Criminal Code > TITLE II RULES GOVERNING 3

CHAPTER III CONDITIONS FOR INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS, SUSPENDING AND EXTINGUISHING THE PROSECUTION AND THE PENALTY

Article 771- Prosecution.

(1) The prosecution of violations of the provisions of this Code or of special laws or regulations shall be governed by the following directives:

Article 772- Conditions as to Complaint.

Where the law requires that a complaint be lodged as a condition precedent to the prosecution of a petty offence (Art. 771) the general provisions governing conditions, time-limit and right to lodge such a complaint shall apply (Arts. 211-213).

Article 773- Limitation.

In the case of petty offences of any nature whatsoever the right to prosecution shall be statute-barred after one year, and the sentence passed after two years.

The general provisions relating to the beginning, suspension, interruption and absolute end of the limitation periods (Arts. 219 – 222 and 225 – 228) shall apply.

Article 774- Pardon and Amnesty.

Penalties imposed in respect of petty offences may be cancelled by a pardon or an amnesty on the usual conditions laid down in the Criminal Code (Arts. 229-231).

Article 775- Reinstatement.

An offender who is sentenced to a penalty shall as of right be reinstated after one year has elapsed since the penalty was undergone in whole or in part or barred by limitation, or remitted by pardon.