ACT No. XXIX or 1989 AN ACTto amend 'lit CrimifUll Codt (Cop. 9) BE IT ENACTED by the President, by and wi th Ihe advice and conse nt of the House of Representatives, in lhis present ParJiamem as· sembled , and by the authori ty of the same . as fol1 ows: -

I asse nt.

(L .S.)

CENSU T ABONE

President

16th August. 19B9

ACT No. XXIX or 1989

AN ACTto amend 'lit CrimifUll Codt (Cop. 9)

BE IT ENACTED by the President, by and wi th Ihe advice and

conse nt of the House of Representatives, in lhis present ParJiamem as·

sembled , and by the authori ty of the same . as fol1 ows: -

I. ( I) This Act may be tiled as Ih .. Criminal Code (Am end-

me nl) Act, 1989. and shall be read and construed as one with the Crim-

in al Code, hereinafte r referred 10 U " the principal la"," ,

(2) The provisions of subll«tioll (2) of section 2 of this Act

shall come into force on such dale as the Ministe r responsi ble ro. justice

may by notice in tile Gaze{lc appoin t.

(I) Dan I-All jista' jisscjjall I- All ta ' 1-1989 li jemcnda I· 11.<>1.

Koditi Krimina li, U ghandu jinqara u jiftiehem Ilag_ wahda mal-Kodi ti (" ...,...,..

Krimina li hawn .klaT 'il quddiem irmejjafl ~il-Jigi prinapaJi".

(2) Id-dispoi:izzjonijicllas-subanikolu (2) ta'l-artikolu 21,'

daD I-A ll ghandhom jidhlu rlS-sehh fdik id-data li ]-Minisl ru

fe$ponsabbLi ghall-gustizzja jist.' b',vvit fiJ-Ganetla jist.bbiliui.

1. (1) Min nok is-subartikol u (I) ta' '-artikol u 575 tal-tiSi

primSpali gbandu jidbol dan li gej

Bla hsara tad-dispotizzjouijiet las-subartikolu (2) ta 'l-

~( 1)

ahhar anikolu qabel dan, fiI-kai t a ' -

(i)

impulal ta' <klin konlra 5-sigurtl\; laI-Ovem ,;cw

(ii) imputat ta' deli tt suggett gball-piena ta' pri~nerija

ghal ghomru,

il-qoni lisla -lagbli lIelsien mill-arrest, biss jckk, wara li tikkunsidrl

ic-tirkostanli koUhl tal-hi, in-natura u l-gravitl\; lar-reat, il -

karatlru , anletcdcnli, assoejazzjonijiel u rabtiel fil ·kommunill\; la'

I-imputal, kif ukoll kull haga ohra II tkun lidher li hi rilevant', Ik un

sodisfalla illi ma hemml( perikotu illi I-i mputal jekk jig; melllus

mill-a rrest

(a) jonqos ti jidher ghaU-ordni la' l ·awtoril~ msemmija

fl-obbligazzjoni tal-garanzija; jew

(b)

jinbcba jcw jillaq minn Mal la; jew

(t) ma josscrvax xi kondizzjoni li I-qoni jkun jidhrilha

xieraq li limponi fl-obbligazzjoni lal'garan1;ija; jew

(d) jinlcrferixxi jew jipprova jinterferixxi max·xbieda

jcw b'xi mod ichor jinlraltja jcw jipprova jinlrak'ja Hors lal·

gUSl iuja fir-rig .... ard liegl'lu je .... xi persuna ohm; Je w

(e) jikk omme lli xi real ichor,-,

(2) Minnufib wara s-subanik ol u ( 4) la' I-an ikolu 575 tal-lig;

printipali ghandhom jitdiedu s-suba nikoli li gejja

"(5) Mela fka! la' persuna impulata ta ' d ... liu li d .... aru I·

Oorli lal-Pulizija Cudizzjarja Ikun ghaddiet &hal kumpilaz-

zjon; Ii linh l;eg l-Avukal Cenerali ma jkunx je ....

