Penal Code — Law 4573Código Penal — Ley 4573

Prohibition of analogy.

No sanction may be imposed through the analogical application of the criminal law.

Supplementary value of this Code.

The general provisions of this Code shall also apply to the punishable acts provided for in special laws, provided that the latter do not establish anything to the contrary. Ficha articulo

Application in Space Territoriality.

Costa Rican criminal law shall be applied to whoever commits a punishable act in the territory of the Republic, except for the exceptions established in treaties, conventions, and international rules accepted by Costa Rica. For the purposes of this provision, the territory of the Republic shall be understood to mean, in addition to the natural or geographic territory, the territorial sea, the airspace covering them, and the continental shelf. Costa Rican vessels and aircraft shall also be considered national territory. Ficha articulo Extraterritoriality.

Costa Rican criminal law shall also be applied to punishable acts committed abroad, when:

• 1)They threaten the internal or external security of the State, as well as its economy; and 2) They are committed against the public administration, by officials in its service, whether or not they are Costa Rican.

Possibility of initiating proceedings for punishable acts committed abroad.

Proceedings may be initiated for punishable acts committed abroad and, in that case, Costa Rican law applied, when:

• 1)They produce or may produce their results, in whole or in part, in the national territory; 2) They have been committed by persons in the service of Costa Rica and have not been tried in the place of commission of the act, by virtue of diplomatic or functional immunity; and 3) They are perpetrated against a Costa Rican or their rights.
• 4)They have been committed by a Costa Rican.

(Thus added the previous subsection by article 1, point 2, subparagraph a) of the Law for the Strengthening of Legislation against Terrorism, No. 8719 of March 4, 2009).

Application of the Criminal Law for acts of terrorism

In the cases of the crimes defined in subsection 4) of article 112, subsections 7) and 8) of article 215, and in articles 246, 246 bis, 250 ter, 251, 258, 259, 260, 274, 274 bis, 374, 284 bis of this Code, as well as in article 69 bis of Law No. 8204, Comprehensive Reform of the Law on Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances, Drugs of Unauthorized Use, and Related Activities, of December 26, 2001, and its reforms, Costa Rican criminal law shall be applied on the occasion of those crimes, to persons with respect to whom extradition does not proceed, in accordance with the norms in force.

For extradition purposes, these crimes shall not be considered political crimes nor crimes connected with a political crime; nor shall they be considered crimes inspired by political motives.

(Thus added by article 1, point 2, subparagraph b) of the Law for the Strengthening of Legislation against Terrorism, No. 8719 of March 4, 2009).

Regardless of the provisions in force in the place of commission of the punishable act and the nationality of the perpetrator, those who commit acts of piracy, terrorism or its financing, or acts of genocide; counterfeit currency, credit instruments, bank notes and other bearer instruments; illicitly traffic arms, ammunition, explosives or related materials; take part in the slave trade, trafficking of women or children; commit sexual crimes against minors, or engage in trafficking of narcotics or obscene publications shall be punished in accordance with Costa Rican law. Likewise, those who commit the crimes of illicit enrichment; receiving, legalizing or concealing assets; legislating or administering for personal gain; irregular surcharges; falsehood in the receipt of contracted goods and services; irregular payment of administrative contracts; influence peddling; transnational bribery, and influence against the Public Treasury, contemplated in Law No. 8422, Law against Corruption and Illicit Enrichment in Public Office, of October 6, 2004, and the crimes of improper bribery; proper bribery; aggravated corruption; acceptance of gifts for an act already performed; corruption of judges; penalty for the corruptor; incompatible negotiations; embezzlement; misappropriation; and embezzlement and misappropriation of private funds contemplated in this Code, as well as other punishable acts against human rights and international humanitarian law, provided for in treaties signed by Costa Rica, in this Code and other special laws, shall be punished.

(Thus reformed by article 38 of the law on the Liability of Legal Persons for Domestic Bribery, Transnational Bribery and Other Crimes, No. 9699 of June 10, 2019) When the crimes mentioned above can be prosecuted.

For the crimes referred to in article 5 to be prosecutable in Costa Rica, only the action of the State is required. In those contemplated in articles 6 and 7, it is necessary for the offender to be in the national territory. Furthermore, in the cases of article 6, proceedings shall be initiated upon the simple complaint of the aggrieved party, and in those of article 7, criminal action may only be initiated upon petition of the competent bodies. Ficha articulo Foreign judgment lacking res judicata effect in the aforementioned crimes.

Foreign criminal judgments pronounced on the crimes indicated in articles 4 and 5 shall not have res judicata effect; however, the penalty or part thereof that the defendant has served by virtue of such judgments shall be credited toward the one imposed in accordance with national law, if both are of a similar nature, and if they are not, the former shall be prudently mitigated. Ficha articulo Foreign judgments with res judicata effect.

In the cases indicated in articles 6 and 7, an acquitting foreign criminal judgment shall have res judicata effect for all legal purposes. A convicting judgment shall, in all cases, have such effect for determining the phenomena of recidivism (reincidencia) and habituality (habitualidad). Ficha articulo

Application in Time Time of enforceability of the criminal law.

Punishable acts shall be judged in accordance with the laws in force at the time of their commission. Ficha articulo Law subsequent to the commission of a punishable act.

(Note from Sinalevi: Through circular No. 178-2017 and published in the Judicial Bulletin No. 45 of March 9, 2018, the table of conduct for traffic accidents was published. Adjustment of fines for application of the most favorable sanction, article 12 Penal Code, which is transcribed below:

”) Law issued before completion of the sentence.

If the enactment of the new law whose application is more favorable to the defendant occurs before the sentence is completed, the competent Court must modify the judgment, in accordance with the provisions of the new law. Ficha articulo Temporary law.

Acts carried out during the enforceability of a law intended to govern temporarily shall always be judged in accordance with the terms of that law.

Regarding security measures.

Regarding security measures (medidas de seguridad), the law in force at the time of the judgment and those enacted during its execution shall be applied. Ficha articulo

Application to Persons Mandatory nature of criminal law and exceptions.

The application of the criminal law is mandatory for all inhabitants, with the exception of:

• 1)Foreign heads of State who are in the national territory and diplomatic agents of other States and other persons enjoying criminal immunity, according to international conventions accepted by Costa Rica; and 2) Public officials who, in accordance with the Political Constitution, enjoy immunity. Ficha articulo

APPLICATION BY MATTER Special law for minors.

(Thus reformed by article 2 of the law "Comprehensive Reform of the Organic Law of the Guardianship Jurisdiction for Minors" law 7383 of March 16, 1994)

THE PUNISHABLE ACT

Form, Time and Place of the Punishable Act Form of the punishable act.

The punishable act can be carried out by action or by omission. When the law represses the act in consideration of the result produced, whoever does not prevent it shall be liable if they could do so, according to the circumstances, and if they were legally obligated to avoid it. Ficha articulo Time of the punishable act.

The act is considered committed at the time of the action or omission, even if the time of the result is different. Ficha articulo Place of the punishable act.

The act is considered committed:

• a)In the place where the criminal activity of the perpetrators or participants developed, in whole or in part; and b) In the place where the result was produced or should have been produced.

