and fine.
(2) The penalties provided for in Subsection (1) above shall be applied to
any operator of a commercial lottery who does not comply with the gaming
rules submitted prior to obtaining the authorization.
SECTION 249-1: Failure to comply with the standards and norms of safety, comfort and hygiene specifi c to casinos
Whoever fails to comply with the standards and norms of safety,
comfort and hygiene specific to casinos shall be punished with imprisonment
for from 2 (two) to 4 (four) years, or fine of from CFAF 5 000 000 (five million)
to CFAF10 000 000 (ten million) or both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 249-2: Violation of the terms of the specifications attached to a concession agreement
Whoever violates any of the terms of the specifications attached to a
concession agreement shall be punished with imprisonment for from 2 (two)
to 5 (five) years or fine of from CFAF 10 000 000 (ten million) to CFAF
50 000 000 (fifty million) or both such imprisonment and fine.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 249-3: Use of unlicensed equipment for casino or online games
Whoever uses unlicensed equipment to operate a casino or online
games shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 3 (three)
years or fine of from CFAF 2 500 000 (two million five hundred thousand) to
CFAF 10 000 000 (ten million) or both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 249-4: Money laundering through gaming and lotteries
Whoever engages in money laundering through the operation of a
casino, public or commercial lottery, betting or online games, shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years or fine of from
CFAF 50 000 000 (fifty million) to CFAF 100 000 00 (one hundred million) or
both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 249-5: Resistance In gaming and lotteries
Whoever uses violence or assault to prevent sworn officers from
gaining access to the premises to be inspected shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 4 (four) years or fine of fro m CFAF
2 500 000 (two million five hundred thousand) to CFAF 5 000 000 (five
million) or with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 249-6: Advertising in gaming and lotteries
Whoever, being a licensed operator of money games and games of
chance transmits or broadcasts a commercial advertisement by any means
whatsoever targeting minors, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1
(one) to 3 (three) years or fine of from CFAF 10 000 000 (ten million) to CFA
20 000 000 (twenty million) or with both such imprisonment and fine.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 249-7: Forbidden Access in gaming and lotteries
(1) Whoever:
a) fails to take measures to block access of minors to a casino ;
b) allows access to casinos for the following:
– military and law and order personnel in uniform ;
– persons who are in a drunken state or likely to cause scandals or
incidents ;
– persons to whom access has been prohibited by the minister in
charge of gaming, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1
(one) to 3 (three) years or fine of from CFAF 5 000 000 (five million)
to CFAF 10 000 000 (ten million) or with both such imprisonment and
fine.
(2) The penalties provided for in Sub-section (1) above shall be
applicable to the operator of online gaming and betting who fails to take the
following measures to block access of minors to such gaming and betting:
a) post on the gaming site’s home page and registration page, in visible
manner, a message explicitly prohibiting access of minors to the
. .
gaming service;
b) require the player on his honour, to state his age and enter his
personal identity information;
c) require the player to use online payment methods;
d) have his gaming website submitted to parental control software to
block access of minors
SECTION 249-8; Compromise
(1)The offences provided for under Sections 249 to 249-3 may be
subject to compromise between the gaming regulatory entity and the
defaulter.
However, compromise shall be possible only in the event of the admission of
the offence after it has been established.
(2)The amount of the compromise referred to in Subsection (1) above,
shall not be less than the minimum amount of the fine provided for.
(3) The payment of the total amount of the compromise provided for in
Subsection (2) above shall extinguish court action.
SECTION 249-9: Accessory Penalties
In the cases provided for in Sections 249, 249-1, 249-2, 249-3, 249-4,
249-5, 249-6 and 249-7 above, the court may:
(a) upon conviction add the forfeitures described by Section 30 of this
Code, and order closure of the offender’s establishment,
notwithstanding that it may also be put to another use.
(b) in addition to confiscation under Section 35 of this Code, order
confiscation of all furniture and furnishings adapted or decorated to
attract customers, and all funds and movable or immovable property,
set aside as prizes for the winners.
SECTION 250: Pawnshops
Whoever :
a) without such licence as may be lawfully required, keeps any pawnshop
or business of lending on a floating charge; or
b) having such license fails to keep such registers as may be prescribed:
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 3 (three)
months and with fine of from CFAF 25 000 (twenty-five thousand) to CFAF
500 000 (five hundred thousand).
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 251 : Practice of Witchcraft
Whoever commits any act of witchcraft, magic or divination liable to
disturb public order or tranquility, or to harm another in his person, property or
substance, whether by the taking of a reward or otherwise, shall be punished
with imprisonment for from 2 (two) to 10 (ten) years, and with fine of from
CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand).
CHAPTER III – PUBLIC ECONOMY
SECTION 252: False Weights and Measures
Any trader or artificer keeping at his place of trade or work any false
weight or measure or other incorrect apparatus used for the weighing or
measuring of his wares shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15
(fifteen) days to 6 (six) months or with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten
thousand) to CFAF 700 000 (seven hundred thousand) or with both such
imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 253: Cheque without Cover
Whoever:
a) issues a cheque on a bank or postal account within or without the
Republic and without pre-existing, adequate or free cover, or
b) after issue withdraws, whether within or without the Republic all or
part of the cover or stops payment,
shall be punished with the penalties laid down under section 318.
SECTION 254: Auctions
Whoever by force or threat, by gift or promise, or by any trick, disturbs
the freedom or interferes with the genuineness of any auction or tender shall
be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 6 (six) months and with
fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million).
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 255: Interference with Labour
Whoever by means of force or threat. or by fraudulent trick, causes or
prolongs any concerted stoppage of work with intent thereby to compel an
increase or decrease of wages or to affect injuriously the freedom of labour or
of industry, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to
3 (three) years or with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 700 000 (seven hundred thousand) with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 256: Rigging Prices
(1) Whoever by any fraudulent means causes an artificial increase or decrease of price of goods or public or private securities, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 2 (two) months to 2 (two) years and with fine of from CFAF 400 000 (four hundred thousand) to CFAF 20 000 000 (twenty million).
(2) The penalty shall be doubled where the goods in question are foodstuffs or subject to standards of regulations.
(3) On conviction the Court may add the forfeitures described in section 30(1) and (2) of this Code, and order publication of its judgment.
SECTION 257: Destruction of Foodstuffs
whoever with intent thereby to influence the market in foodstuffs whether for human or animal consumption causes or permits them to perish, rot or disappear from circulation, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years and with fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million).
CHAPTER IV – PUBLIC HEALTH
SECTION 258: Adulteration of Foodstuffs
(1) Whoever either adulterates any foodstuff, whether for human or animal consumption, or beverage or medical substance intended to be sold, or keeps any substance designed or fit only for the purpose of effective such adulteration, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 3 (three) years and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
(2) This section shall not apply to fresh fruits and vegetables which have fermented or become rotten.
(3) Any such foodstuff, beverage or medical belonging to the offender shall be confiscated: and whre not used by the Government its destruction shall be at the expense of the offender.
(4) The Court may order publication of its Judgment under Section 33 of
this Code
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 258-1 : Illegal Sale of medication
Whoever,
– sells any medication without lawful authority ;
– sells any counterfeited, expired or unauthorized medication ;
– keeps for sale, any medication that is falsified, adulterated or harmful
to health,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to (3) three
years or with fine of from CFAF 1 000 000 (one million) to CFAF 3 000 000
(three million).
The confiscation provided for in Sections 35 and 45 of this Code shall
apply.
SECTION 259: False Medical Certificate
(1) Any physician, surgeon, dresser or nurse, dentist or midwife who for
the advantage or disadvantage of any person falsely certifies or conceals the
existence of any disease or disability, or falsely certifies the performance or
result of an inoculation, or gives misleading information on the origin of a
disease, on the duration of a disability, or on the cause of any death, shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 2 (two) months to 3 (three) years and
with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 100 000 (one hundred
thousand).
(2) Where any such person has been corrupted the punishment shall be
imprisonment for from 2 (two) to 10 (ten) years.
(3) On conviction the Court may impose the forfeitures described by
section 30 of this Code.
SECTION 260: Infectious diseases
(1) Whoever by his conduct facilitates the communication of any
dangerous infectious disease shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3
(three) months to 3 (three) years.
(2) In the case of an infection dangerous to the life of anv animal
usually intended for humar consumption the punishmer• shall be
imprisonment for from 1 (one) month to 1 (one) year
SECTION 261 : Pollution of air and water
Whoever by his operations:
a) pollutes any drinkable water liable to be used by another; or
b) so pollutes the atmosphere as to render it harmful to human health,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 6 (six)
months, or with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000
(one million), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 262: Essential services
(1) Whoever breaks any contract of service or supply in such
circumstances that the foreseeable consequence of such breach is either a
grave danger to public health or to the health of patients in hospital, or grave
bodily injury, or grave danger to property of any nature, or the deprivation of a
number of persons of electricity, water, gas or any other source of energy
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 6 (six) months
(2) This section shall not apply to any person who has given notice of 7
(seven) days or more.
