FIRST VOLUME
General Provisions

SECOND CHAPTER
Essence of Criminal Responsibility

SECOND SECTION
Excusatory and Mitigating Causes

Minority

ARTICLE 31-(1) The children having not attained the full age of twelve on the commission date of the offense, may not have criminal responsibility. Besides, no criminal prosecution may be commenced against such persons ; but, it may be deemed necessary to take certain security precautions specific to children.

(2) In case a person who attained the age of twelve but not yet completed the age of fifteen on the commission date of the offense does not have the ability to perceive the legal meaning and consequences of the offense, or to control his actions, he may not have criminal responsibility for such behavior. However, security precautions specific to children may be adopted for such individuals. If a person has the ability to apprehend the offense he has committed or to control his actions relating to this offense, then such person may be sentenced to imprisonment from nine years to twelve years if the offense requires heavy life imprisonment ; from seven years to nine years if the offense requires life imprisonment. Two thirds of other punishments is abated and in this case, the imprisonment to be imposed for each offense may not be more than six years.

(3) A person who attained the full age of fifteen but not yet completed the age of eighteen on the commission date of the offense is sentenced to imprisonment from fourteen years to twenty years if the offense requires heavy life imprisonment; and from nine years to twelve years if the offense requires life imprisonment. One half of the other punishments is abated and in this case, the imprisonment to be imposed for each offense may not be more than eight years.