In crimes of omission, the act is considered committed where the omitted action should have taken place. Ficha articulo

Concurrence of Offenses and Apparent Concurrence of Norms Ideal concurrence.

There is ideal concurrence (concurso ideal) when a single action or omission violates various legal provisions that do not exclude each other. Ficha articulo Material concurrence.

There is material concurrence (concurso material) when the same agent commits several crimes separately or jointly.

Apparent concurrence of norms.

When the same conduct is described in several legal provisions that exclude each other, only one of them shall be applied, as follows: the special norm prevails over the general one, the one that entirely contains another is preferred over the latter, and the one that the law has not expressly or tacitly subordinated to another is applied instead of the accessory one. Ficha articulo

ATTEMPT When it exists.

The penalty corresponding to the attempt shall not be applied when the consummation of the crime was absolutely impossible.

(Text modified by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 1588-98 at 16:27 hours on March 10, 1998).

Causes of Justification Fulfillment of the law.

No crime is committed by one who acted in fulfillment of a legal duty or in the legitimate exercise of a right.

(Corrected by Errata published in La Gaceta No. 234 of November 24, 1971).

Consent of the rightsholder.

No crime is committed by one who injures or endangers a right with the consent of one who can validly give it. Ficha articulo State of necessity.

No crime is committed by one who, faced with a situation of danger for their own or someone else's legal interest, injures another to avoid a greater harm, provided that the following requirements are met:

• a)That the danger is actual or imminent; b) That it was not voluntarily provoked; and c) That it is not avoidable by other means.

If the holder of the interest sought to be saved has the legal duty to face the risk, the provisions of this article shall not apply. Ficha articulo Self-defense.

• a)Unlawful aggression; and b) Reasonable necessity of the defense employed to repel or prevent the aggression.

This ground for justification shall be understood to concur for one who executes violent acts against a stranger who, without any right and with danger to the inhabitants or occupants of the building or its dependencies, is inside them, regardless of the harm caused to the intruder.

(Thus reformed by article 1 of law No. 5743 of August 4, 1975).

Excess in defense.

If, in the cases of the preceding articles, the agent has incurred in excess, the act shall be sanctioned in accordance with article 79. Excess arising from excitement or disturbance that the circumstances made excusable is not punishable. Ficha articulo

Culpability No penalty without fault.

No one can be sanctioned for an act expressly defined in the law if they have not committed it with intent (dolo), fault (culpa), or preterintention (preterintención). Ficha articulo Meaning of intent.

Acts with intent (dolo) whoever desires the realization of the defined act, as well as whoever accepts it, foreseeing it at least as possible. Ficha articulo Preterintention.

Acts with preterintention (preterintención) whoever carries out conduct from which a more serious result of the same kind derives than that which they intended to produce, provided that this second result can be attributed to them by way of fault (culpa). Ficha articulo Fortuitous event or force majeure.

Whoever commits the defined act due to a fortuitous event or force majeure is not culpable.

Error of fact.

Whoever, when committing the act, incurs an error regarding some of the requirements necessary for the crime to exist, according to its description, is not culpable. However, if the error arises from fault (culpa), the act shall be punished only when the law stipulates a penalty for its commission on such grounds. The same rules shall apply with respect to one who erroneously assumes the concurrence of circumstances that would justify the act committed. Ficha articulo Error of law.

One who, through an invincible error, believes that the act committed is not subject to penalty, is not culpable. If the error is not invincible, the penalty provided for the act may be mitigated, in accordance with the provisions of article 79. Ficha articulo Due obedience.

• a)That the order emanates from an authority competent to issue it and is clothed with the forms required by law; b) That the agent is hierarchically subordinate to the one issuing the order; and c) That the order does not bear the character of an evident punishable infraction.

More severe penalty due to a special consequence of the act.

If the law stipulates a more severe penalty due to a special consequence of the act, it shall be applied only to the perpetrator or participant who has acted, at least, with fault (culpa) regarding that consequence. Ficha articulo Coercion or threat.

Whoever acts under coercion or threat of a present, serious harm, whether or not provoked by the action of a third party, is not culpable when a different conduct cannot reasonably be demanded of them. Ficha articulo

Recidivism Recidivism and its assessment.

A recidivist (reincidente) is one who commits a new crime after having been convicted by a final judgment of a court of the country or abroad, if the act is sanctioned in the Republic and provided that it does not involve political crimes, amnestied crimes, or crimes committed during penal minority. Nor shall a crime committed abroad be taken into account if, due to its nature, extradition would not proceed. Ficha articulo Habituality.

Political or fiscal crimes shall not be taken into account for the declaration of habituality (habitualidad).

(Thus reformed this article by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 796-92 of March 24, 1992, which clarifies Resolution No. 88-92 at 11:00 hours on January 17, 1992.)

Professionalism.

(Thus reformed this article by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 796-92 of March 24, 1992, which clarifies Resolution No. 88-92 at 11:00 hours on January 17, 1992.)

THE PERPETRATOR

Imputability and its Forms Non-imputability.

Is non-imputable (inimputable) whoever at the time of the action or omission lacks the capacity to understand the illicit character of the act or to determine themselves according to that understanding, due to mental illness, or a serious disturbance of consciousness, whether or not caused by the accidental or involuntary use of alcoholic beverages or enervating substances.

(Corrected by Errata published in La Gaceta No. 234 of November 24, 1971).

Diminished imputability.

One is considered to act with diminished imputability (imputabilidad disminuida) who, due to the causes referred to in the preceding article, possesses only incompletely, at the time of the action or omission, the capacity to understand the illicit character of the act or to determine themselves according to that understanding. Ficha articulo Self-induced disturbance.

When the agent has provoked the disturbance of consciousness referred to in the preceding articles, they shall be liable for the act committed based on the intent (dolo) or fault (culpa) in which they found themselves at the moment of placing themselves in such a state, and the respective penalty may even be increased if the agent's purpose was to facilitate its commission or to procure an excuse. Ficha articulo

Perpetrators and Accomplices Perpetrator and co-perpetrators.

The perpetrator (autor) of the punishable act defined as such is one who carries it out personally or through another or others, and co-perpetrators (coautores) are those who carry it out jointly with the perpetrator. Ficha articulo Instigators.

Instigators (instigadores) are those who intentionally determine another to commit the punishable act.

Accomplices.

Accomplices (cómplices) are those who provide any aid or cooperation to the perpetrator or perpetrators for the commission of the punishable act. Ficha articulo Commencement and scope of participants' liability.

The participants shall be liable from the moment the act has begun, as established in article 19. If the act is more serious than the one they intended to carry out, those who accepted it as a probable consequence of the action undertaken shall be liable for it. Ficha articulo Communicability of circumstances.

Personal qualities constitutive of the infraction are also imputable to the participants who do not possess them, if they were known to them. The relationships, circumstances, and personal qualities whose effect is to reduce or exclude penalty shall have no influence except with respect to the participants in whom they concur. Material circumstances that aggravate or mitigate the act shall only be taken into account regarding whoever, knowing them, lent their assistance. Ficha articulo

PENALTIES

TYPES OF PENALTIES Types of penalties

The penalties that this Code establishes are:

• 1)Principal: imprisonment, exile (extrañamiento), fine, and disqualification.
• 2)Accessory: special disqualification.
• 3)Provision of community service (prestación de servicios de utilidad pública).
• 4)House arrest with electronic monitoring.
• 5)Drug treatment under restorative judicial supervision.

