Chapter 16 - Offences against the public authorities

Section 1 - Violent resistance to a public official

(1) A person who

(1) employs or threatens violence so as to force a public official to perform or to refrain from performing an official act involving the exercise of public authority,
(2) otherwise employs or threatens violence against the public official because of the official act being carried out, or
(3) employs violence against a public official or a related person, as referred to in chapter 15, section 10, subsection 2, in revenge for the official act,
shall be sentenced for violent resistance to a public official to imprisonment for at least four months and at most four years.

(2) Also a person who behaves in the manner referred to in subsection 1 towards a person who, at the request or with the consent of a public official, assists the public official in an official duty involving the exercise of public authority shall be sentenced for violent resistance to a public official. (604/2002)

Section 2 - Resistance to a public official

If the violent resistance to a public official, taking into account the minor significance of the violence or threat or the other circumstances of the offence, is to be deemed committed under mitigating circumstances, when assessed as a whole, the offender shall be sentenced for resistance to a public official to a fine or to imprisonment for at most six months.

Section 3 - Obstruction of a public official

(1) A person who, without employing or threatening violence, prevents or attempts to prevent an official act, as referred to in section 1, or make it more difficult to carry out, shall be sentenced for obstruction of a public official to a fine.

(2) Also a person who behaves in the manner referred to in subsection 1 towards a person who, at the request or with the consent of a public official, assists the public official in an official duty involving the exercise of public authority shall be sentenced for obstruction of a public official. (604/2002)