CHAPTER V – PUBLIC DECENCY
SECTION 263: Public Indecency
Whoever publicly offends against decency shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 2 (two) years or with fine of from
CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand), or
with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 264: Corruption of Moral
Whoever /
a) publicly utters any immoral song, cry or speech; or
b) draws the attention of the public to any occasion of immorality,
shall be punished with the penalties provided for in Section 263 above.
SECTION 265: Obscene Publications
Whoever
a) with a view of trade manufactures, keeps, imports transports or
exports; or
b) whether or not for gain, and whether or not publicly, exhibits or
distributes – any writing, picture or object liable to corrupt morals,
shall be punished with imprisonment fo r from 1 (one) month to 2 (two)
years and with fine of from CFAF (ten thousand) to½ (half a million).
(2) On conviction, the Court may order closure for up to one year of the
establishment where the offender manufactures or keeps any such writing,
picture or object.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 266: Other Objectionable Publications
(1) Whoever publishes any account, save the judgment, of any
affiliation, divorce or judicial separation proceeding, or of any prosecution for
abortion, shall be punished with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand)
to CFAF 6 000 000 (six million).
(2) Whoever without the written permission of the authority responsible
for prosecution publishes in any manner the suicide of a person aged under
eighteen years shall be punished with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty
thousand) to CFAF 2 000 000 (two million); and on subsequent conviction
within the meaning of section 88 of this Code, may also be punished with
imprisonment for from 2 (two) months to 2 (two) years.
(3) Whoever infringes section 23 (3) of this Code shall be punished with
fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million).
(4) Whoever publishes, whether by picture or in any other manner,
without the written request of the officer preparing prosecution, the whole or
any part of the circumstances of an offence of violence or committed against
a child or against morals, shall be punished with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 200 000 (two hundred thousand).
SECTION 267: Justification of Crime
Whoever publicly justifies the felon ies of murder, depredation, arson,
destruction or felonious theft, or any felony or misdemeanour against the
security of the State, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to
5 (five) years, or with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAt: 20
00 000 (twenty million) or with both such 1rnp1 sonrnent and fine
SECTION 268: Cruelty to an Animal
(1) Whoever causes needless suffering to any animal, whether
domestic, tamed or kept in captivity, shall be punished with imprisonment for
from 15 (fifteen) days to 3 (three) months, or with fine of from CFAF 5 000
(five thousand) to CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand), or with both such
imprisonment and fine.
(2) On conviction, the Court may deprive the offender of ownership of
the animal.
(3) Where the condition of the animal renders such an order proper, the
Court may order its destruction.
SECTION 268-1: Sexual Intercourse on an Animal
(1) Whoever has sexual intercourse on an animal shall be punished
with imprisonment for
from 3 (three) to 5 (five) years.
(2) Whoever, by force or moral ascendency, compels any person to
have sexual intercourse on an animal shall be punished with imprisonment for
from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years.
(3) In cases provided for in Subsection (2) above, the Court may also
order the offender to bear the cost of medical treatment of the victim.
CHAPTER VI – PUBLIC WORSHIP
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 269: Freedom of Conscience
Whoever by any interference or threat compels or prevents the practice
of any form of religion which does not involve the commission of a criminal
offence, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) month to 1
(one) year and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 50 000
(fifty thousand).
SECTION 270· Contempt of Minister of Religion
Whoever strikes or publicly insults a minister of religion on account of
his ministry shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) month to 3
(three) years.
SECTION 271 : Violent Obstruction of Ministry
Whoever obstructs by assault or threat the exercise of his ministry by a
minister of religion shall be punished in like manner.
SECTION 272: Disturbance of Public Worship
Whoever by disturbance or disorder obstructs, delays or interrupts
religious worship in the place where it is customarily offered,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 1 (one)
year or with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 100 000 (one
hundred thousand), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 273: Disturbance of Funeral
Whoever: .
a) disturbs any funeral ceremony or procession; or
b) defaces any funerary monument; or
c) fails to perform any duty by which he is bound to bury or burn a corpse ;
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 6 (six) months or
with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 25 000 (twenty five
thousand), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 274: Violation of Graves and Corpses
(1) Whoever:
a) violates any tomb or place of burial; or
b) offers indignity to any human corpse or part thereof, whether buried or
not,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 5 (five)
years and with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 100 000
(one hundred thousand).
(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to any dealing with a corpse in the
interests of science and in accordance with any regulation in force.
(3) Whoever has sexual intercourse on a corpse shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 5 (five) years
(4) Whoever, by force or moral ascendency, compels any person to
have sexual intercourse on a corpse shall be punished with imprisonment for
from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years.
PART III – FELONIES AND MISDEMEANOURS AGAINST PRIVATE INTEREST
CHAPTER I – THE PERSON
A – INTENTIONAL KILLING AND HARM
SECTION 275: Murder
Whoever causes another’s death shall be punished with imprisonment
for life.
SECTION 276: Capital Murder
(1) Whoever commits murder:
a) after premeditation; or
b) by poisoning; or
c) with a view to trafficking the organs of the victim;
d) in the preparation, facilitation or commission of a felony or
misdemeanour. or to enable the escape or to procure the impunity of
the offender or of an accessory to such felony or misdemeanour,
shall be punished with death.
(2) Murder shall be deemed premeditated notwithstanding that the
identity of the victim is not decided or that the enterprise depends on the
fulfilment of a condition.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 277· Grievous Harm
Whoever permanently deprives another of the use of the whole or ot
any part of any member, organ or sense shall be punished with imprisonment
for from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty) years.
SECTION 277-1 : Genital Mutilation
(1) Whoever mutilates the genital organ of a person, by any means
whatsoever, shall be punished with the penalties provided for in Section 277
above:
(2) The penalty shall be imprisonment for life where:
a) the offender habitually carries out such practice or does so for
commercial purposes;
b) it leads to the death of the victim.
(3) The Court may also impose the forfeitures provided for in Sections
19 and 30 of this Code.
(4) The provisions of Sub-sections 1 and 2 above shall not apply where
the acts were performed by a qualified person and in order to save life.
SECTION 277-2: Prevention of Growth of Organ
Whoever, in any manner whatsoever, interferes with an organ in order to
inhibit its normal growth shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six)
months to 5 (five) years and with fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred
thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million) or with both such imprisonment
and fine.
SECTION 277 -3: Torture
(1) Whoever involuntarily causes deat l!:b~y_~ ~~~~::bEc:pllJffi&t:ied
with life imprisonment.
(2) The penalty shall be imprisonment for from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty)
years where torture causes a permanent deprivation of the use of all or part
of a limb, organ or sense.
(3) The penalty shall be imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years
and with fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to CFAF
1 000 000 (one million) where torture leads to illness or incapacity to work of
more than 30 (thirty) days.
(4) The penalty shall be imprisonment for from 2 (two) to 5 (five· years
and with fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 200 OOC ‘twc
nundred thousand) where torture leads to illness or incapacity to No k f ..JP to
30 (thirty) days, or pain or mental or psychological injury.
(5) For the purposes of this section torture• shall mean any act by
which acute pain or suffering, either physical, mental or psychological, is
intentionally inflicted to a person by a public servant, a traditional leader or
any other person acting in the course of duties either at his own instigation or
with his express or implied consent, in order to obtain information or
confessions from that person or from another, to punish her for an act that
she or any other person has committed, or is presumed to have committed, to
intimidate or overawe her or any other person, or for any other motive based
on any discrimination.
The word “torture” as so defined does not apply to pain or suffering
resulting from legitimate punishments, inherent to or caused by them.
(6) No exceptional circumstances, whatever they are, whether a state of
war or threat of war, internal political stability or state of exception, may be
invoked to justify torture.
(7) Torture may not be justified by command of a superior or public
authority.
(8) The requirements provided in section 10 (1) of this Code shall not be
applicable to torture.
B – INTENTIONAL FORCE AND I
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 278: Assault Occasioning Death
(1) Whoever by force or interference unintentionally causes another’s
death shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) to 20 (twenty)
years.
(2) Where the force or interference is used in the course of any act of
witchcraft, magic or divination the punishment shall be imprisonment for life.
SECTION 279: Assault Occasioning Grievous Harm
(1) Whoever by force or interference unintentionally causes to another
the injuries described in section 277 of this Code shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years and in a fit case with fine of
from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
(2) Where use is made of a weapon, of any explosive corrosive or toxic
substance of poison or of any act of witchcraft magic or divination fie
,mpnsonment shall be from 6 (six) to 15 (tIfteen) years.