(Thus reformed by article 48 of the Restorative Justice Law, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018) Imprisonment and security measures.

Its maximum limit is fifty years.

(Thus reformed by article 1 of law No. 7389 of April 22, 1994) (Note from Sinalevi: By resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 9877 of July 3, 2015, the continuity of the effects of the reform to articles 51 and 76 of the Penal Code, carried out through Law No. 7389 of April 22, 1994, is ordered, all subject to what the Constitutional Chamber definitively resolves regarding the conformity of those norms with Constitutional Law.)

Exile.

The penalty of exile (extrañamiento), applicable only to foreigners, consists of expulsion from the territory of the Republic, with prohibition of returning to it, during the time of the sentence. It ranges from six months to ten years. Ficha articulo Fine.

The penalty of a fine obligates the convicted person to pay a sum of money to the institution designated by law, within fifteen days following the finality of the judgment.

When a day-fine penalty (días multa) is imposed, the judge, in a reasoned judgment, shall first determine the number of day-fines that the convicted person must pay, within the limits set for each crime and contravention, according to the seriousness of the act, the circumstances of manner, time, and place, as well as the characteristics inherent to the perpetrator, directly related to the criminal or contraventional conduct. This penalty shall not exceed three hundred sixty day-fines.

In said judgment, in a reasoned manner, the judge shall determine the sum of money corresponding to each day-fine, according to the economic situation of the convicted person, taking into account their standard of living, all their daily income, and the reasonable expenses to meet both their needs and those of their family. Each day-fine shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the sentenced person's daily income. The prosecutor or the judge, as applicable, with the collaboration of the Social Work Office of the Judiciary, must carry out the necessary inquiries to determine the true economic situation of the accused and their ability to pay.

(Thus reformed by article 4 of the Law against Street Sexual Harassment, No. 9877 of August 10, 2020)

The money from imposed fine penalties, derived from the commission of the crimes:

• a)Against the duties of the public function, provided for in title XV of Law 4573, Penal Code, of May 4, 1970, chapter V of Law 8422, Law against Corruption and Illicit Enrichment in Public Office, of October 29, 2004; b) established in title I of Law 9699, Law on Liability of Legal Persons for Domestic Bribery, Transnational Bribery and Other Crimes, of June 10, 2019.

Shall be deposited in a special account in the name of the Costa Rican Institute on Drugs for the purpose of administration and transfer, and shall be allocated as follows:

i. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the total collection shall be transferred to the Public Ministry, specifically for the investigation and fight against corruption.

ii. Twenty percent (20%) of the total collection shall be transferred to the Attorney General's Office, Public Ethics Office Area, to be invested in its Prevention, Detection, and Fight against Corruption program.

iii. Thirty percent (30%) of the total collection shall be transferred to the Judicial Investigation Agency, to be invested in equal parts in sections specialized in the investigation of corruption, economic, accounting, and cybercrime crimes, to carry out their functions.

iv. Fifteen percent (15%) of the total collection shall be transferred to the Costa Rican Institute on Drugs, distributed as eight percent (8%) for the Financial Intelligence Unit and seven percent (7%) for the assurance and maintenance of assets confiscated for corruption crimes.

v. Ten percent (10%) of the total collection shall be transferred to the Judicial Center for Communications Intervention of the Judiciary.

The resources shall be deposited in a separate special bank account in the name of the department authorized by the Costa Rican Institute on Drugs, which shall be accounted for and settled annually separately so that they can be transferred to the aforementioned institutions.

(Thus added by article 11 of the law "Reforms to laws on anti-corruption matters to address recommendations of the Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)", No. 10373 of September 20, 2023) Execution of the fine.

By a subsequent resolution, the Judge may, considering the economic situation of the convicted person, agree on a deadline or authorize payment of the fine in installments, provided that it is guaranteed with real or personal sureties; the Judge shall have the authority to prudentially dispense with such guarantees. These benefits may be revoked for non-compliance in payment or when the economic condition of the convicted person improves significantly. Ficha articulo Amortization of the fine.

For this purpose, one ordinary workday is equivalent to one day-fine, and every two ordinary workdays are equivalent to one day of imprisonment. Tasks of any nature, performed within the social adaptation center and outside of it, shall be computed in the same way. The respective salary shall be credited in whole or in part to satisfy the imposed fine. The inmate shall enjoy the benefits that the State and its institutions grant to workers, although there shall be no employment relationship between the employer and the inmate employee.

(Thus reformed by article 1 of law No. 7398 of May 3, 1994) (By resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 6829-93 of December 24, 1993, it indicated that article 55, which establishes the reduction of the sentence, is not unconstitutional, but the administrative practice of granting it in favor of the accused with the same scope as for convicted persons is unconstitutional ) Non-compliance in payment of the fine penalty

When the convicted person lacks the ability to pay, cannot cover the amount of the fine penalty in installments, nor can they obtain it, the judge shall order that each day-fine be converted into one day of provision of community service (prestación de servicios de utilidad pública) for the benefit of the State or public welfare institutions.

When fines and imprisonment penalties are imposed jointly, the latter shall be added to the one corresponding to the converted fine, as applicable.

(Thus reformed by subsection c) of article 1 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) Provision of community service

The provision of community service (prestación de servicios de utilidad pública) consists of free service with community and socio-educational purposes that the convicted person must provide for the benefit of public institutions and the associations or foundations that form the network created for the purposes of compliance with this article. It may be imposed as a principal penalty or, failing that, as a substitute penalty for imprisonment, when the requirements of this article are met.

The Ministry of Justice and Peace shall promote the articulation of institutional and civil society networks to guarantee control, monitoring, and the availability of places where community service can be performed. Likewise, it shall maintain a registry of the entities authorized for such purposes and shall periodically report this to the Judiciary. In the event that these entities facilitate the non-compliance of the penalty or make it difficult to control its execution, they shall be excluded from the network of beneficiaries of community service and from the registry.

In the event a prison sentence has been imposed, and when conditional execution of the sentence is not appropriate, the sentencing court may replace it with the provision of community service, provided the following requirements are met:

• a)That the prison sentence imposed is not more than five years.
• b)That in the commission of the crime, weapons in the strict sense were not used, except as provided in Ley N.º 7530, Ley de Armas y Explosivos, of July 10, 1995.
• c)That the commission of the crime did not involve serious physical violence against the victim.
• d)That the convicted person has no criminal record for intentional crimes carrying a sentence of more than six months.
• e)That it does not involve crimes processed under the organized crime procedure, crimes against the duties of public office, sexual crimes, intentional homicide, or femicide.
• f)That the sentenced person is willing to repair the harm caused to the victim or community, through community service work for socio-educational or community purposes, has the will to continue a life plan outside of crime, and commits to comply with the conditions imposed by the judicial and prison authorities for fulfillment.

The service shall be performed for the number of hours and within the period determined by the sentencing judge, considering the harm caused and the personal circumstances of the convicted person. This penalty may not exceed one thousand hours per year.

It shall be the responsibility of the prison authority, through the community program, to define the place, schedule, and compliance plan, without interfering with the work or educational schedule of the convicted person. Additionally, it must report quarterly to the sentence enforcement court on the fulfillment of the sanction.

