CHAPTER XI- FALSE EVIDENCE AND OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC JUSTICE

Fabricating false evidence
192. Whoever causes any circumstance to exist, or makes any false entry in any book or record or electronic record, or makes any document or electronic record containing a false statement, intending that such circumstance, false entry, or false statement may appear in evidence in a judicial proceeding, or in a proceeding taken by law before a public servant as such, or before an arbitrator, and that such circumstance, false entry, or false statement, so appearing in evidence, may cause any person, who in such proceeding is to form an opinion upon the evidence, to entertain an erroneous opinion touching any point material to the result of such proceeding, is said “to fabricate false evidence”.

[51/2007]

Illustrations

(a) A puts jewels into a box belonging to Z with the intention that they may be found in that box and that this circumstance may cause Z to be convicted of theft. A has fabricated false evidence.

(b) A makes a false entry in his shop-book for the purpose of using it as corroborative evidence in a court of justice. A has fabricated false evidence.

(c) A, with the intention of causing Z to be convicted of a criminal conspiracy, writes a letter in imitation of Z’s handwriting, purporting to be addressed to an accomplice in such criminal conspiracy, and puts the letter in a place which he knows that the officers of the police are likely to search. A has fabricated false evidence.

[Indian PC 1860, s. 192]


Punishment for false evidence
193. Whoever intentionally gives false evidence in any stage of a judicial proceeding, or fabricates false evidence for the purpose of being used in any stage of a judicial proceeding, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years, and shall also be liable to fine; and whoever intentionally gives or fabricates false evidence in any other case, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation 1.—A trial before a court martial is a judicial proceeding.

Explanation 2.—An investigation directed by law preliminary to a proceeding before a court of justice, is a stage of a judicial proceeding, though that investigation may not take place before a court of justice.

Illustration
A, in an inquiry before a Magistrate for the purpose of ascertaining whether Z ought to be committed for trial, makes on oath a statement which he knows to be false. As this inquiry is a stage of a judicial proceeding, A has given false evidence.

Explanation 3.—An investigation directed by a court of justice according to law, and conducted under the authority of a court of justice, is a stage of a judicial proceeding, though that investigation may not take place before a court of justice.

Illustration
A, in an inquiry before an officer deputed by a court of justice to ascertain on the spot the boundaries of land, makes on oath a statement which he knows to be false. As this inquiry is a stage of a judicial proceeding, A has given false evidence.
[Indian PC 1860, s. 193]


Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of a capital offence
194. Whoever gives or fabricates false evidence, intending thereby to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause, any person to be convicted of an offence which is capital by this Code, or under any other law for the time being in force, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 20 years, and shall also be liable to fine; and if an innocent person is convicted and executed in consequence of such false evidence, the person who gives such false evidence shall be punished either with death or the punishment hereinbefore described.
[51/2007]


Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of an offence punishable with imprisonment
195. Whoever gives or fabricates false evidence, intending thereby to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause, any person to be convicted of an offence which by this Code or under any other law for the time being in force is not capital, but punishable with imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for a term of 7 years or upwards, shall be punished as a person convicted of that offence would be liable to be punished.

Illustration
A gives false evidence before a court of justice, intending thereby to cause Z to be convicted of a gang-robbery. The punishment of gang-robbery is imprisonment for a term of not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years and also caning with not less than 12 strokes. A, therefore, is liable to such imprisonment, with caning.

CHAPTER XI- FALSE EVIDENCE AND OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC JUSTICE

Giving false information respecting an offence committed
203. Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, gives any information respecting that offence which he knows or believes to be false, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years, or with fine, or with both.
Explanation .—In sections 201 and 202 and in this section “offence” includes any act committed at any place out of Singapore which if committed in Singapore would be punishable under any of the following sections, namely, 302, 304, 382, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 399, 402, 435, 436, 449, 450, 457, 458, 459 and 460.
[Indian PC 1860, s. 203]

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