BOOK IV
FELONIES AND MISDEMEANOURS AGAINST THE NATION, THE STATE AND THE PUBLIC PEACE

TITLE III
VIOLATION OF THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE

CHAPTER IV
PERVERTING THE COURSE OF JUSTICE

SECTION II
OBSTRUCTING THE COURSE OF JUSTICE

ARTICLE 434-13
(Ordinance no. 2000-916 of 19 September 2000 Article 3 Official Journal of 22 September 2000 in force 1 January 2002)

False testimony made under oath before any court of law or before a judicial police officer acting in the exercise of a rogatory commission is punished by five years' imprisonment and a fine of €75,000.

However, the false witness is exempt from penalty where he retracts his testimony spontaneously before the decision terminating the procedure has been made by the judicial investigating authority or the court of trial.

ARTICLE 434-14
(Ordinance no. 2000-916 of 19 September 2000 Article 3 Official Journal of 22 September 2000 in force 1 January 2002)

False testimony is punished by seven years' imprisonment and a fine of €100,000 :

1° where it is procured by the handing over of a gift or a reward ;
2° where the person against whom or in favour of whom the false testimony was committed is liable to a penalty applicable to a felony.