In the event of any non-compliance, the prison authority shall immediately inform the sentence enforcement court, which shall grant a five-day hearing to the defense and the Ministerio Público, and shall convene an oral hearing. The decision may be appealed with suspensive effect, within five days, before the sentencing court. Unjustified failure to perform the service shall empower the sentence enforcement court to revoke it, in which case the sentenced person must serve the originally imposed prison sentence. For such purposes, every eight hours of community service provision is equivalent to one day of imprisonment.

For cases processed under the restorative justice procedure, as well as the accreditation of entities and the monitoring of the provision of community service, it shall be governed by the provisions of the Ley de Justicia Restaurativa.

(Paragraph added by Article 48 of the Ley de justicia restaurativa, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018) (Added by subsection a) of Article 3) of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002).

(Amended by the sole article of Law No. 9525 of March 7, 2018)

Drug treatment under restorative judicial supervision consists of applying, as an alternative penalty, a therapeutic approach for the biopsychosocial care of addictions to drugs and psychoactive substances, once it is determined that the crime committed by the accused is associated with problematic drug and/or alcohol consumption, through the application of the restorative procedure, whose duration shall not exceed the length of the principal penalty.

The competent jurisdictional authority must exercise control over the enforcement of this alternative penalty through verification hearings, monitoring according to the objectives established by the therapeutic team in charge, to evaluate progress, relapses, or recommendations for modifying the treatment.

In the event of serious and unjustified non-compliance, the jurisdictional authority shall revoke the alternative penalty and order the fulfillment of the principal penalty. For this purpose, one day of inpatient treatment is equivalent to one day of imprisonment, and two days of outpatient treatment are equivalent to one day of imprisonment.

(Added by Article 49 of the Ley de justicia restaurativa, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018)

Absolute disqualification, which extends from six months to twelve years, except as indicated in subsection 6) of this article, which extends from four years to fifty years, results in the following for the convicted person:

• 1)Loss of any public employment, office, or commission held, including those obtained by popular election.
• 2)Inability to obtain the aforementioned public offices, employments, or commissions.
• 3)Deprivation of active and passive political rights.
• 4)Inability to practice the profession, trade, art, or activity performed.
• 5)Inability to exercise the attributes of parental responsibility, guardianship, conservatorship, or judicial administration of property.

(Preceding subsection amended by Article 2, point VI) of the law approving the Código Procesal de Familia, No. 9747 of October 23, 2019) 6) Inability to practice or obtain employment, office, profession, trade, art, or activity that places him/her in a position of power over one or more minors.

(Amended by Article 1 of the law "Reforma el Código Penal, ley N° 4573, para promover la Protección de la Integridad Sexual y de los Derechos y las Libertades fundamentales de las personas menores de edad"; Law No. 8874 of September 24, 2010) Home detention with electronic monitoring

To facilitate the social reintegration of the sentenced person, the sentence enforcement authorities shall promote virtual distance education through the use of the Internet.

When imposing sentence, the judge shall have the authority to apply it, provided the following prerequisites are met:

• 1)That the imposed sentence does not exceed four years of imprisonment.

(Preceding subsection amended by the sole article of the Ley para regular el beneficio del arresto domiciliario con brazalete electrónico, No. 10517 of August 26, 2024) 2) That it is not for crimes that qualify as organized crime, nor sexual crimes against minors, nor for crimes contemplated in Articles 59 and 74 of Ley 7786, Ley sobre Estupefacientes, Sustancias Psicotrópicas, Drogas de Uso no Autorizado, Actividades Conexas, Legitimación de Capitales y Financiamiento al Terrorismo, of April 30, 1998.

(Preceding subsection amended by the sole article of the Ley para regular el beneficio del arresto domiciliario con brazalete electrónico, No. 10517 of August 26, 2024) 3) That the offender is a first-time offender.

• 4)That, according to the personal circumstances of the convicted person, it reasonably appears that he/she does not pose a danger and will not evade the execution of the sentence.

In this case, within twenty-four hours of the sentence becoming final, the convicted person must report to the office defined for this purpose by the Dirección General de Adaptación Social, which will assess his/her case and determine his/her placement within the program, his/her obligations, his/her control, and technical compliance supervision.

(*) The competent judge may authorize restricted absences for work, health, education, or family obligation reasons, upon a prior report issued by the Instituto Nacional de Criminología, except in urgent cases where the judge may assess whether or not to grant the absence. The competent adjudicator may modify or revoke this modality of sentence enforcement and order admission to prison when the sentenced person:

• a)Fails to comply with the conditions imposed at the time electronic monitoring was granted.
• b)Alters, damages, or removes the device.
• c)Does not report any failure or alteration of the device to the respective authority.
• d)Is detained for committing a new criminal act in flagrante delicto.
• e)Has been charged in a criminal proceeding different from the one for which he/she was convicted.
• f)Has been placed in pretrial detention in another criminal case.

(*) (Preceding paragraph amended by the sole article of the Ley para regular el beneficio del arresto domiciliario con brazalete electrónico, No. 10517 of August 26, 2024) (Added by Article 9 of Law No. 9271 of September 30, 2014, "Mecanismos electrónicos de seguimiento en materia penal") Special disqualification

(Amended by Article 3 of the Ley para mejorar el proceso de control presupuestario, por medio de la corrección de deficiencias normativas y prácticas de la administración pública, No. 10053 of October 25, 2021)

Conditional Execution Sentence.

Cases of application.

When imposing sentence, the Judge shall have the authority to apply a conditional execution sentence when the sentence does not exceed three years and consists of imprisonment or banishment. Article record Requirements.

The granting of the conditional execution sentence shall be based on the analysis of the convicted person's personality and his/her life prior to the crime, in the sense that his/her conduct conformed to social norms, and on his/her behavior subsequent to it, especially his/her repentance and demonstrated desire to repair the consequences of the act as much as possible, on the motives, characteristics of the act, and circumstances surrounding it. It is an indispensable condition for its granting that the offender is a first-time offender. The Court shall grant the benefit when, from the consideration of these elements, it can reasonably be assumed that the convicted person will behave correctly without the need to execute the sentence. The Judge's decision shall be reasoned and, in any case, shall require a report from the Instituto de Criminología determining, if applicable, the degree of possible rehabilitation of the offender.

(Corrected via Errata published in La Gaceta No. 234 of November 24, 1971).

Conditions.

When ordering the conditional execution sentence, the Judge may impose on the convicted person such conditions as he/she determines, in accordance with the report issued to that effect by the Instituto de Criminología; these may be varied if said Institute so requests. Article record Term.

The Judge, when ordering the conditional execution sentence, shall set its term, which may not be less than three years nor more than five years, counting from the date the sentence becomes final. Article record Revocation.

The conditional execution sentence shall be revoked:

• 1)If the convicted person does not comply with the imposed conditions; and 2) If he/she commits a new intentional crime punishable by imprisonment of more than six months, during the probation period. Article record

Parole Who may request parole.

The Instituto de Criminología may also request parole at any time, if the Judge had denied the benefit when the inmate requested it, and shall for this purpose attach the documents referred to in this article.