SECTION 280: Simple Harm
Whoever by force or interference causes intentionally or unintentionally
to another any sickness or inability to work lasting more than 30 (thirty) days
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 5 (five) years
or with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to 200 000 (two hundred
thousand), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 281 : Slight Harm
Whoever by force or interference causes intentionally or unintentionally
to another any .sickness or inability to work lasting for more than 8 (eight)
days and up to 30 (thirty) days shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6
(six) days to 2 (two) years or with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to
CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 282: Desertion of Incapable
(1) Whoever with intent to abandon him removes any person unable to
protect himself by reason of his physical or mental condition shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 3 (three) years and with fine
of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 25 000 (twenty-five thousand).
(2) Where the abandonment is in a lonely place the punishment shall be
imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years.
(3) Where the offender is an ascendant or any oth er person having
authority over the incapable or having custody of him, whether by law or in
fact, the punishment shall be imprisonment for from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty)
years.
(4) Upon conviction under this section the court may impose the
forfeitures described by section 30 of this Code and may also deprive the
offender of parental power for the same period.
SECTION 283: Failure to Assist
Whoever fails to render assistance to a person in danger of death or
grievous harm, whether by his own endeavours or by calling for help, where
such assistance involves no risk to himself or to any other person, shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) month to 3 (three) years or with
fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million)
or with both such imprisonment and fine.
C – COMMON PROVISIONS
SECTION 284: Mistake as to Victim
For the purposes of Sections 275 to 281 inclusive the infliction of death
or the use of force or interference shall be treated as intentional
notwithstanding that it is intended to be Inflicted on or used against a different
person.
SECTION 285: Constructive Force
For the purposes of this Code the following shall be treated as the use
of force or as interference:
a) the administration of any substance harmful to health ;
b) desertion under section 282 ;
c) deprivation of nourishment or care, to a degree endangering health,
by a person having custody in law or in fact of another who is either
incapable of withdrawing himself from the said custody or incapable of
providing for himself.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 286: Medical Treatment
Sections 277 to 281 inclusive shall not apply to the professional
services of any person duly authorized to render them, where performed with
the consent either of the patient or of such person as may have custody of
him:
Provided that where the patient is Incapable of consent his spouse may
consent on his behalf, and where communication with the said spouse or
person having custody is impossible without risk to the patient, consent shall
not be necessary.
SECTION 287; Interest of Victim
The infliction of harm and the use of force shall constitute no offence
where proved to be justified by the immediate necessity of avoiding greater
harm to the victim.
–
SECTION 288: Sport
Sections 278 to 281 inclusive shall not be applicable to anything done in
the course of a sport and in accordance with its rules.
D – UNINTENTIONAL KILLING AND HARM
SECTION 289: U nintentional Killing and Harm
(1) Whoever by lack of due skill, carelessness, rashness or disregard of
regulation causes another’s death or such harm, sickness or incapacity as is
described in section 277 or 280 shall be punished with imprisonment for from
3 (three) months to 5 (five) years or with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten
thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand), or with both such
imprisonment and fine.
(2) Where such harm, sickness or incapacity as is described in Sections
277 or 280 is caused by an offence against section 227 or 228 (2) (a) or (b)
the imprisonment shall be from 6 (six) to (20) twenty years.
(3) Where another’s death is caused by an offence against Sections
227or 228 (2) (a) or (b), the punishment shall be imprisonment for life.
(4) Where any offence against this section is committed in the course of
driving a vehicle requiring a driving license, the Court may disqualify the
offender for up to 3 (three) years from holding such license and for any
subsequent offence within the meaning of Section 88 of this Code may
disqualify him for up to 10 (ten) years.
P?. ,;1.’.lcNCf Of LA RfPUBUOUf
!;EC:tE’JAifAI CENEP.Al
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 290: Drivers of Vehicles
(1) The punishment provided by section 289 (1) shall be doubled for an offence committed by the driver of any vehicle
a) who is drunk or drugged when driving ; or
b) who has not the license required for driving t he vehicle in question ;
or
c) who with intent to avoid his liability departs before being identified.
(2) Where such harm as is described in section 281 is caused
unintentionally in the circumstances of the last foregoing subsection, the
driver shall be punished w ith imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 4 (four)
years and with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 100 000
(one hundred thousand).
(3) For any offence against this section, the Court may disqualify the
offender for up to five years from holding a driving license; and on
subsequent conviction within the meaning of Section 88 of this Code may
disqualify him for life or for any lesser term.
(4) In any case not covered by subsection (1) (c) of this section, the
driver of any vehicle involved in an accident who with intent to avoid his
liability departs before being identified shall be punished with imprisonment
for from 1 (one) month to 1 (one) year and with fine of from CFAF 20 000
(twenty thousand) to CFAF 200 000 (two hundred thousand); and the Court
may disqualify him for up to 2 (two) years from holding a driving license.
CHAPTER II – PRIVATE LIBERTY AND TRANQUILITY
A – LIBERTY
SECTION n 291: False Arrest
(1) Whoever in any manner deprives another of his liberty shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years and with fine of
from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million).
(2) The punishment shall be imprisonment for from 10 (ten) to 20
(twenty) years in any of the following cases:
a) where the deprivation of liberty lasts for more than a month; or
b) where it is accompanied with physical or mental torture; or
c) where the arrest is effected with the aid of a forged order from a
public authority or of a uniform unlawfully worn, or pretending an
appointment not held.
SECTION 292: Forced Labour
Whoever for his personal advantage compels another to do any work or
.to render any service which he has not offered of his own free will shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years or with fine of
from CFFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred
thousand), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 293: Slavery
Whoever enslaves any person or keeps him in slavery shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty) years.
The Court may in addition impose the forfeitures described in Section
30 of this Code.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 294: Immoral Earnings
(1) Whoever procures, aids or facilitates another persons’ prostitution,
or shares in the proceeds of another’s prostitution, whether habitual or
otherwise, or who is subsidized by any person engaging in prostitution shall
be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 5 (five) years and
with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one
million).
(2) Whoever lives with a person engaging in prostitution shall be
presumed to be subsidised by her, unless he shows that his own resources
are sufficient to enable him to support himself.
(3) The punishment shall be doubled where:
a. the offence is accompanied; by coercion or by fraud or where the
offender is armed; or where he is the owner, manager or
otherwise in charge of an establishment where prostitution is
habitually practiced;
b. where the offence has been committed to the detriment of any
person under the age of 21 (twenty-one);
c. where the offender is the father or mother, guardian or person
with customary responsibility.
(4) In the cases referred to under subsection 3, the provisions of section
48 shall be applied.
(5) The court may impose the forfeitures described by Section 30 of this
Code and disqualify the offender for the same period from being guardian or
curator of any person and from having custody, customary or otherwise, of
any person under the age of 21 (twenty-one).
(6) Upon conviction under subsection 3 (a) of this section, the court
shall order closure of the establishment, to whatever other use it may be put.
(7) The prostitute herself shall not be treated as accessory to any
offence under this section
B – SEXUAL OFFENCES
SECTION 295: Private indecency
(1) Whoever in any place, notwithstanding that it may not be open to the
public, commits an indecent act in the presence of any person of either sex
and without his consent shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15
(fifteen) days to 2 (two) years or with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand)
to CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand), or with both such imprisonment
and fine.
(2) The punishment shall be doubled where the offence is accompanied
by assault.
SECTION 296: Rape
Whoever by force or moral ascendency compels any person, whether
above or below the age of puberty, to have sexual Intercourse with him shall
be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years.
SECTION 297: Subsequent Marriage
Marriage freely consented between the offender and the victim, even
where she is over puberty at the time of commission of the offence provided
for in Sections 295 and 296 above, shall have no effect on the prosecution
and conviction.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 298: Aggravation
The penalties prescribed by Sections 294, 295 and 296 shall be
doubled where the offender:
a) has authority over the victim, or custody of him by law or by custom; or
b) is a public servant or minister of religion; or
c) is helped by one or more others.
C – PERSONALTRANQUILITY
SECTION 299: Invasion of Residence
(1) Whoever enters or remains in another’s residence against his will
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) days to 1 (one) year or
with fi ne of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand),
or with both such imprisonment and fine.
(2) The penalty shall be doubled for an offence committed at night or
with the aid of force, threats or other interference.
(3) No prosecution may be commenced without the complaint of the
injured party.
SECTION 300: Tampering with Correspondence
(1) Whoever without permission from the addressee destroys, conceals
or opens another’s correspondence shall be punished with imprisonment for
from 15 (fifteen) days to 1 (one) year or with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five
thousand) to CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand), or with both such
imprisonment and fine.
