Criminal Code > CRIMINAL LAW AND ITS 1

CRIMINAL LAW AND ITS SCOPE

PART I GENERAL PART

BOOK I CRIMES AND CRIMINALS

TITLE I CRIMINAL LAW AND ITS SCOPE

CHAPTER I SCOPE OF THE LAW

Article 1- Object and Purpose

The purpose of the criminal code of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is to ensure order, peace and the security of the State, its peoples, and inhabitants for the public good.

It aims at the prevention of crimes by giving due notice of the crimes and penalties prescribed by law and should this be ineffective by providing for the punishment of criminals in order to deter them from committing another crime and make them a lesson to others, or by providing for their reform and measures to prevent the commission of further crimes.

Article 2- Principle of Legality.

(1) Criminal law specifies the various crimes, and the penalties and measures applicable to criminals.

(2) The Court may not treat as a crime and punish any act or omission which is not prohibited by law.

The Court may not imposed penalties or measures other than those prescribed by law.

(3) The Court may not create crimes by analogy.

(4) The above provisions shall not prevent the Court from interpreting the law. In cases of doubt the Court shall interpret the law according to its spirit, in accordance with the meaning intended by the legislature so as to achieve the purpose it has in view.

(5) Nobody shall be tried or punished again for the same crime for which he has been already convicted, punished or subjected to other measures or acquitted by a final decision in accordance with the law.

Article 3- Other Penal Legislation.

Nothing in this code shall affect regulations and special laws of a criminal nature:

Provided that the general principles embodied in this Code are applicable to those regulations and laws except as otherwise expressly provided therein.

Article 4- Equality Before the Law.

Criminal law applies to all alike without discrimination as regards persons, social conditions, race, nations, nationality, social origin, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, property, birth or other status.

No difference in treatment of criminals may be made except as provided by this Code, which are derived from immunities sanctioned by public international and constitutional law, or relate to the gravity of the crime or the degree of guilt, the age, circumstances or special personal characteristics of the criminal, and the social danger which he represents.