In the case of persons convicted for the first time of a prison sentence for the crimes contemplated in Articles 111, 112, 156, 157, 161, 162, 172, 212, subsection 3, 213, 215, 382, 384 bis, 384 ter, 385, and 386 of this Code, every person sentenced to a term of imprisonment may request from the competent judge, and the latter may discretionally grant parole, when he/she has effectively served two-thirds of the sentence imposed in the final judgment.

(Preceding paragraph added by the sole article of Law No. 10442 of February 7, 2024, “Reforma del cumplimiento de la pena para obtención del beneficio de libertad condicional”) Likewise, this benefit shall be subject to the limitation imposed herein in those crimes set forth in Articles 21 and 21 bis of Ley 8589, Penalización de la Violencia contra las Mujeres, of April 25, 2007; Article 13 of Ley 8754, Ley contra la Delincuencia Organizada, of July 22, 2009, and in Ley 7786, Ley sobre Estupefacientes, Sustancias Psicotrópicas, Drogas de Uso no Autorizado, Actividades Conexas, Legitimación de Capitales y Financiamiento al Terrorismo, of April 30, 1998, when the typified conduct involves activities of terrorism, financing of terrorism, or money laundering, or was committed with violence against persons or with the use of weapons, or by persons exercising leadership or authority or having a significant participatory role within a criminal organization.

(Preceding paragraph added by the sole article of Law No. 10442 of February 7, 2024, “Reforma del cumplimiento de la pena para obtención del beneficio de libertad condicional”) Requirements.

Parole may be granted when the following requirements are met:

• 1)That the applicant has not been previously convicted of a common crime punishable by a sentence of more than six months; and 2) That the Instituto de Criminología reports on the good conduct, services rendered, occupation, and trades acquired by the convicted person that allow him/her a regular life of lawful work; and accompanies a study of his/her personality, of his/her social environment, as well as a favorable opinion on the suitability of the measure. Article record Conditions.

Likewise, the judge, at the request of the convicted person, the defense, or the Ministerio Público, may order, among the conditions, permanent location with an electronic mechanism.

(Amended by Article 4 of Law No. 9271 of September 30, 2014, "Mecanismos electrónicos de seguimiento en materia penal") Revocation.

• 1)If the released person does not comply with the conditions set by the Judge; and 2) If the released person commits, during the probation period, which may not exceed the time remaining to serve the sentence, a new punishable act sanctioned with imprisonment of more than six months.
• 3)If the released person is apprehended or detained by any administrative or judicial police authority in flagrante delicto or during the course of a judicial investigation, the police authority executing the apprehension or detention must immediately inform the Ministerio Público and the competent Sentence Enforcement authority that granted the benefit of the fact of the apprehension or detention. Upon learning of this situation, the judge shall order the provisional suspension of parole and shall remand that person to the prison facility where he/she was previously held, so that, within a period not exceeding one month, said person may be evaluated by the Instituto Nacional de Criminología to issue an opinion indicating whether there is any variation in the criteria under which the benefit was granted. Once this opinion is received, if a change in the conditions under which the benefit was granted is determined by the Instituto Nacional de Criminología, the sentence enforcement judge shall immediately and definitively revoke the benefit of parole.

The Poder Judicial must have a database comprising a list of all convicted persons enjoying the benefit of parole, which must be updated daily. Said platform must guarantee that the competent administrative and judicial police authorities, both of the Poder Judicial and the Ministerio de Justicia y Paz, have immediate and updated access to it.

(Preceding subsection added by the sole article of the Ley para revocar o modificar el beneficio de libertad condicional al condenado que sea arrestado en el disfrute del beneficio, No. 10450 of March 19, 2024)

Provisions Common to the Conditional Execution Sentence and Parole Effects of revocation and expiration of the term.

When the conditional execution sentence or parole has been revoked, the beneficiary must serve the part of the sentence he/she failed to complete. Once the term of the conditional execution sentence has elapsed, or the portion to be served in the case of parole, without them having been revoked, the sentence shall be extinguished in its entirety. Article record

Commutation Cases in which it may be applied.

When a first-time offender receives a prison sentence not exceeding one year, the Judge may commute it to day fines, the amount of which shall be set taking into account the economic conditions of the convicted person. Article record

Rehabilitation When rehabilitation may or may not be granted.

The convicted person may request his/her rehabilitation after half of the term set for the disqualification sentence imposed in a final judgment has elapsed; the Judge shall reinstate the convicted person in the exercise of his/her rights. A repeat offender, habitual offender, or professional offender may not be rehabilitated until six years after the sentence or security measure is extinguished. For rehabilitation to be granted, it is necessary that the applicant has observed good conduct and satisfied the civil liability, unless he/she justifies the impossibility of doing so. In any case, the Judge shall request a report from the Instituto de Criminología on the applicant's behavior. Rehabilitation shall be revoked by the commission of a new crime. Article record

Determination of Penalties Manner of Determination.

To assess these, the following shall be considered:

• a)The subjective and objective aspects of the punishable act.
• b)The importance of the injury or the danger.
• c)The circumstances of manner, time, and place.
• d)The quality of the determining motives.
• e)The other personal conditions of the active subject or the victim, to the extent they influenced the commission of the crime.
• f)The conduct of the agent subsequent to the crime.
• g)That the sentenced person is a woman in a state of vulnerability, due to poverty, having under her responsibility the care and maintenance of dependent family members, disability, or being a victim of gender violence, when that state influenced the commission of the punishable act.

The psychological and social characteristics, as well as references to education and background, shall be requested from the Instituto de Criminología, which may include in its report any other aspect that may be of interest for better information of the judge.

In cases of intentional crimes involving an adult, regardless of his/her type of participation, and where, for the execution of the unlawful act, that person involved minors and such aspect is known to the perpetrator or participant, the court shall set the sanction for this person starting from the abstract minimum limit of the criminal type plus one third. In these cases, the sanction may not be reduced due to complicity or attempt.

(Amended by the sole article of Law No. 10544 of October 9, 2024, Ley para agravar la penalidad del autor, instigador y cómplice que participen personas menores de edad en la comisión de hechos delictivos) Concurrence of mitigating and aggravating circumstances.

When any of the circumstances provided for in subsection g) of the preceding article concurs and the sentenced woman has no criminal record, the trial court may reduce the sanction, even below the minimum amount provided in the criminal type.

(Amended by Article 2 of Law No. 9628 of November 19, 2018) Penalty for the completed crime and for attempt.

The completed crime shall carry the penalty determined by law, set within its limits, in accordance with Article 71. Attempt shall be punished with the penalty provided for the completed crime, reduced or not at the Judge's discretion. Attempt is not punishable in the case of infractions. Article record Penalty for the perpetrator, instigator, and accomplice.

Perpetrators and instigators shall be punished with the penalty the law prescribes for the crime. The accomplice shall be given the penalty provided for the crime, but it may be reduced at the Judge's discretion, in accordance with the provisions of Article 71 and the degree of participation. Article record Penalty for ideal concurrence.

For ideal concurrence, the Judge shall apply the penalty corresponding to the most serious crime and may even increase it. Article record Penalty for material concurrence.

The Judge may apply the penalty corresponding to each punishable act, provided this is more favorable to the offender.