(2) This Section shall not apply between spouses, to parents in respect
of their children under 21 (twenty-one) years of age and unemancipated, or to
guardians or persons responsible by custom in respect of their wards.
SECTION 301 : Simple Threats
Whoever orally or by any writing or picture threatens another with force
or interference, or with the destruction of any property, or with breaking into
his residence, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) days to 3
(three) years and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 150 000 (one hundred and fifty thousand).
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 302: Conditional Threats
(1) Whoever threatens another, expressly or by implication, with force
or other interference in case of his failure to comply with any order or
condition shall be punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) days to 6 (six)
months and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 25 000
(twenty-five thousand).
(2) Where the force or other interference would constitute a felony
punishable with death or with imprisonment for life, the punishment shall be:
a) imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 3 (three) years and fine of
from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 70 000 (seventy thou sand) for
verbal threats;
b) imprisonment for from 2 (two) to 5 (five) years and fine of from CFAF
10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 250 000 (two hundred and fifty thousand) for
threats in writing or picture; and the Court may in addition impose the
forfeitures described in section 30 of this Code.
SECTION 302-1: Sexual Harassment
(1) Whoever takes advantage of the authority conferred on him by his
position to harass another using orders, threats, constraints or pressure in
order to obtain sexual favours, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6
(six) months to 1 (one) year and with fine of from CFAF (one hundred
thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million).
(2) The penalty shall be imprisonment for from one to 3 (three) years
where the victim is a minor.
(3) The penalty shall be imprisonment for from 3 (three) to 5 (five) years
where the offender is in charge of the education of the victim.
SECTION 303: Blackmail
(1) Whoever threatens another with a defamatory imputation or with any
revelation in case of his failure to comply with any order or condition shall be
punished with imprisonment for from one to 5 (five) years and with fine of
from CFAF 200 000 (two hundred thousand) to CFAF 2 000 000 (two million).
(2) The penalty shall be doubled for imputation of a felony.
(3) The Court may in addition impose the forfeitures described in
Section 30 of this Code.
SECTION 304: False Report
(1) Whoever makes to any person in authority, whether public or
private, a false report liable to lead to prosecution or to disciplinary measures
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 5 (five) years
and with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one
million), unless he shows that he had good reason to believe the report to be
true.
(2) Imprisonment shall be for from 2 (two) to 5 (five) years when the
false report ,s anonymous.
(3) Where in consequence of the report a criminal prosecution is
commenced in the trial court in respect of the facts reported, any prosecution
for false report shall be stayed until final judgment
(4) The Court may order publication of its judgment.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 305: Defamation
(1) Whoever by any of the means described in Section 152 injures the
honour or reputation of another by imputations, direct or indirect, of facts
which he is unable to prove shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6
(six) days to 6 (six) months and with a fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five
thousand) to CFAF 2 000 000 (two million), or with only one of the penalties.
(2) These penalties shall equally apply to persons guilty of defamation
in the print and audio-visual media without prejudice to the right of reply and
to the obligation to publish corrections.
(3) No proof may be offered of the truth of defamatory imputation
where:
a) it concerns the private life of the person defamed; or
b) it refers to a fact more than ten years old; or
c) it refers to a fact constituting an offence which has been amnestied or
the conviction for which has been otherwise expunged.
(4) No prosecution may be commenced without the complaint of the
injured party or of his representative by law or by custom, or continued after
withdrawal of the complaint.
(5) Prosecution shall be barred by the lapse of four months from
commission of the offence or from the last step in preparation or prosecution.
(6) This section shall apply to defamation of the memory of a deceased
person with intent to injure the honour or reputation of his living heirs, spouse
or universal legatee.
(7) The penalty shall be halved for a defamation which is not public.
(8) The penalty shall be doubled for anonymous defamation.
SECTION 306: Exceptions to Defamation
The following shall constitute no offence.
1. speeches within any legislative assembly, and any reports or other
documents printed by order of any such assembly ,
2. faithful accounts without malice of the public sittings of Parliament
any such assembly ;
3. proceedings in court and the speeches made and documents
produced in court ;
4. faithful accounts without malice of all such proceedings and
speeches, save of prosecution or action for defamation ;
5. publication of any judgment or judicial order, including those passed
in a prosecution or action for defamation ;
6. an official report without malice by a person lawfully appointed to
conduct an enquiry to the extent that it is germane to the enquiry ;
7. imputations without malice by a superior on his subordinate ;
8. information on any person given without malice to a third party
having an interest, personal or official, in receiving it, or having
power to remedy an alleged injustice ;
9. criticism of any work of art, entertainment or opinion shown or
expressed in public, provided that such criticism be not an
expression of personal animosity ;
10. any work of a historical nature and without malice.
SECTION 307: Abuse
(1) Whoever uses without having been provoked against any person in
the circumstances of publicity described in section 152 any insulting
expression, or contemptuous gesture or words, or invective without
imputation of fact, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) days
to 3 (three) months or, with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF
100 000 (one hundred thousand), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
(2) No prosecution may be commenced without the complaint of the
injured party or of his representative by law or by custom, or continued after
withdrawal of the complaint.
(3) Prosecution shall be barred by the lapse of four months from the
commission of the offence or from the last step in preparation or prosecution.
(4) This section shall apply to abuse of the memory of deceased person
in the circumstances prescribed by section 305 (5)
SECTION 308: Extortion of Disposition or Signature
(1) Whoever by force, coercion or fraud extorts the signature or the
delivery of any document having the effect of an obligation. discharge or
disposition, or otherwise liable to harm the signatory in his person or in his
substance, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten)
years and with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 500 000
(five hundred thousand).
(2) Whoever procures by the like means the delivery of a signed blank
paper and fills it up with any obligation, discharge or disposition shall be
punished in like manner.
CHAPTER III – CONFIDENCE
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 309: Signature in Blank
Whoever, being entrusted with a signed blank paper takes advantage of
it to insert any unauthorized obligation, discharge or disposition or any other
writing liable to harm the signatory in his person or in his substance, shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years or with fine of
from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand),
or with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 310: Professional Confidence
(1) Whoever without permission from the person interested in secrecy
reveals any confidential fact which has come to his knowledge or which has
been confided to him solely by reason of his profession or duties shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 3 (three) years and
with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 100 000 (one
hundred thousand) .
(2) Subsection (1) shall apply neither to statements to the prosecution
or police concerning facts which may amount to a felony or mlsdemeanour,
nor to answers in court to any question whatever.
(3) Nothing in subsection (2) shall release from the duty of professional
confidence:
–
(2) The Court mav ,n addition impose the forfeitures descr’bed 1n
Section 30 of this Code.
SECTION 313-1 : Non-declaration of Conflict of Interest
Whoever, being an employee of the public or private sector, personally
or through a third party or under any name whatsoever, has vested interests
in an enterprise or a sector placed under his direct supervision or that relates
to him, that may compromise or restrict his independence, but fails to inform
his superiors, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five)
years and with fine of from CFAF 200 000 (two hundred thousand) to CFAF
2 000 000 (two million).
SECTION 314: Forgery
(1) Whoever forges or alters, whether in its substance or in the
signatures of the parties or witnesses or in its date, any private document
having the effect of an obligation, discharge or disposition shall be punished
with imprisonment for from 3 (three) to 8 (eight) years and with fine of from
CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF (one million).
(2) The penalty shall be imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years
and with fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to CFAF
2 000 000 (two million) where the document is:
a) commercial or bank paper; or
b) evidence of a right in land; or
c) a power to sign any document described by subsection (a) or (b); or
d) a will.
(3) Whoever makes use of:
a) any document described in this section; or
b) of an expired document of like nature representing it to be still be
effective; or
c) of a document of like nature referring to another person of whom he
passes himself off- shall be punished in like manner as if he had
forged the document.
…
a) a physician or surgeon save within the scope of a commission from
the prosecution … of his reference as an expert referee
b) a public servant under orders in writing from the Government
c) a minister of religion or counsel
(4) Upon conviction the Court may order the forfeitures described by
Section 30 of this Code.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 31 1: Commercial Confidence
(1) Whoever revea ls without permission from the person interested in
secrecy any confidential fact or process which has come to his knowledge or
which has been confided to him solely by reason of his employment in an
industrial or commercial undertaking shall be punished with imprisonment for
from 3 (three) months to 3 (three) years or with fine of from CFAF 100 000
(one hundred thousand) to CFAF 5 000 000 (five million), or with both such
imprisonment and fine.
(2) Upon conviction the Court may order the forfeitures described by
section 30 of this Code.