(a)

ipprctcnm I-all la' l-a kkuia, Jew

(b) bagh,\ t liII· impulat biex jigi gudikal mill·Qorti

ta l-Pulizija Gudizzjarja kif provdul fil-paragrafu (a) tas-

sub,lrt;kolu (3) la' l-artikolu 370 Jew fis-subartikolu (5) la'

I-arti kolu 433 la' dan jl-Kodi~i jew rxi provvediment

si mili fxi li gi ohm

fii·tminijiet spccifikati fis-subartikolu (6) ta ' dan I-artikolu, li

jibdcw jghoddu minn dak inhar li fih il-pc:rsuna impul31a

tingieb quddiem I·imsemmija qoni. dik il-pc:r:suTla ghalldha

tinghala I· helsien mill-arrest taht garanzija,

(6)(a) It-tmin ij icI li ghalihom jirriferi s-subani kolu li

jig; qabe l da n huma

Ci) tnax·il xahar fkat la' de liu sllgget1 ghall-

pieTla ta ' priguncrija la' anqas minn erba' sn in;

(ii) sill ax· il xaha r fk at la' deliu sugge ll ghall-

pic: na la ' prigunerija t3' erba' sni n je .... akl~r Iula

anqas minn disa' snin : u

(iii) ghoxrin xahar nat la' delill suggell ghall·

piena la' prigune rija la' disa' snin je .... a klar.

(b) li·imin iji.:t m>emmija fil-paragrafu (a) ta' dan

is-slIbartikolu jitwaqqfu ghal dak I·;su:s.s tmien li malulu

it.iminijicI msemmija fl-8 n ikoli 401 u 407 11 fis·

subanikolu (3) ta' l_art;k(llu -132 la ' dan il -KodiCi ikunu

mwaqqFa ghal xi rnguni m>enunijn fis-subarlikoli (I) u (2)

la' l·arlikolu 402 ta' dan iI-Kodi~i , kif ukoll ghal dak it-

tmie n li fih il-Oor. ; Illa IkunK lisln· IkOmpli bit·

kumpilazzjoni hli cf wura d-dcm:joni Fuq xi kwisljoni

quddil'm qorti o hra ,

It-imi nijid im&cm mija fiJ-paragrafu (a) ta' dan

(t)

is_su bartikolu ji\waq'l fu wkol1 ghal dak I·isless tmien li

m~lulu I-alii lal-kumpilazzjoni jkunu ghand il-Qorti lal-

Pulizija Gudizzjarja bie~ jinslemghu xhieda kif provdul

fis-subartikolu (5) la' l·anikolu 405 la' dan il· Koditi "

(7) II·hclsien mill·arrest latl! garanzija ghandu jingllala

wkoll dejjcm lil persuna impulata ta' reat ke mm·i l darba fit-

iminijiel spetifikali lis-subartikolu (9) 10' dan I-u rtikolu" li

jibdew jghoddu kif pro~dul fis·s ubarlikolu (8 ) la ' dan I-

artikol u. ma ' jkunx hemm sente nl.il finali li lillibel1l " issib lIati

Jew likkundanna liU-persuna hdk impulala"

(8) 1:i-tmi n ij~ 1 spetifi kali fis-subartikolu (9) la' dan I·

artikolu jibdcw jghoddu

(a) mela ma tkunx sarel kumpi laujoni, minn dak

inhar 1i fih il-persuna imputata lingieb quddicm il-Ooni

tal-Pulizija Gudiujarja

(b) me ta Ik un ~rct kumpilaujoni. minn dak

inhar li fih I-A vu kat Ge nerali iibghat liU-impulal bin jigi

iudikal miU-Oorti lal· Puliziia Gudizzjarja kif provdul fiJ-

paragrafu (a ) lilS·suoortikolu (3) la" '-artikolu 370 Jew lis-

subarti kolu (5) la' I-art ikol u 433 la' dan il- Kod iCi iew ('xi

provved iment sim ili rxi ligi obra" Jew minn dak inhar li

iku n gie ippretenlat l'Utl la" l- akku:ia

IMa mela I-imputat i. .. ib oggezzjo ni iIIi I,kat jig;

