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 I
OBSTRUCTING THE INTERVENTION OF JUSTICE

ARTICLE 434-4
(Ordinance no. 2000-916 of 19 September 2000 Article 3 Official Journal of 22 September 2000 in force 1 January 2002)

Where it is done in order to obstruct the discovery of the truth, a penalty of three years' imprisonment and a fine of €45,000 applies to :

1° modifying the scene of a felony or a misdemeanour either by the alteration, falsification or obliteration of clues or evidence, or by bringing, removing or suppressing any given article ;
2° destroying, purloining, concealing or altering a private or public document or an article liable to facilitate the discovery of a felony or a misdemeanour, the search for evidence or the conviction of the guilty party.

Where the acts provided for under the present article are committed by a person who, because of his position, is called to take part in the discovery of the truth, the penalty is increased to five years' imprisonment and to a fine of €75,000.

Article 70
Offences against the administration of justice
1. The Court shall have jurisdiction over the following offences against its administration of justice when committed intentionally:
(b) Presenting evidence that the party knows is false or forged