SECTION 311-1: Non-observance of Conditions for Registration in the Trade and Personal Property Credit Register
Whoever is bound to fulfil any condition for registration in the Trade and
Personal Property Credit Register and who fails to do so or does so by fraud,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from three 3 (months) to 3 (three)
years or with fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to CFAF
5 000 000 (five million), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
The competent Court shall, where necessary, order the rectification of
inaccurate entries and transcripts.
SECTION 311 – 2: Failure to Indicate the Status of Lease Manager of a Business
Any lease manager of a business who omits to indicate such status at
the top of his purchase orders, invoices, and other financial or commercial
documents as well as his registration number in the Trade and Personal
Property Credit Register shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3
(three) months to 3 (three) years or with fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one
hundred thousand) to CFAF 5 000 000 (five million), or with both such
imprisonment and fine.
–
SECTION 314-1 Accounting Irregularities
(1) ./1/hoever deliberately draws up off record accounts uses false
documents records false income and expenses or destroys accounting
documents earlier than provided for by law, shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years and with fine of from CFAF
200 000 (two hundred thousand) to CFAF 2 000 000 (two million).
(2) The penalties provided for in Subsection (1) above shall be doubled
where the offender is an officially recognized professional accountant or
where the accounts produced were certified as true and fair by such
professional.
(3) Where false accounts are drawn up or certified with intent to conceal
acts of corruption or misappropriation of public property, the penalties shall be
those applicable to such offences.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 315: False or Forged Certificate
(1) Whoever forges or alters a private certificate or issues a false
certificate, where such issue is not otherwise punished, or who makes use of
a forged, altered or false private certificate shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 1 (one) month to 1 (one) year.
(2) The penalty provided for in Subsection (1) above shall be doubled
for forgery, alteration, or use of a medical certificate or of any private
document not described by Section 314.
CHAPTER IV – PROPERTY
A – DESTRUCTION
SECTION 316 : Destruction
(1) Whoever destroys the whole or any part of any property belonging
wholly or in part to another or charged in favour of another shall be punished
with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 3 (three) years or with fine of
CFAF 5 000 (five) thousand to CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand), or
with both such imprisonment and fine.
(2) The penalty shall be imprisonment for from 2 (two) to 10 (ten) years
or fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand), or with both such imprisonment and fine, where the property in
question is a building construction, ship, plant or installation.
SECTION 317: Boundary Marks and Fences
Whoever.
a) destroys, removes or displaces a boundary stone or any other mark set
up to show the boundary between properties: or
b) destroys any fence of whatever nature,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 1 (one) year
and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 50 000 ( fifty
thousand).
B – AGAINST PROPRIETARY INTEREST
SECTION 318: Theft., Misappropriation, False Pretences
(1) Whoever causes loss to another:
a) by theft, that is by removing his property; or
b) by misappropriation that is by destruction, waste or conversion of
any property capable of being removed entrusted to him for the
purpose of custody, return, accounting or any particular manner of
dealing.
Provided that this paragraph shall apply neither to money loan nor to a
consumer goods loan ;
c) false pretence, that is by influencing him deceitfully by tricks or by
misrepresentation or concealment of any matter of fact ; shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years and
with fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to CFAF
1 000 000 (one million).
(2) The Court may in addition impose the forfeitures described in
Section 30 of this Code.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 319: Special Thefts and Misappropriation
The penalties provided for in Section 318 above shall apply to:
1. the unauthorized appropriation of any generated energy; and
2. the unauthorized use of any property, without the intention to deonve
the owner of it and
3. the taking of lost property, and
4 the taking or misappropriation by a debtor of his own property
charged with the debt
SECTION 320: Aggravated Theft
(1) The penalties provided for in Section 318 above shall be doubled if
the theft was committed either:
a) with force, or
b) bearing weapons, or
c) by breaking in, by climbing in, or by the use of a false key, or
d) with a motor vehicle.
(2) Whoever commits a theft by the use of force causing the death of
another or grievous harms as provided for in Sections 277 and 279 of the
Penal Code shall be punished with the death.
SECTION 321: Aggravated Misappropriation and False Pretences
The penalties prescribed by section 318 shall be doubled for
misappropri ation or false pretences committed:
a) by counsel or by notary, public auctioneer, bailiff, process server or
business agent;
b) by an employee or employer against his employer or employee;
c) by an offender advertising or who has advertised publicly.
SECTION 322: Credit by Fraud and Fraudulent Retention
(1) Whoever, being unable to pay for them:
a) orders and consumes on the spot any food or drink; or
b) occupies any room in a hotel; or
c) hires a taxi
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) days to 6 (six) months
and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 25 000 ( twenty-
five thousand).
(2) The acts described in subsections 1 (a) and (b) shall constitute no
offence if the supply of food or drink or the accommodation continues for
more than one week
(3) Whoever, without just cause, retains anything belonging to another
shall be punished in like manner
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 322 -1: Renting Fraud
(1) Whoever rents a built or un-built property on the basis of a duly
registered contract, owing two months rents, and who has not paid such rents
or vacated the said property, one month after service of a notice to pay or
quit, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 3 (three)
years or with fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to CFAF
300 000 (three hundred thousand), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
(2) Upon conviction the Court shall, in addition, order the eviction of the
tenant or any other occupant.
SECTION 322 -2: Destruction of Rented Premises
Any tenant who, at the time of leaving the premises, damages them or
any equipment therein found, shall be punished as
322-1 above.
SECTION 322 -3: Infringement of the Lien of the Lessor
The lessee or any other person who fraudulently deprives the lessor
wholly or partially of his lien over the movables of the lessee shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 3 (three) years or with
fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to CFAF 300 000 (three
hundred thousand) or with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 323: Immunity Between Relatives
Sections 318, 319, 322, 322-1 and 322-2 of this Code shall not be
applicable to a person guilty of the acts therein described against his spouse,
against his legitimate or adoptive or adopted ascendant or descendant, or
against his natural ascendant or descendant up to the second degree either
living with him or after recognition; or to a surviving spouse in respect of
necessaries belonging to the deceased spouse.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 324: Receiving
(1) Whoever holds or disposes of anything procured by the commission
of a misdemeanour, whether knowing or having reason to suspect the
criminal origin of the property. shall be punished with the penalties prescribed
by Section 318.
(2) In case of felony, the punishment shall be doubled.
SECTION 325: Usury
(1) Any lender demanding or taking interest or any other reward higher
than the rate fixed by law for loans of the kind in question shall be punished
with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one
million).
(2) On subsequent conviction within the meaning of Section 88 of this
Code, the penalty shall be imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 1 (one)
year and the fine shall be doubled.
(3) The Court may order publication of its judgment under Section 33 of
this Code.
(4) For the purposes of this Section, the borrowe shall not be treated as an accessory.
SECTION 326: Forbidden Sales
Whoever:
– so offers any goods to the public as to engender the hope of
obtaining them free or at a reduced price in consideration of
persuading others to take up coupons or to buy; or
– sends goods to an addressee who has not ordered them, giving him
the choice between keeping them and sending them back whether or
not at his expense shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1
(one) month to 1 (one) year or with fine of from CFAF 200 000 (two
hundred thousand) to CFAF 2 000 000 (two million), or with both
such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 327: Infringement of Intellectual Property and Artistic Rights
(1) Whoever:
a) by any means whatsoever exploits a literary or artistic work done in
violation of the law through performance, reproduction or transformation
or distribution;
b) reproduces, communicates or supplies to the public by sale, exchange,
rental of a recording, phonogramme, videogramme undertaken without
the authorization, of the performer, of the producer of the
phonogramme or videogramme or the audiovisual communication
enterprise where such authorizauon is required
c) infringes the moral right, through violation of the right of disclosure, the
right to authorship or the right to respect of a literary or artistic work;
d) infringes the right of authorship and the right to integrity of a
performance;
e) imports, exports, sells or puts up for sale forged objects;
f) imports or exports phonogrammes or videogrammes produced without
the authorization of the performer or producer of the phonogramme or
videogramme, where such authorization is required;
g) knowingly produces or imports with the intention of selling or renting or
setting up equipment, device or instrument entirely or partially designed
to fraudu lently receive televised programmes where such programmes
are reserved for a specific public that receives them in return for a fee
paid to their operator or his legal representatives;
h) fraudulently neutralizes effective technical measures used by owners of
copyrights or neighbouring rights to protect their works against
unauthorized acts;
r~,;1:c~CEOE LA REPUBllOUE
i) allows the irregular reproduction or performance in his establishment of
works protected by law;
j) fails to pay a fee provided for by law or does so tardily without
justification;
k) removes or alters without authorization any electronic information
relating to the copyright regime;
I) distributes, imports for distribution, communicates without authorization
originals or copies of works, performances, videogrammes,
phonogrammes, programmes, being aware that the electronic
information relating to the copyright regime has been removed or
altered without authorization ,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years and
with fine of from CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand) to CFAF 10 000 000
(ten million) or both such punishment and fine.