in rallat bi protedura 50mmarja kif provdut fiJ -paragrafu

(d) la5-subanikolu (l) ta' I-art iko lu 370, ij-irnien jibda

jgl'lodd minn dak inh ar li fi h ikun gie ipprden tat I,all la' I-

akkuta,

(9)( a) Iz·zmin ijiet li gllal iho m jirrde ru s·subartiko li (7)

u (8) la' dan 1-3rlikolu hUm3

(i) erba" xhu r rkai la"lr.onlravvenzjoni Jew la'

deliu suggc n g]lall·pieni lal-konlravvcnzjonijiel jew

gllaJl-riena la' priiunerija glial tmie n mhux ak lar

minn silt ~hur ;

(ii) Imien xhur rkaz la" dclin sugge ll gllaH-

piena la" prigu nc rija ghal-tmien iijed milln sit! xhur

i:!:da mhux itjed minn crba ' snin ;

(iii) Inn-i l )Iaha r rkat la' delill suUen gha ll -

piena la' prigunerija ghal irnien izjed mi nn erba' snin

itda mbux itj.ed minn g]laxar snill;

(iv) erbgha u gllO)lri n uhar rkat ta' deliu

suggclI ghall-picna ta' prigunerija glial :!: micn iijed

milln ghaxa r sni n itda mhux i:!:jcd minn IImiSlax·il

r.c: na ;

(v) IJel;n :u har rkat la' deliu suUeu 8hall-

piena la' prigunerija itjcd minn hmisl a~-il sella .

(b) a -1minijic! imsc mmija liI -paragrafu (a) la" dan

is-subanikolu jilwaqqfu -

<i>

gha l dak ii·tmicn ti fih iJ-qorli ma Ikunx

I;SI3 ' Ik ompli lisma ' j·kawia hlief warn d·detitjoni

fuq xi kwistjon i quddiem qorliohrajew gIlal xi ratuni

mscm mija fis'5uba rt ikol i (I) u (2) la ' l·artikolu 402

la ' dan il- Koditi

(iil gIlal dak l·isl&:SS zmien li malUlu I-alti tal-

kumpil azzjoni jkun u ghand iI -Ooni lal-PulQija

(;udi u jarja biex jinSlcmghu xhicda mi,Ju ba mill -

imput 3t kif provduI n-a nik olu 406 la" dan il·KodiCi ;

( iii) ghal da k ii-tmie" li I-kat ikun quddiem i' -

Q<mi \a ' I-Appcll Krimina li fuq appcllta 'j·imputat

min n digriet intcrlokutorju jcw fuq appell ta ' 1-

imputat jcw tu ' I· Avuk at Oenerali kif provdut n -

art ikolu 499 la ' dan il -Kodici;

(iv) IIlc ta l-kawta Ikun giet imhollija ghal data

ohra fuq wlba ta' I-i mput:ll jcw tad-difensu r lieghu,

ghal dak il:-i micn mid -data la' dik it -talba sad-da ta 1i

ghali ha jkun gic mholli s-s mi cgh tal-kawia.

(1 0) II-provvcdimc mi tas-subart ikoli (S) u (7) la· dan 1-

artikolu ma ghondh omx japplik aw meta mandat ta· arrest

ko mrs I ·pcrsun~ impulala jkun inhareg kif provdut fl -artikolu

579 la· dan il- KodiCi. kcmm jckk n·istcss jcw fxi kaw;ia oh ra

ko ntri h li Ikun ghadha pendenti quddiem xi qOTti ta' gU$tiuj"

kriminali. ~ ,

J. Minnok 1-3rtikolu 579 tal-ligi principal i ghandu jidhol I; gej

579. Jckk I·imputat jcw akkuiat jonqos li jidher gha ll -

o rdni ta' I-awlori t~ mse mm ija n-(!bbligaujoni tal-garan zija.

