Criminal Code > BOOK VIII SPECIAL PART 2

CHAPTER II PETTY OFFENCES AGAINST STATE OR PUBLIC INTERESTS

Section I- Petty Offences against Public Credit and Confidence

Article 778- Refusal of Legal Tender.

Whoever without lawful excuse refuses to accept national money or currency, whether in coins or notes, at the value for which they are legal tender,

is punishable with fine or arrest.

Article 779- Failure to Report the Possession of Counterfeit Money.

Whoever having received spurious, counterfeit or debased coinage or notes does not report the fact to the appropriate public authority or hand them over to such authority, indicating the origin thereof if he knows it, as soon as may be after he has become aware of their spurious nature or alteration,

is punishable with fine or arrest.

Article 780- Use of Illicit Weights and Measures.

Whoever, apart from the cases punishable under the Criminal Code (Art. 367),

(a) makes use in his relations with third parties of seals, weights or measures which were not officially controlled or which are not in conformity with the relevant laws, regulations or directives; or

(b) generally, contravenes the laws, regulations or directives issued for the stamping, control and use of official weights and measures,

is punishable with fine or arrest without prejudice to confiscation when justified.

Article 781- Use of Expired or Falsified Transport Titles.

Whoever makes use, as if it were genuine or still valid, of a public transport ticket or voucher which is falsified, has expired or has already been used,

Is punishable with fine or arrest.

Article 782- Fraudulent Securing and Use of Degrees and Certificates.

Whoever, apart from the cases punishable under the Criminal Code (Art. 385), with a view to securing an undue moral or material advantage:

(a) commits a fraud in official examinations, competitions or entries for the purpose of obtaining a license or a certificate of professional capacity, a diploma or a degree, a post or employment in a public office or department; or

(b) avails himself of a certificate, diploma or degree which he does not possess or to which he is not entitled,

is punishable with fine or arrest not exceeding one month.

Article 783- Unlawful Making of, Trafficking in, and Wearing of, Civilian Decorations and Insignia.

Whoever:

(a) Without authorization makes or falsifies civilian decorations, medals or insignia, stores, distributes, sells or offers them for sale; or

(b) Uses or wears decorations, medals or insignia to which he is not entitled,

is punishable with fine or arrest without prejudice to confiscation.

Section II- Petty Offences of a Fiscal, Administrative or Financial Nature

Article 784- Violation of Provisions Dealing with fiscal Rights.

Whoever, apart from the cases punishable under the Criminal Code (Arts. 343-345), contravenes the laws, regulations or directives issued by the competent authority regarding:

(a) the sources of the national income, in particular taxes, customs, post and telegraph, hunting and fishing rights, the use of the natural resources of the soil or sub-soil, or any other similar rights or sources of income; or

(b) the collection of official dues in respect of stamp and placarding duty, registrations, transfers of ownership and other fiscal charges of the same nature,

is punishable with fine or arrest.

Article 785- Violations of Provisions Dealing with Illicit Traffic in Gold, or Currencies.

Whoever apart from the cases specified in Article 346 of the Criminal Code, violates laws, regulations or directives, issued concerning gold or currency, whether national or foreign, the dealings or rates of which are subject to limitation, restriction or measures of control or protection,

Is punishable with fine not exceeding three hundred Birr or arrest not exceeding three months.

Article 786- Violation of provisions on Precious Metals.

Whoever, apart from the cases punishable under the Criminal Code (Art. 347), contravenes the laws, regulations or directives on the treatment, control, acquisition or sale of precious metals and minerals,

Is punishable with fine or arrest.

Article 787- Violation of Provisions Regarding Negotiable Instruments.

Whoever, contravenes the laws, regulations or directives regarding negotiable instruments, cheques, bills of exchange, as well as shares or bonds of commercial or industrial companies,

Is punishable with fine or arrest.

Article 788- Violation of Provisions Concerning Savings and Banks.

Whoever contravenes the laws, regulations or directives concerning the creation, opening, management and control of banking establishments or companies, or funds for the granting of loans or credit or any other public or private offices issuing invitation to the public for the deposit of funds or savings or for banking or Stock Exchange transactions,

Is punishable with fine or arrest.

Article 789- Violation of Provisions Regarding Lotteries, Gambling and Betting.

(1) Whoever:

(a) publicly organizes for profit lotteries, professional betting or gambling without having obtained an authorization from the competent authority; or

(b) without authorization organizes for profit in a public place or a place open to the public or in a private club gambling or betting or any other officially prohibited games of chance, or participates in such games or betting; or

is punishable with fine or arrest.

(2) Lotteries and games of chance permitted by law and organized for public or charitable purposes are not punishable.

Article 790- Violation of Provisions on Price Control.

Whoever:

(a) sells metals, goods, products or objects of any nature whatsoever, whether subject to a monopoly or not, at a price higher than the price fixed in an official pricelist and duly published; or

(b) demands a higher price than prescribed or authorized by law, in particular in regard to leases or any other kind of rents; or

is punishable with fine or arrest.

Article 791- Violation of Provisions Regarding Organization, Exercise and Control of Trades and Professions.

Whoever, apart from the cases punishable under the Criminal Code, contravenes the laws, regulations or directives regarding the licensing, qualifications, registration, exercise or control of commercial and industrial undertakings, artisans, professional persons, temporary or seasonal employments, or professional associations and societies of any kind,

Is punishable with fine or arrest.