(Amended by Article 2 of Law No. 7389 of April 22, 1994) (Note from Sinalevi: By resolution of the Sala Constitucional No. 9877 of July 3, 2015, the continuity of the effects of the amendment to Articles 51 and 76 of the Código Penal, effected by Law No. 7389 of April 22, 1994, is ordered, all subject to what the Sala Constitucional ultimately resolves regarding the conformity of those norms with the Law of the Constitution.)

Penalty for continuing offense.

When the concurring crimes are of the same kind and affect proprietary legal interests, provided the agent pursues the same purpose, the penalty provided for the most serious shall be applied, increased by up to another equal amount. Article record Penalty applicable to repeat offenders

Misdemeanors or infractions whose sanction consists of imprisonment shall be tried, like all other crimes, respecting the guarantees and guiding principles of due process.

(Amended by subsection d) of Article 1 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) Non-invincible error of law and excess in justifications.

In cases of non-invincible error referred to in Article 35, or in cases of unjustified excess under Article 29, the penalty may be discretionally mitigated by the Judge. Article record

EXTINCTION OF CRIMINAL ACTION AND PENALTY SOLE SECTION Causes extinguishing criminal action and penalty.

7728 of December 15, 1997, except for cases that must continue to be processed under the Código de Procedimientos Penales of 1973. See observations to this law) Crimes of private action

7728 of December 15, 1997, except for cases that must continue to be processed under the Código de Procedimientos Penales of 1973. See observations to this law)

5761 of August 7, 1975. Subsequently repealed by Article 26 of the Ley de Reorganización Judicial No. 7728 of December 15, 1997, except for cases that must continue to be processed under the Código de Procedimientos Penales of 1973.)

(Note from Sinalevi: Article 51 of the Ley General sobre el Sida; No. 7771 of April 29, 1998 adds a subsection d) to this article, indicating that the crimes contemplated in said Law are of public action and prosecutable only at the instance of a private party. This matter is currently regulated in Article 18 of the Código Procesal Penal No. 7594 of April 10, 1996. This affecting law No. 7771 was fully amended by Law No. 9797 of December 2, 2019, leaving the original law with only fifty articles and without including the present amendment).

Statute of limitations for criminal action

7728 of December 15, 1997, except for cases that must continue to be processed under the Código de Procedimientos Penales of 1973. See observations to this law) General rules

7728 of December 15, 1997, except for cases that must continue to be processed under the Código de Procedimientos Penales of 1973. See observations to this law) Statute of limitations for penalties.

• 1)In a time equal to the sentence, plus one third, without exceeding twenty-five years nor being less than three, if it is imprisonment, banishment, or interdiction of rights; 2) In three years, in the case of day fines imposed as a consequence of crimes; and 3) In one year, in the case of infractions.

Statute of limitations for penalties of different classes.

The statute of limitations for penalties of different classes or different durations imposed in the same sentence shall run separately within the term indicated for each one. Article record Moment from which the statute of limitations begins to run.

The statute of limitations for the penalty begins to run from the day the sentence becomes final, or from the revocation of the conditional execution sentence or parole, or from when a sentence must begin to be served after another previous one has been completed, or from the breach of the sentence. Article record Interruption of the running statute of limitations.

The statute of limitations for the penalty is interrupted, rendering the time elapsed invalid, if the offender surrenders or is apprehended, or if he/she commits a new crime before the statute of limitations period is completed. Article record Declaration ex officio and separate statute of limitations for penalties in case of multiple crimes.

7728 of December 15, 1997, except for cases that must continue to be processed under the Código de Procedimientos Penales of 1973. See observations to this law) Amnesty.

Amnesty, which can only be granted by the Asamblea Legislativa in matters of political crimes or crimes connected with them, extinguishes criminal action as well as the imposed penalty. Article record Pardon.

Pardon may only be granted by the Consejo de Gobierno, which, prior to deciding, shall hear the opinion of the Instituto de Criminología. It shall also consult the Corte Suprema de Justicia only when the request for pardon is based on a criticism of the judicial sentence. Said bodies must pronounce within a period not exceeding thirty calendar days, and if they do not respond within that period, the Consejo de Gobierno may decide as appropriate.

(Amended by Article 1 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982).

Judicial recommendation of pardon.

Judges may, in a final judgment, recommend the granting of a pardon.

Marriage of the accused or convicted person to the victim.

8590 of July 18, 2007).

Judicial Forgiveness.

• 1)To anyone responsible for false testimony who retracts their statement and reveals the truth in time for it to be considered in sentencing; 2) To anyone who, through a formal complaint or a statement given, incriminates themselves for an intentional crime they did not commit in order to save their ascendant, descendant, spouse, sibling, benefactor, or their cohabitant (concubinario) or concubine (manceba) with whom they have had marital life for at least two continuous years immediately prior to the commission of the act; 3) To anyone who has incurred in the crimes of concealment (encubrimiento), theft (hurto), robbery with force against property (robo con fuerza en las cosas), fraud (estafa), property damage (daños), or minor injuries (lesiones leves), when requested by the offended party who has the same kinship ties or relationship with the offender as referred to in the preceding paragraph; 4) To anyone who has caused an abortion to save their own honor, or has performed one for this purpose upon an ascendant or descendant by consanguinity or a sister; 5) To the woman who has caused her own abortion if the pregnancy resulted from rape; 6) To those who, in cases of mercy killing (homicidio piadoso), are proven to have acceded to the repeated requests of the victim and whose purpose, moreover, was to hasten an inevitable death; 7) (Repealed by Article 3 of Ley 8590 of July 18, 2007).
• 8)(Repealed by Article 3 of Ley 8590 of July 18, 2007).
• 9)To anyone who, out of motives of pity, has declared before the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) as their child a person who is not, or has usurped the civil status of another, or by any act whatsoever rendered it uncertain, altered it, or suppressed it; 10) To the perpetrators of contraventions (contravenciones), following a warning by the adjudicating authority; and 11) To anyone who insults (injuriare) another if the insult was provoked, or to anyone who retracts their insulting statement before answering the complaint or at the moment of answering it. To those who insult each other reciprocally. Judicial pardon (perdón judicial) does not apply when the insult involves an imputation against a public official in connection with their duties.
• 12)To anyone who, being indicted by the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) as a perpetrator in the trafficking of substances or drugs regulated by the Ley de Psicotrópicos, Drogas de Uso no Autorizado y Actividades Conexas, Nº 7093, has provided accurate information that allowed the discovery of the crime and its perpetrators beyond their own participation in it, or also when they spontaneously brought to the attention of the authority what they knew about the commission of the aforementioned crimes and did so in sufficient time to prevent their commission.

(Thus added the preceding paragraph by Article 2 of Ley Nº 7233 of May 8, 1991).

When there are several accused, the Judge may grant the pardon to one of them, to several, or to all those responsible for the criminal act, provided that they are included in the cases outlined in the preceding articles. Ficha articulo The pardon cannot be conditional or for a fixed term.

