PART I
GENERAL PART
BOOK I
CRIMES AND CRIMINALS
TITLE III
CONDITIONS OF LIABILITY TO PUNISHMENT IN RESPECT OF CRIMES
CHAPTER II
CRIMINAL GUILT
Section II.- Lawful Acts, Justifiable Acts and Excuses
Sub-section II.- Justifiable Acts and Excuses
Article 81.- Mistake of Law and Ignorance of Law.
(1) Ignorance or mistake of law is no defence.
(2) The Court shall, without restriction, reduce the punishment (Art. 180) applicable to a person who in good faith believed he had a right to act and had definite and adequate reasons for holding this erroneous belief.
The Court shall determine the penalty taking into account the circumstances of the case and, in particular, the circumstances that led to the error.
(3) In exceptional cases of absolute and justifiable ignorance and good faith and where criminal intent is not apparent, the Court may impose no punishment .
2. A mistake of law as to whether a particular type of conduct is a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court shall not be a ground for excluding criminal responsibility. A mistake of law may, however, be a ground for excluding criminal responsibility if it negates the mental element required by such a crime, or as provided for in article 33.