JCw jonqos li ;osseo 'a xi kundizzjoni fiha im posta. jcw jin heb~

Jew jillaq minn Mal ta, Jew waqt li jkun mchl lls miH-arre51

jikkommetl i \k lin I. ma jk ll llJt ... iehed HI· natura involonlarja.

jcw jinterfcrixxi jcw jippro\'a jimerferixxi m3JI-xh ied~ jc ....

b'mod il' hor jinlralCja je .... jipprova jintraJcja il·kors tal-

gustiuja fi r-rigward tieg.hu .;c". I ~' xi pcnuna ohr ... is-somma

mse mmija n-obbligazzjoni tg.haddi favur il·Gvern ta ' Mal ta.

u, barra min n dan, ji~i mahrog mandat ta· arrrest kontra

ticgh ll

li da din id-dispoiizzjo ni ma ghandh ~x tapplika meta I·

qorti Ikun ta l-fehma iIIi I-ksur 1 ~I· kundizzjoni msemmija n·

obbligaujoni lal-garanzija ma hiex la· konscg .... enza scrj~ . ~.

( I)

Fo r subsection (1) of section 575 of tile prin<:ipal1aw,

there shall be substituted the following

M(! ) Saving the provisions of subsection (2) of the lasl pre-

ced ing section, in the case of-

( i) a person accused o f any crime against th e safely of

the Govern me nt, o r

(ii) a persoo accused of any crime liable to the punish-

ment of impriwnme nt for life,

the court mny grant bail, only if, after taki ng inloconsideration all

the circumsta nces of the case, t he nature and seriousness of th e of-

fe nce, the ch.a raeter, ant ecedents. associations and communi ty tic s

of the actUsed . as well as any o the r maller which appears to be re-

leva nt. it is satisfied that the re is no danger that the accused if re-

leased on bail

(a) will not appe ar when ordered by the authority

specified in the bail bond; or

(b)

will abscond or leave Malla; or

(c) will not observe a ny of the conditions which the

coun would conside r proper to impose in the bail bond; or

(d) will interfere or attempt to int erfe re with witnesses

or otherwise obs truct or attempt to obstruct the course of jus·

tice in relution to himself or ( 0 any other perso n; Or

(e)

willcommitanyoffence . ~.

(2) Im mediate ly after subsection (4) of section 575 of the

principal law. the re $hall be added the followingsubsections

Where in the case of a person accused of a crime in

~(5)

respect of which the Court of Jud icial Police has proceeded to

the necessary inqui ry the Attorney Ge neral has not either

filed the indictment. or

(a)

(b) sen t the accused to be tried by the Court of J ud·

icial Pol ice as provided ill paragraph (a) o f subsection (3)

of section 310 or in subsection (5) o f section 433 o f this

Code or in si milar provisions in any ot her law

within the terms specified in subsection (6) of this section. to

run from the day on wh ich the person accuse d is brough t be·

fore the said cou rt . that person shall be gm nted bail .

(6) (a)

The term s referred to in the precedingsubKction

are

(i) t~h'e months in the caseof a crime liable

to the pu nishment of imprisonmen t of less than four

years;

(ii) si~teen months in the case ofa cri me liable

to th e punish ment o f imprisonment of four yeaTli or

ntore bu t le ss than nine yea rs; a nd

(iii) twe nty months in the case of a crime li able

to the punishme nt of imprisonment of nine yUTIi or

more.

( b) The terms me ntioned in paragraph (a) of this

subsection shall be held in abeyance for the oorrespond -

ing period during which the terms referred to in scct ions

40 1. 407 and in subsection (3) of sect ion 432 of this Code

are held in abeyance for any of the reasons mentioned in

subsections (I) and (2) of sectio n 402 of this Code. as well

as for such period duri~g whi ch the court;s unable t~ pro-

cced with the inquiry exce pt ah er the determina tion of

any issue beforc any other ooun.