The pardon granted by judges cannot be conditional or for a fixed term, and may only be granted once. In every case, for its granting, the judges shall require a report from the Institute of Criminology (Instituto de Criminología). The benefits indicated in this Title do not affect civil liability (responsabilidad civil) nor confiscation (comiso). Ficha articulo

The granting of amnesty (amnistía), pardon (indulto), rehabilitation (rehabilitación), judicial pardon (perdón judicial), conditional execution of sentence (condena de ejecución condicional), and parole (libertad condicional) does not affect civil liability nor confiscation (comiso). The extinction of the criminal action and the penalty shall not produce effects with respect to the obligation to repair the damage caused, nor shall it prevent the forfeiture of the instruments of the crime. Ficha articulo

SECURITY MEASURES (MEDIDAS DE SEGURIDAD)

General Provisions Principle of legality.

Security measures (medidas de seguridad) shall be applied only to persons who have committed a punishable act, when it is deduced from the report submitted by the Institute of Criminology (Instituto de Criminología) that they may possibly reoffend. Ficha articulo Mandatory application.

• 1)When the perpetrator of a crime has been declared unimputable (inimputable) or has diminished imputability; (This paragraph interpreted by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) Nº 322 of February 1992, in the sense that the imposition of a security measure by a Mayor, based on this paragraph, is unconstitutional pursuant to the provisions of Article 39 of the Political Constitution.)
• 2)When, due to mental illness, the execution of the imposed sentence is interrupted; 3) (This paragraph annulled by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) Nº 88-92 of January 17, 1992.)
• 4)(This paragraph annulled by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) Nº 88-92 of January 17, 1992.)
• 5)(This paragraph annulled by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) Nº 1588-98 of March 10, 1998.)
• 6)When drug addiction (toxicomanía) or alcoholism are habitual and have determined the criminal conduct of the offender; and (The Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional), by resolution N° 010404 of July 31, 2013, annulled from the preceding paragraph "only insofar as they incorporate prostitution and homosexuality as grounds for the imposition of security measures," terms present in its previous wording.)
• 7)In other cases expressly indicated in this Code.

Application of security measures to persons over 17 and under 21 years of age.

Duration, non-extinguishability by amnesty or pardon, nor suspension, but possibility of resuming security measures.

Every two years, the Court shall rule on the maintenance, modification, or cessation of the imposed security measure, without prejudice to doing so at any time, based on reports from the Institute of Criminology (Instituto de Criminología).

Security measures are not extinguished by amnesty (amnistía) or by pardon (indulto).

Neither can they be conditionally suspended. The breach of a security measure implies the possibility of resuming the treatment to which the subject was subjected.

(Thus reformed this article by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) Nº 88-92 of January 17, 1992).

CLASSIFICATION AND APPLICATION OF SECURITY MEASURES Types.

1.- Admission to a psychiatric hospital.

2.- Admission to a special educational treatment establishment.

3.- Submitting to psychiatric treatment.

(Thus reformed by Article 69 (now 82) of the Ley sobre Igualdad de Oportunidades para las Personas con Discapacidad Nº 7600 of May 2, 1996) Application.

• a)The mentally ill, habitual drug addicts (toxicómanos), alcoholics, and subjects with diminished imputability who have attempted suicide shall be interned in suitable psychiatric services or special educational treatment establishments.

(Thus reformed the preceding paragraph by Article 69 (now 82) of the Ley sobre Igualdad de Oportunidades para las Personas con Discapacidad; N°. 7600 of May 2, 1996) b) Annulled.

(The Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional), by resolution N°1588-98 of March 10, 1998, declared unconstitutional the preceding paragraph of this article, which, according to the reform effected by resolution N° 88-92 of January 17, 1992, textually provided as follows: "To agricultural colonies, or work establishments where they will be subjected to a special regime, shall be destined the perpetrators of impossible crime;") c) Supervised release (libertad vigilada) shall be ordered in cases of conditional execution of sentence (condena de ejecución condicional), as well as in cases where another security measure is suspended and the Judge orders its application for a prudential period.

The Institute of Criminology (Instituto de Criminología) shall periodically inform the Judge about the conduct of persons subjected to supervised release (libertad vigilada); (Thus reformed the first paragraph of this sub-paragraph by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) Nº 88-92 of 11:00 a.m. on January 17, 1992) d) (This sub-paragraph annulled by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) Nº 88-92 of January 17, 1992) e) The prohibition from frequenting certain places is a special prevention measure and shall be imposed on a person convicted of a crime committed under the influence of alcohol or enervating drugs.

(The Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional), by resolution N° 010404 of July 31, 2013, annulled from the preceding paragraph "only insofar as they incorporate prostitution and homosexuality as grounds for the imposition of security measures," terms present in its previous wording.)

CIVIL CONSEQUENCES OF THE PUNISHABLE ACT SINGLE SECTION What effects it comprises.

• 1)The restitution of the things or, failing that, the payment of the respective value; 2) The reparation of all damage; and the compensation for the losses caused to both the offended party and third parties; and 3) Confiscation (comiso).

a. For any of the acts defined in Articles 58, 59, 60, and 61 of Ley 7935, Ley Integral para la Persona Adulta Mayor, of October 25, 1999; b. a sentence that convicts for the crime of abandonment of an elderly person in a state of vulnerability, in accordance with Article 142 bis of this Code; and c. a sentence that convicts for violence in any of its different manifestations, when the victim is an elderly person.

(Thus added by Article 3 of the Ley para la aplicación de las sanciones civiles de indignidad para heredar e ingratitud para recibir por donación de bienes, N° 10455 of March 19, 2024) Civil liability of the unimputable.

In cases of unimputability (inimputabilidad), the liability of the incapable person subsists, provided that their sustenance or the expenses occasioned by their internment are ensured, and their parents, guardians, curators, or custodians who could have avoided the damage or neglected their duties of guard shall be subsidiarily liable for it. The same rule shall apply in the case of the semi-unimputable (semi-inimputables). Ficha articulo Reparation reduced due to fault of the victim.

When the victim has contributed by their own fault to the production of the damage, the Judge may equitably reduce the amount of the civil reparation (reparación civil). Ficha articulo Joint and several liability of participants.

The following are equally jointly and severally obligated with the perpetrators of the punishable act for the payment of damages and losses:

• 1)Natural or legal persons who own land, sea, or air transportation companies for persons or things; 2) Legal entities whose managers, administrators, or legal representatives are found responsible for the punishable acts; 3) Natural or legal persons who own establishments of any nature, in which a punishable act was committed by their administrators, dependents, and other workers in their service; 4) Those who, by lucrative title, participated in the effects of the punishable act, up to the amount in which they benefited; and 5) Those indicated by special laws.
• 6)Community, sports, religious, and social organizations and associations, as well as legal entities whose representatives, religious ministers, or other authorities commit a punishable sexual crime to the detriment of a minor or a person with a disability, understood as one who has long-term physical deficiencies, mental, intellectual, or sensory limitations, when the clerical or power condition of those individuals facilitated the preparation, attempt, consummation, or concealment of the unlawful act, and it is demonstrated that, having knowledge of the punishable act, they failed to fulfill the obligation to report, provided for in paragraph d) of Article 281 of Ley 7594, Código Procesal Penal, of April 10, 1996.

(Thus added the preceding paragraph by Article 1 of the Ley contra el silencio en delitos sexuales en perjuicio de la niñez y personas con discapacidad, responsabilidad civil solidaria, deber de denuncia y garantía de cumplimiento de protocolos de investigación, N° 10813 of November 16, 2025) The State, the Public Institutions, autonomous or semi-autonomous, and the municipalities shall respond subsidiarily for the payment of damages and losses derived from punishable acts committed by their officials in the performance of their duties.

