BOOK SECOND
LAWS OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

PART III OF MATTERS APPLICABLE TO ALL CRIMINAL TRIALS

Title VI OF PRESCRIPTION

687.(2) The period of prescription in respect of all criminal offences shall be suspended from the moment a charge and, or bill of indictment is served on the person charged or accused until such time as a final and definitive judgment is delivered in the proceedings which commenced as a result of such charge or bill of indictment.

688. Save as otherwise provided by law, criminal action is barred-
(a) by the lapse of twenty years in respect of crimes liable to the punishment of imprisonment for a term of not less than twenty years;
(b) by the lapse of fifteen years in respect of crimes liable to imprisonment for a term of less than twenty but not less than nine years;
(c) by the lapse of ten years in respect of crimes liable to imprisonment for a term of less than nine but not less than four years;
(d) by the lapse of five years in respect of crimes liable to imprisonment for a term of less than four years but not less than one year;
(e) by the lapse of two years in respect of crimes liable to imprisonment for a term of less than one year, or to a fine (multa) or to the punishments established for contraventions;
(f) by the lapse of three months in respect of contraventions, or of verbal insults liable to the punishments established for contraventions.