'Mitigating factors - national proceedings' in document 'Timor-Leste - Criminal Code'

Jump to:

RELEVANT SECTIONS OF THE IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION

BOOK I
GENERAL PART

TITLE III
CIRCUMSTANCES

SINGLE CHAPTER
GENERAL RULES

Article 55. General mitigating circumstances

1. Any circumstances that preceded, accompanied or occurred after commission of the crime and that reflect favorably on the perpetrator are considered general mitigating circumstances of the liability of the same.

2. General mitigating circumstances may include, inter alia, the following :

a) The causes of exclusion referred to in the previous chapter, whenever not all of the requirements provided are met for the cause for exclusion to produce effect.
b) The perpetrator acts in consequence of incidents that cause violent emotion, obsession or other emotional state of a similar passion, or reacts to provocation by means of an immediate act.
c) The perpetrator appears before the authorities voluntarily, before knowing of the existence of a criminal proceeding against him or her.
d) The perpetrator spontaneously confesses having committed the crime or decisively contributes to ascertaining the circumstances in which the criminal act occurred.
e) Presence of acts demonstrating sincere repentance of the perpetrator;
f) Low intensity of intent or negligence.
g) Reconciliation between victim and perpetrator.

Article 56. Extraordinarily mitigating circumstances

1. Apart from the cases expressly provided in the law, the penalty provided in the definition of the crime is extraordinarily mitigated, whenever any circumstances have arisen prior to, concurrently with or after commission of the crime that, jointly or individually, reduce, to a large extent, the unlawfulness of the perpetrator's conduct, guilt or need for penalty.

2. The following circumstances may, among others, be considered for the purpose of the previous subarticle :

a) The perpetrator's actions were influenced by a serious threat or orders from another person on whom the perpetrator is dependant or to whom obedience is due ;
b) The perpetrator's conduct was prompted by an honorable reason, by a strong solicitation or temptation from the victim him or herself or by unjust provocation or unwarranted offense ;
c) The perpetrator makes reparation of damage caused or diminishes its effects, at any time in the proceeding but before the date of the first trial hearing ;
d) The perpetrator has maintained good conduct long after the crime was committed ;
e) The perpetrator has a noticeably diminished criminal liability.

Article 57. Degrees of extraordinarily mitigating circumstances

1. Whenever special mitigation of the penalty occurs, it does so relatively to the limits of the applicable penalty :
a) The maximum limit of the penalty of imprisonment shall be reduced by one third ;
b) If the minimum limit of imprisonment is equal to or greater than three years, said limit shall be reduced to one-fifth and, to the minimum established by law if the minimum limit of imprisonment less than three years ;
c) The maximum limit of the penalty of fine shall be reduced by one third and the minimum limit reduced to the legal minimum ;
d) If the maximum limit of the penalty of imprisonment does not exceed 3 years, the penalty of imprisonment may be replaced by a penalty of fine within general limits.

2. An extraordinarily mitigated penalty that was specifically set may generally be replaced or even suspended.

BOOK I
GENERAL PART

TITLE IV
LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF CRIME

CHAPTER VII
DETERMINATION OF PENALTIES

Article 90. General principles

2. The concrete extent of the penalty within the scope of the abstract penalty shall be determined in the following manner :

a) Any modifying aggravating circumstances of recurrence and habitual criminality, as described in articles 53 and 54, shall be applied to the abstract penalty corresponding to the consummated crime ;
b) Any extraordinarily mitigating circumstances shall be taken into consideration, in the absence of any modifying circumstances, if provisions in the previous paragraph have been met or based on the abstract penalty for the consummated crime.

RELEVANT ROME STATUTE PROVISIONS

Article 76
Sentencing
1. In the event of a conviction, the Trial Chamber shall consider the appropriate sentence to be imposed and shall take into account the evidence presented and submissions made during the trial that are relevant to the sentence.
2. Except where article 65 applies and before the completion of the trial, the Trial Chamber may on its own motion and shall, at the request of the Prosecutor or the accused, hold a further hearing to hear any additional evidence or submissions relevant to the sentence, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
3. Where paragraph 2 applies, any representations under article 75 shall be heard during the further hearing referred to in paragraph 2 and, if necessary, during any additional hearing.
4. The sentence shall be pronounced in public and, wherever possible, in the presence of the accused.

Article 78
Determination of the sentence
1. In determining the sentence, the Court shall, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, take into account such factors as the gravity of the crime and the individual circumstances of the convicted person.
2. In imposing a sentence of imprisonment, the Court shall deduct the time, if any, previously spent in detention in accordance with an order of the Court. The Court may deduct any time otherwise spent in detention in connection with conduct underlying the crime.
3. When a person has been convicted of more than one crime, the Court shall pronounce a sentence for each crime and a joint sentence specifying the total period of imprisonment. This period shall be no less than the highest individual sentence pronounced and shall not exceed 30 years imprisonment or a sentence of life imprisonment in conformity with article 77, paragraph 1 (b).