(2) “Information on copyright regime” shall mean information that helps to
identify the work, performance, videogramme, phonogramme or programme,
or information on the conditions of use of such productions and any number
or code representing such information where one of these elements of
information is attached to a copy of a production or is linked to the
communication of a production to the public.
(3) The penalties provided for in Subsection (1) above shall be doubled
where the offender Is a co-contractor of the owner of the 1nfnnged nght
(4) The court may order the confiscation of forged copies, the equipment
used to commit the offence as well as proceeds derived therefrom
(5) The competent court may also order the destruction of the equipment
used and the forged copies, and the publication of its decisions as provided
for in Section 33 of this Code.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 328: Infringements of Patents
(1) Whoever unknowingly uses a patent or conceals, sells, exports,
imports or uses any object constituting an infringement of patent shall be
punished with fine of from CFAF 1 000 000 (one million) to CFAF 3 000 000
(three million).
(2) In the case of a subsequent offence or where the offender is or was
employed in the establishment where the patent was exploited, further
punishment of from (1) one to 6 (six) months may be prescribed.
(3) The Court shall order confiscation and delivery to the patentee of
any object constituting an infringement of patent and may order publication of
its judgment as provided by Section 33 of this Code.
(4) The Court shall rule on the exceptions that may be raised by the
offender relating to the nullity or forfeiture of the patent or issues relating to
ownership of the said patent.
(5) No prosecution may be commenced except on complaint by the
patentee.
SECTION 329: Industrial Designs
(1) Whoever unduly exploits a registered design shall be punished with
a fine of from CFAF 1 000 000 (one million) to CFAF 6 000 000 (six million).
(2) In the case of a subsequent offence, or where the offender is or was
. employed in the establishment where the patent was exploited, further
punishment of from 1 (one) to 6 (six) months may be prescribed.
(3) In the cases provided for in Subsections (1) and (2) above the Court
shall order the confiscation of the goods from the undue exploitation of the
trademarks to be given to the victim
(4) The offender shall forleit his election and eligibility rights and any
elective or appointive mandate or to any Consular Chamber of Commerce or
Industry for 10 (ten) years.
(5) The Court shall rule on the exceptions that may be raised by the
offender relating to the nullity or forfeiture of the patent or issues relating to
ownership of the said patent.
(6) The Court shall order the publication of its decision as provided for
in Section 33 of this Code.
(7) No prosecution may be commenced except on complaint by the
patentee.
SECTION 330: Trade marks
(1) Whoever forges a registered trademark shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 2 (two) years and with fine of from
CFAF 1 000 000 (one million) to CFAF 6 000 000 (six million).
(2) Whoever conceals, sells, exports, imports or uses any object
constituting an infringement of registered trademark shall be punished as
provided for in Subsection (1) above.
(3) In the cases provided for in Subsections (1) and (2) above, the Court
shall order confiscation and delivery to the trademark owner of any object
constituting an infringement of trademark.
(4) The Court shall order publication of its judgment as provided under
Section 33 of this Code.
SECTION 331 : Fraudulent debtor
(1) Any debtor, whether or not a trader, who with intent to avoid
payment to one or more creditors gives, delivers, transfers, encumbers,
removes or conceals the whole or any oart of his property shall be punished
with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 1 (one) year
(2) The intent shall be presumed In case of removal or concealment
within 2 (two) months before judgment against the offender.
SECTION 332: Culpable Bankruptcy
(1) Any individual trader in the position of cessation of payment who:
a) makes, without receiving securities in exchange, commitments
deemed too heavy in relation to his situation when he made them ;
b) where, with intent to delay the establishment of cessation of
payments, makes purchases for resale at lower prices or where, with
same intent, uses ruinous means to obtain funds ;
c) where, without valid reason, fails to declare his situation of cessation
of payments at the Registry of the competent court within a period of 30
(thirty) days ;
d) keeps incomplete or improper accounts or does not keep any
accounts in conformity with generally accepted accounting rules and
practices, with regard to the size of the company,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) month to 2 (two) years.
2) Any individual trader who, having been declared 3 (three) times in a
situation of cessation of payments within a period of 5 (five) years, and where
such proceedings were closed for asset inadequacy, shall also be convicted
for culpable bankruptcy and punished with the penalties provided for in
Subsection (1) above.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 333: Fraudulent Bankruptcy
(1) Any natural person who, in case of cessation of payments:
a) removes his books ;
b) converts or dissipates all or part of his assets ;
c) in his books or by any notarial or private deed or in his balance sheet,
fraudulently acknowledges debts which he does not owe :
d) exercises the profession of trader in violation of the law ;
e) after cessation of payments, pays any creditor to the detriment of the
general body of creditors ;
f) arranges with any creditor special benefits on account of his vote at
the deliberations of the general body of creditors or who concludes with
any creditor a special agreement from which the creditor would derive a
benefit to be borne by the assets of the debtor with effect from the date
of the decision to initiate proceedings; shall be guilty of fraudulent
bankruptcy and punished with imprisonment for from five to ten years.
(2) Any individual trader who, during collective proceedings for
preventive settlement, legal redress and liquidation of property:
a) in bad faith, presents or permits the presentation of an income
statement or balance sheet or statement of claims and debts or a
statement of preferential claims and securities that is inexact or
incomplete;
b) without the authorization of the President of the competent court,
committed one of the acts prohibited by the Law organizing Collective
proceedings for Wiping Off Debts, shall also be punished as provided
for in Subsection (1) above.
SECTION 334: Company Manager
Individuals who are managers of corporate bodies subject to collective
proceedings and the permanent representatives of managing corporate
bodies who, in that capacity and in bad faith:
a) use or spend money belonging to the corporate body by carrying out
mere chance operations or fictitious operations ;
b) with intent to delay the establishment of cessation of payments by the
corporate body make purchases with the view to reselling them at lower
prices or, with the same intent, use ruinous means to obtain funds ;
c) after cessation of payments by the corporate body, pay or permit a
creditor to be paid to the detriment of the general body of creditors ;
d) cause the corporate body to make for others, without receiving
securities in exchange, commitments deemed too heavy in relation to
its situation when the commitments were made ;
e) keep, cause or allow the keeping of improper or incomplete accounts of
the corporate body under the conditions laid down in Section 332 above
f) fail to declare the situation of cessation of payments of the corporate
body at the Registry of the competent court within a period of thirty days
g) with view to holding all or part of their estate from proceedings against the corporate body in a situation of cessation of payments or those against partners of members or creditors of the corporate body, embezzle or conceal, attempt to embezzle or conceal a part of their property or who fraudulently acknowledge debt that they do not owe –
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) month to 2 (two) years.
SECTION 334-1: – Legal or de Facto Representatives
Legal or de facto representatives of corporate bodies comprrsrng
members indefinitely, jointly and severally liable for the debts of the corporate
bodies who, without valid reasons, did not declare its cessation of payments
at the registry of the competent court within a period of thirty days, or where
such declaration does not include the list of jointly and severally liable
members with an indication of their names and residences shall be punished
with imprisonment for from 1 (one) month to 2 (two) years.
SECTION 334-2: Individuals Managing Corporations and Permanent
Representatives of Managing Corporate Bodies
(1) Individuals managing corporations and permanent representatives
of managing corporate bodies who fraudulently:
a) remove the books of the corporate body ;
b) convert or conceal a part of its assets ;
c) in their books or by any notarial or private deed or in their balance
sheets, acknowledge debts which the corporate body does not owe ;
d) perform the function of manager in violation of a ban provided for by
the OHADA Uniform Acts or by law or regulation ;
e) arrange with a creditor, on behalf of the corporate body, special benefits
on account of his vote during the deliberations of the general body of
creditors or who conclude with a creditor a special agreement from
which the creditor would derive a benefit to be borne by the assets of
t he corporate body with effect from the date of cessation of payments,
save otherwise provided by law ;
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years.
(2) The managers referred to in Subsection (1) above, who, during
preventive settlement proceedings:
a) 1n bad faith present or permit the presentation of an income statement
or balance sheet or statement of claims and debts or a statef’T1ent of
preferential claims and securities that is inexact or Incomplete
b) without an authorization from the President of the competent court,
commit one of the acts prohibited by Article 11 of the Uniform Act
organizing collective proceedings for wiping off debts shall be
punished as provided for in Subsection (1) above.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 335: Offences Committed by Third Parties
Whoever :
a) in the interest of the debtor, removes, keeps or conceals all or part of
his personal property or real estate, without prejudice to criminal
provisions relating to aiding and abetting ;
b) fraudulently produces fictitious debts, in collective proceedings, either in
his name or in another’s name or under a false name ;
c) engaging in a professional independent, civilian, commercial, artisanal
or agricultural activity in the name of another or under a false name, in
bad faith, converts, conceals, attempts to convert or conceal a part of
his property
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years.