(c) The te rms mentioned in paragraph (a) of this

subsection sha ll also be held in abeyance for the corres-

ponding pt""riod during which the reoord of the inquiry is

wi lh the Courl of Judicial Police for the cxaminHlion of

witnesses lIS provided in subsection (5) of section 405 o f

Ihi s Code.

(7) Bail shall alw alwH)'$ be gran ted to a person accused

of an o ffence unlcss, within Ihe tcOIls specified in subsection

(9) of this seclion. to run as provide6 in subsection (8) of this

section, there has been a final judgement acquitting. convict-

ing or sen tenci ng the person so accused.

(8) The terms sp«ified in subsection (9) of tllis section

shall run

(a) where 00 inquiry has taken place, fro m the day

whcn the pe rson accused has been brought before Ihe

Court of Jud icial Police;

(b) where there has been an inquiry, from the day

Ihallhe AttorneyGene ralsc nds the accused 10 be !Tied by

the Court of Judicial Police as provided in paragraph (a)

of subsection (3) of section 370 or in subs«lion (5) ofs«-

lion 433 of th is Code o r in si millll" provisions in any olher

law, or from Ihe day of the filing of th e indictment

Provided that where th e accused makes objection to

the ease being dealt with summarily as provided in parag-

raph (d) o f subsection (3) of section 370. the term shall

commence to run from the dale o f the filing o f the indict·

ment.

(9) (a) The terms referred to in SUbsectWIlS (7) and (8)

of th is section are

(i) four mon ths in the case ofacon lravention

or o f a crime liable to the punishments establ ished for

cont raven tions or to imprisonment for a te rm not ex-

ceeding six months;

(ii) eight months in the case of a crime liable

to the punish me nt of imprisonment fo r a tcrm u -

ceeding six months but not exceeding four years;

(iii) twe lve months in the case of a crime liable

to the punishment of imprisonment for a tenn u-

reeding four years but not e~ceeding ten years;

(iv) twenty-four months in the case of a crime

liable to the punishmen t of imprisonment for a term

exceeding ten years bu t not e xceeding fift een years ;

(v) thirly months in the case of a crime liable

to the punishment of imprisonment exceeding fiftee n

years_

(b) The terms mentioned in pa ragraph (a) of this

subsection shall be held in abeyance -

(i) for such period during which the court is

unable to proceed wit h the heari ng o f the cause ex-

cept afte r the dete rminati on of any issue before any

othe r court or for any o f the: rC&$()05 me ntioned in

subsect ions (I ) and (2) o f section 402 o f this Code;

(ii) for the conesponding period d uring

which the record of the: inquiry is with the Court of

Jud icial Police for the enmina tion of witnesses de-

manded by the ac<:used as provided in section 406 of

!hisCode;

(iii) for such period as the case is befo re (he

Cou rt of Criminal Appeal on an appeal en tered by

the accused from an inte rlocutory decrceoron an ap-

peal en tered by the accused o r by the Anorney Gen-

eral as provided in section 499 of this Code;

(iv) where the ca usc has bee n adjourned at the

request o f the accused or his coun!:iC1. for the period

from the date o f the request to the date of the next

hearing,

(10) The provisions of subsections (5) and (7) of thi s sec-

ti on shall not appl y when a warrant of arrest against the person

accused has heen issued a5 provid ed in section 579 of thi s

Code. whe thcr in thc same or in any ot her cause still pending

ag1Linst him before an y court o f crimi nal justice. ",

For section 579 of the principal la w there shall be substi tuted 5""-'i,"1O>

579. If the person charged or accused fails to appear

cnotdof.gl' whe n ordered by the authori ty specified in the bail bond . or

~.:.~ .. ' fai ls to observe any o f the conditions the rei n im posed. or

absco nds o r leaves Malta, or while on ba il commilS any crime

-.I~"od'o not be ing one of an involuntary na ture, or interferes or at-

tem pts to inte rfere with witnesses or ot he rwise obstructs or

aucmpts to obstruct the course of justice whethe r in relation

to hi mse lf or any ot her pe r50n. thc sum stated in th e bail bond

shall be forfei ted to the Gove rnme nt o f Malt a, and ,

moreove r. a warra nt of anes! shall be issued against him

Provided that this section Shall not apply where the

Court considers that the in fringement of the condition

sped fied in the bail bond is not of serious consequence.-.