SECTION 335-1: Offences Committed by Spouse, Relatives or Kinsmen of the Debtor
The spouse, descendant, ascendant or relative of the debtor or his
kinsman up to the fourth degree inclusively who, unknown to the debtor,
embezzles, misappropriates or conceals negotiable instruments pertaining to
the assets of a debtor in a situation of cessation of payments, shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to three 3 (years) or with fine of
from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 250 000 (two hundred and fifty
thousand) or with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 335-2: Damages and Reincorporation
In the cases provided for in Sections 335 and 335-1 above, even where there
is discharge, the trial court shall rule on damages and on the re-incorporation
of the property, rights or stocks removed into the estate of the debtor
SECTION 335-3: Offences Committed by the Judicial Representative of a collective proceedings
Any judicial representative of collective proceedings who
a) carries out personal activity under the cover of the company of the
debtor concealing his dealings .
b) disposes of the credit or property of the debtor as his ;
c) dissipates the property of the debtor ;
d) undertakes, abusively and in bad faith, in his own interest, either
directly or indirectly transactions resulting in a deficit for the company of
the debtor;
e) in violation of the Law organizing Collective proceedings for Wiping off
Debts, directly or indirectly acquires the property of the debtor on his
own account
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years and
with fine of from CFAF 200 000 (two hundred thousand) to CFAF 5 000 000
(five million).
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 336: Unlawful Gains of a Creditor
The creditor who, save otherwise provided by !aw:
a) arranges with a debtor or any other person, special benefits on account
of his vote during the deliberations of the general body of creditors ;
b) concludes a special agreement from which he would derive a benefit to
be borne by the debtor’s assets with effect from the date of the decision
to initiate collective proceedings
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 3 (three) years and
with fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 1 500 000 (one million
five hundred thousand).
CHAPTER IV – CHILDREN AND THE FAMILY
SECTION 337: Abortion
(1) Any woman procuring or consenting to her own abortion shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 1 (one) year or with
fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 200 000 (two hundred
thousand) or with both such imprisonment and fine .
(2) Whoever procures the abortion of a woman, notwithstanding her
consent, shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five)
years and with fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to CFAF
2 000 000 (two million).
(3) The penalties prescribed by Subsection (2) shall be doubled where
the offender:
a) engages habitually in abortion ; or
b) practises the profession of medicine or an allied profession.
(4) In the circumstances of Subsection (3) (b), the Court may also order
closure of the professional premises and impose a ban on his occupation
under Sections 34 and 36of this Code.
SECTION 338: Assault on Woman with Child
Whoever by force used against a woman with child or against a child
being born causes, intentionally or unintentionally the death or permanent
incapacity of the child shall be punished with imprisonment for form 5 (five) to
10 (ten) years and with fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to
CFAF 2 000 000 (two million).
SECTION 339: Saving Mother
(1) Neither of the two foregoing Sections apply to acts performed by a
qualified person and proved necessary for the saving of the mother from
grave danger to her health.
(2) In case of pregnancy resulting from rape, abortion by a qualified
medical practitioner after certificate by the prosecution of a good case shall
constitute no offence.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 340: Infanticide
The punishment for murder within the meaning of Sections 275 or 276
or for abetment of such murder, by a mother of her child one month of birth
shall be reduced to imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years. Provided
that nothing in this Section shall reduce the penalty as against any other
offender or accessory.
SECTION 341 : Cloud on Parentage
Any person whose conduct has the result of depriving a child of the
evidence of his true parentage shall be punished with imprisonment for from 5
(five) to 10 (ten) years.
SECTION 342: Debt Bondage of Persons
(1) Whoever subjects a person to debt bondage shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years and with fine of from CFAF
10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
(2) The penalties provided in Subsection (1) above shall be doubled where
the offender is either an ascendant, a guardian or a person having even
customary custody over the victim.
(3) Whoever boards a person in debt bondage shall be punished with
imprisonment for 10 (ten) years
and with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one
million).
(4) The court may also impose the forfeitures provided for in Section 30
of this Code.
SECTION 342-1: Trafficking and Slavery of Persons
(1)Whoever engages even occasionally in the practice of trafficking in
persons or slavery shall be punished with imprisonment for from 10
(ten) to 20 (twenty) years and with fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty
thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million).
(2)Whoever engages in trafficking in persons and slavery shall be
punished with imprisonment of from 15 (fifteen) to 20 (twenty) years and
with fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to
CFAF 10 000 000 (ten million) where the:
a) offence is committed against a minor of 15 (fifteen) years old ;
b) perpetrator is a legitimate, natural or adopted ascendant of the
victim ;
c) offender has authority over the victim or is expected to participate
by virtue of his duties in the fight against slavery or in peace
keeping ;
d) offence is committed by an organized gang or an association of
criminals;
e) offence Is committed with use of a weapon
f) victim sustains injuries as described in Section … of the Code
or
g) where the victim dies as a result of acts related to the offence.
(3) The Court may also impose the forfeitures provided for In Sectlon
30 of this Code.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 343: Immoral Earnings
(1) Whoever, of either sex, who engages habitually for gain, in sexual
intercourse with another shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six)
months to 5 (five) years and with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand)
to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
(2) Whoever, in view of prostitution of or debauchment, proceeds with
public gestures, words and writing or by any other means to the soliciting of
persons of either sex shall be punished in like manner.
SECTION 344: Corruption of Youth
(1) Whoever, in order to satisfy the desires of another person, habitually
excites, encourages or facilitates the debauch or corruption of any person
under 18 (eighteen) years of age shall be punished with imprisonment for
from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years and with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty
thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million).
(2) The penalty shall be doubled where the victim is under 16 (sixteen)
years.
(3) Upon conviction, the Court may order the forfeitures described in
Section 30 of this Code and deprive the offender for the same period of
parental power and disqualify him from being guardian or curator of any
minor.
SECTION 345: Moral Danger
Whoever having by law or by custom custody of a person under 18
(eighteen) years of age allows him to reside or work in an establishment
where prostitution is habitually practiced, or to work in a prostitute’s house
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 6 (six)
months and with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 100 000
(one hundred thousand).
SECTION 346: Indecency to Child under Sixteen
(1)Whoever commits an indecent act in the presence of a child under
the age of 16 (sixteen) shall be punished with imprisonment for from 2 (two)
to 5 (five) years and with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to
CFAF 200 000 (two hundred thousand).
(2) The penalty shall be doubled where the offence is accompanied by
assault or where the offender is one of the persons described in Section 298.
(3) The penalty shall be imprisonment for from 10 (ten) to 15 (fifteen)
years where the offender has sexual intercourse with the victim
notwithstanding his or her consent.
(4) In case of rape, the imprisonment shall be from fifteen to twenty-five
years, or for life where the offender is one of the persons described by
Section 298.
(5) Upon conviction under this Section, the Court may deprive the
offender of parental power and disqualify him from being guardian or curator
of any minor for the time prescribed by Section 31 (4) of this Code.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 347: Indecency to Minor between Sixteen and Twenty-One
(1) For any offence under Sections 295, 296 and 347-1 of this Code
committed against a person over 16 (sixteen) and under 21 (twenty-one)
years of age, the penalty shall be doubled.
(2) Upon conviction under this Section, the Court may deprive the
offender of parental power and disqualify him from being guardian or curator
of any minor for the time prescribed by Section 31 (4) of this Code.
SECTION 347-1: Homosexuality
Whoever has sexual relations with a person of the same sex shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 5 (five) years and a
fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 200 000 (two hundred
thousand).
SECTION 348: Drink
(1) Whoever:
a) being licensed to sell intoxicating liquor for consumption on the
premises admits to the said premises any person under 16 (sixteen)
years of age not accompanied by a person over 21 (twenty-one)
responsible for superintending him or
b) being licensed to sell beverages for consumption on the premises sells
or offers, whether on the said premises or in any other public place, any
intoxicating liquor to any person under 18 (eighteen) years of age not
accompanied by a person over 21 (twenty-one) responsible for
superintending him; or
c) makes any person under 21 (twenty-one) years of age drunk,
shall be punished with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF
50 000 (fifty thousand).
(2) Upon subsequent conviction within the meaning of Section 88of this
Code, the punishment shall be imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) days to 1
(one) month and fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 100 000
(one hundred thousand); and the Court may in addition order:
a) closure of the licensed premises under Section 34 of this Code ;
b) publication of its judgment ;
c) as against any offender the forfeitures described in Section 30 of this
Code.