In subscaion ( I) of section 509 o f the princi pal law, for the ...

words ·· E~Ct'pt where a person has been convicted or a m me referred 10 otOOd""

in subseclion ( I) of section 575. Ihe Court of Cri minal Appeal may. ~ principol

there shall be subst ituted the ""ords - Thc Court of Criminal Appeal

.5. SLlb-tille IV of Title 11 o f Pan I ofOook Second of the principal

law shall be repealed .

, . ( I ) The provisions of subsection (5) of section 575 of the prin·

cipallaw as ame nded by this Act shall not apply where on the coming

inlo force of those provisions the person accwed has alrudy been in-

dicted before the Criminal Court or has already been sent to be t ried by

the Qlu rt of Judicial Po lice as provided in paragraph (a) of subsection

(3) of section 370 or in suMection (S)of section 433 of Ihe principal law

o r in similar provisions in any other law.

(2) Where, on tile coming into force of this Act, any pro-

ceedings are pe nding be fore any court of criminal justice in aooordance

with the provisioll$ of the sub-title of the principaJ law repealed by sec-

tion 5 of lhis Act , thatoounshaU abstain from taking furthe r oognizance

o f those proceedi ngs.

Passed by the House of Representalives at Sitting No . 284 of tbe 28th July, 1989.

LAWRENC E GONZJ

Spe(lbr

P . M USCAT TE RRJ 8JLE

Clerk 10 the House of R~prtjent(J/j~es

Jw>bbIihI mod .~ .. · I.!nfoonaz:ljooi

KastilJI Pdlbshtd by "" ~ oflnfOlmllloill - Ktr;tii0

Mithlgft fl.~. taI.G\ .... - PmtIWl lIt do, &7>...- h,.Ii"! p.."

Pr=: 4< - i'ri<o 4<

(I) Id -dispotiujonijiel las·subarlikolu (5) la' l·arlikolu 575

tal-ligi prinapali kif e mcndala b'dan I- All ma ghandhomx japplikaw

me ta, fid-data li fi hom jidl'llu fis-sel'lh I-imputal ikun ga tic akkuta l

quddiem il-Oorti Krimi nali jew ikun ga gie mibgllut bie~ jig; gudi kat

mill·Qorti tal· Pulitija Oudizzjarja kif provdut fiI -panlgrafu (a) tDS-

subarlik olu (3) la' ]-mikolu 370 jcw fis-subarl ikolu (5) la ' I-a rlikolu 433

tal-Jig; prinapali jcw r~i provvediment simili r~i Jig; oI'Ira.

Fil-kat ilIi. mad-dhu l fis-sehh ta' dan I-A It, .i

(2)

protedi~ nli jkunu pendent i quddiem ~i qorli la' guSliuja kriminali

skond id,dispotizzjonijicl tas-sub-titolu lal-Jig.; prinCipal; iml'laS$ar bl-

arli kolu 5 la' dan I-AIt, dik il-Qoni gh andha tastjeni milli Ikompli liell u

konjizzjoni la' dawk iI -proOedimenli.

MgI'Ioddi mill-Kamr .. lad-Depu tali fis-Sedula Nru. 284 131-28 13 ' Lulju, 1989.

LAWREl'oICE GONZI

Sp~ok~r

P. MUSCAT T ERRllI lLE

Sh l"(rI! /U/- K Umf(t /(Id- D~plllOli