(3) This Section shall not apply to any person proving that he was misled as
to the age of the minor or as to the age or authority of the person
accompanying him.
SECTION 349: Advantage of Weakness
(1) Whoever takes advantage of the needs, weakness or passions of
any person under 21 (twenty-one) years of age to induce him to sign any
obligation, discharge or disposition, or any other document liable to harm the
signatory in his person or in his substance, shall be punished with the penalty
prescribed by Section 318 of this Code.
(2) For the purposes of this Section, any lunatic notorious or so found and any spendthrift so found, shall be treated as a minor.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 350: Assault on Children
(1) The penalties prescribed by Section 275 on the one hand and by
Sections 277 and 278 on the other shall become death and imprisonment for
life respectively where the offences are committed against a person under 15
(fifteen) years of age, and the penalties prescribed by Sections 279 (1), 280
and 281 shall be doubled.
(2) Upon conviction for misdemeanour under this Section, the Court
may order the forfeitures described in Section 30 of this Code
SECTION 351 : Assault on Ascendant
The penalties prescribed by Section 275 on the one hand and by
Sections 277 and 278 on the other hand shall become death and
imprisonment for life respectively where the offences are committed against
the legitimate, natural or adoptive father or mother of the offender, or against
any other legitimate ascendant, and the penalties prescribed by Sections 279
(1), 280 and 281 shall be doubled.
SECTION 352: Kidnapping of Child
(1) Whoever without force or fraud takes or entices away any person
under 18 (eighteen) years of age, against the will of those to whom custody
belongs by law or by custom, or procures him to leave that custody shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years and with fine of
from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 200 000 (two hundred
thousand):
Provided that this Subsection shall not apply to a person misled as to the age
of the minor.
(2) The subsequent marriage of the offender to the victim shall have no
effect on the prosecution and conviction.
SECTION 353: Kidnapping by Force or Fraud
Whoever by force or fraud takes or entices away any person under the
age of twenty-one years, notwithstanding that he thought him older, and
against the will of those to whom custody belongs by law or by custom or
procures him to leave that custody shall be punished with imprisonment for
from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years and with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty
thousand) to CFAF 400 000 (four hundred thousand).
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 354: Aggravated Kidnapping
(1) The punishment for kidnapping under either of the two last foregoing
Sections shall be imprisonment for life where:
– the person kidnapped is under the age of thirteen; or
– the offender commits the offence with intent to obtain a ransom or
obtains a ransom.
(2) The punishment shall be death where the minor dies as a result of
the kidnapping
SECTION 355: Failure to return a child
Whoever being in charge of a child fails to return him to those having
the right to claim him back shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1
(one) to 5 (five) years, and with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand)
to CFAF 200 000 (two hundred thousand).
SECTION 355-1: Interference with the Right to Visit
Any parent who interferes with the exercise by the other parent of the
right granted by a court order to visit any child they have in common, shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 1 (one) year or with
fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred
thousand) or with both such imprisonment and fine.
SECTION 355 -2: Interference with the Right to Education or Training
(1) Any parent with sufficient means who refuses to send his child to
school, shall be punished with fine of from 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF
500 000 (five hundred thousand).
(2) The punishment shall be imprisonment for from 1 (one) year to 2
(two) years where the offence is repeated.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 356: Forced Marriage
(1) Whoever compels anyone to marry shall be punished with
imprisonment for from five to 10 (ten) years, and with fine of from CFAF
25 000 (twenty-five thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million).
(2) Where the victim is under the age of 18 (eighteen), the punishment
may not be less than 2 (two) years imprisonment, whatever the mitigating
circumstances.
(3) Whoever gives in marriage a boy or a girl under 18 (eighteen) shall
be punished as under the two last foregoing Subsections.
(4) Upon conviction, the Court may deprive the offender of parental
power and disqualify him from being the guardian or curator of any person for
the time prescribed by Section 31 (4) of this Code.
136
SECTION 357: Abuse in respect of Bride-price
1) Whoever
a) receives from a third party the whole or any part of a bride-price for
the promise 1n marriage of a woman already married or bound by a betrothal
not yet broken off ; or
b) receives the whole or any part of a bride-price before refund to any
earlier suitor; or
c) receives without any right to it the whole or any part of a bride-price
for the marriage of a woman ; or
d) demands the whole or any part of an excessive bride-price for the
marriage of a girl over 21 (twenty-one) years of age or of a widow or divorced
woman; or
e) for want of compliance with his excessive demands for bride-price for
the marriage of a girl under the age of 21 (twenty-one), and for no other
reason, obstructs her marriage; or
f) receives as heir any such consideration promised to the person from
whom he inherits
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years or with
fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred
thousand) or with both such imprisonment and fine.
(2) Time shall begin to run again for prosecution on payment of the bride-
price or of any instalment.
SECTION 358- Desertion
(1) Any spouse or parent who without just cause evades whether by
desertion of the family home or otherwise howsoever, the whole or any part of
his moral or material obligations towards his spouse or children shall be
punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 1 (one) year or with
fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred
thousand).
(2) Where a spouse alone has been deserted, no prosecution may be
commenced without his or her complaint.
(3) The same punishment shall apply to a guardian or person
responsible by custom who evades his obligations by law or custom towards
any child in his custody.
(4) Upon conviction, the Court may order the forfeitures described in
Section 30 of this Code, disqualify the offender from being guardian or curator
of any child for the time fixed by Section 31 (4 ), and for the same period
deprive him of parental power in respect of any one or more of his children.
(5) Where the person who received payment of the whole or a part of
the bride-price is accessory to a wife’s offence, he shall be punished with
imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 1 (one) year and with fine of from
CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
SECTION 358-1: Eviction from the Matrimonial Home
(1) The spouse who, outside any judicial proceedings and without a
valid reason, evicts the other from the matrimonial home shall be punished
with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 1 (one) year and with fine of
from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
(2) The penalty shall be imprisonment for from 2 (two) to 5 (five) years
where:
a) the victim is a pregnant woman ;
b) the eviction is accompanied or preceded by physical or psychological
violence, confiscation or destruction of the personal effects of the victim
; or
c) the eviction is caused by a person other than the spouse of the victim.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 359: Bigamy
(1)Whoever:
a) being polygamous contracts a monogamous marriage before the
dissolution of all previous marriages; or
b) being bound by an undertaking of monogamy contracts any marriage
before dissolution of any previous marriage; or
c) being married under the codified law contracts any marriage before
dissolution of that former marriage
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 2 (two) months to 2 (two) years
and with fine of from CFAF 25 000 (twenty-five thousand) to CFAF 500 000
(five hundred thousand).
(2) The burden of proving dissolution of any previous marriage
s’iall fall on the accused
SECTION 360: Incest
(1) Without prejudice to the penalties prescribed by Sections 346 (3)
and 347 (1), whoever has sexual intercourse with:
a) any legitimate or natural ascendant or descendant in the direct line
without limitation as to degree; or
b) his brother or sister, whether legitimate or natural, and whether of the
whole or of the half-blood shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1
(one) to 3 (three) years and with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand)
to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
(2) Save in case of notorious concubinage or of incestuous marriage no
prosecution may be commenced without the complaint of a relative by blood
in whatever degree.
SECTION 361 : Adultery
(1) A woman who, being married, has sexual intercourse with a man
other than her husband shall be punished with imprisonment for from 2 (two)
to 6 (six) months or with fine of from CFAF 25 000 (twenty-five thousand) to
CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand).
(2) A husband who has sexual intercourse with a woman other than his
wife or wives shall be punished as provided in Subsection 1 above.
However, the burden of proof of the existence of a polygamous union
shall lie with the husband.
(3) No prosecution may be commenced without the complaint of the
wronged spouse.
(4) The connivance or condonation of the wronged spouse shall bar the
commencement or continuation of any prosecution.
(4)Consent by the wronged spouse to resume cohabitation shall put an
end to the effects of conviction.
PART IV – SIMPLE OFFENCES
SECTION 362 to 370: The provisions of Section 362 to 370 which define
offences shall be laid down by regulation.
PART V – TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 371 :
(1) All previous provisions repugnant hereto and having the same
objective are hereby repealed.
(2) However, felonies, misdemeanours, or simple offence committed
and previously prosecuted prior to the entry into force of this Law shall remain
subject to the provisions of Law No. 65/LF/24 of 12 November 1965 and
No 67/LF/1 of 12 June 1967, until the final judicial decision on related matters.
Cameroon Penal Code (Criminal Law)
SECTION 372: This law shall be registered, and published in the Official
Gazette in English and French.
BIYA
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