Transmission of civil reparation.

The obligation of civil reparation (reparación civil) falls upon the succession of the offender and encumbers the estate left behind, transmitting the same to their heirs regarding the inherited assets; and the right to demand it shall belong to the heirs of the offended party. Ficha articulo Civil reparation in the event that a motion for review succeeds in favor of the accused, who has undergone prolonged preventive detention and is declared innocent.

The State, subsidiarily, and private accusers or complainants shall also be obligated when, by virtue of a motion for review, the innocence of the accused is declared, or when the accused obtains an acquittal after having undergone preventive detention.

(Text modified by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) Nº 5027-97 of August 27, 1997).

Judicial or administrative authorities shall also be civilly liable, as applicable, without prejudice to criminal action, when, despite the claims of the accused, they prolong the prison sentence, if, after the calculation has been made according to the rules established for its crediting, it has been served.

Extinction of civil reparation and civil effects of a foreign condemnatory sentence.

The obligations corresponding to civil reparation (reparación civil) are extinguished by the means and in the manner determined in the Civil Code (Código Civil), and the rules for setting damages and losses, as well as the determination of subsidiary or joint and several civil reparation, shall be established in the Code of Civil Procedure (Código de Procedimientos Civiles). With the exception of the provisions of Article 9 of this Code, a condemnatory sentence issued by foreign Courts shall produce all its civil effects in Costa Rica, which shall be governed by national law. Ficha articulo Confiscation.

The crime produces the loss in favor of the State of the instruments with which it was committed and of the things or values deriving from its perpetration, or that constitute for the agent a profit derived from the same crime, except for the right that the offended party or third parties may have over them.

Excluded from this provision are vehicles involved in the commission of acts defined in Article 254 bis(*) of the Penal Code.

(Thus reformed by Article 246 of the Ley de Tránsito por Vías Públicas Terrestres y Seguridad Vial, N° 9078 of October 4, 2012) (*) (Note from Sinalevi: In accordance with the reform effected by the Ley sobre delitos informáticos y conexos, N° 9048 of July 10, 2012, which renumbered the articles of the Penal Code, numeral 254 bis, which punishes reckless driving, now corresponds to 261 bis.)

Book Two Crimes

CRIMES AGAINST LIFE

Homicide Simple homicide

(Thus reformed by Article 1 of Ley Nº 7398 of May 3, 1994) Aggravated homicide

• 1)Their ascendant, descendant, or spouse, consanguineous siblings, their concubine (manceba) or cohabitant (concubinario), if they have procreated one or more children together and have led marital life for at least the two years prior to the perpetration of the act.
• 2)One of the members of the Supreme Powers and in connection with their functions.
• 3)A person under twelve years of age.
• 4)An internationally protected person, in accordance with the definition established in Ley N. º 6077, Convención sobre la prevención y el castigo de delitos contra las personas internacionalmente protegidas, inclusive agentes diplomáticos, of August 11, 1977, and other provisions of International Law.
• 5)With treachery (alevosía) or extreme cruelty (ensaña miento).
• 6)By means of poison administered insidiously.
• 7)By a means capable of creating a common danger.
• 8)To prepare, facilitate, consummate, or conceal another crime, or to secure its results, or to procure impunity for oneself or another, or for not having achieved the intended purpose when attempting another crime.
• 9)For a price or remunerative promise.
• 10)A member of the State or municipal police forces and of other public police forces whose competence is provided for by law, provided that it is in the exercise of, because of, or in connection with their duties.

(Thus added the preceding paragraph by Article 1 of the Ley "Calificación de los delitos cometidos contra la integridad y vida de los policías en el ejercicio de sus funciones"; Ley N° 8977 of August 3, 2011) 11) A person for reasons of hatred due to their belonging to an age, racial, ethnic, or religious group, to their nationality, political opinion, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or genetic characteristics.

(Thus added the preceding paragraph by the sole article of Ley N° 10175 of April 25, 2022) (Thus reformed by Article 1, point 1., subsection a) of the Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo, N° 8719 of March 4, 2009)

A prison sentence (pena de prisión) of twenty to forty years shall be imposed on anyone who, by reason of belonging to or participating in a criminal organization, causes the death of another person by assignment, agreement, economic remuneration, or remunerative promise.

(Thus added by the sole article of the Ley contra el Sicariato en Costa Rica, N° 10841 of January 22, 2026) Especially mitigated homicides.

• 1)On anyone who has caused the death of a person while the agent was in a state of violent emotion that the circumstances made excusable. The maximum of the penalty may be increased by the Judge without being able to exceed ten years if the victim was one of those included in the first paragraph of the preceding article; 2) On whoever, with the intention of injuring, caused the death of another; and 3) On a mother of good reputation who, to conceal her dishonor, causes the death of her child within the three days following its birth.

(Note from Sinalevi: By Article 1 of Ley N° 5061 of August 23, 1972, the present article was interpreted to mean that: ".the penalty indicated is that of imprisonment (prisión).") Attempted suicide

Instigation or assistance to suicide

Anyone who instigates another to commit suicide or helps them to commit it shall be punished with imprisonment (prisión) of one to five years, if the suicide is consummated. If the suicide does not occur, but its attempt produces serious injuries, the penalty shall be six months to three years. Ficha articulo Mercy killing

Imprisonment (prisión) of six months to three years shall be imposed on anyone who, moved by a sentiment of pity, kills a seriously or incurably ill person, at the serious and insistent request of the latter, even when a kinship bond exists. Ficha articulo Culpable homicide

Imprisonment (prisión) of six months to eight years shall be imposed on anyone who, by fault (culpa), kills another. In adjusting the penalty to the responsible person, the court must take into account the degree of fault (culpa) and the number of victims, as well as the magnitude of the damages caused. In every case, the perpetrator of the culpable homicide (homicidio culposo) shall also be imposed a disqualification (inhabilitación) of one to five years for the practice of the profession, trade, art, or activity in which the act occurred.

A prison sentence (pena de prisión) of one year to ten years and disqualification from driving any type of vehicle for a period of three to seven years shall be imposed on anyone who, by fault (culpa) and by means of a motor vehicle, has caused the death of a person, the perpetrator being found engaging in Category A conduct under the Ley de Tránsito por las Vías Públicas Terrestres y Seguridad Vial, or under the influence of alcoholic beverages, with a blood alcohol concentration greater than zero point seventy-five grams (0.75 g) per liter of blood or with a breath alcohol concentration greater than zero point thirty-eight milligrams (0.38 mg) per liter.

The same penalty shall apply in cases where the perpetrator of the act is a professional driver or a driver whose driver's license was first issued within a period of less than three years prior to the day on which the presence of alcohol was detected, when the blood alcohol concentration is greater than zero point fifty grams (0.50 g) of alcohol per liter of blood or when the breath alcohol concentration is greater than zero point twenty-five milligrams (0.25 mg) per liter, or, in cases where the perpetrator of the act is under the influence of toxic drugs, narcotics, psychotropic substances, or other substances that produce analogous states of alteration and enervating or depressive effects, in accordance with the definitions, scopes, and characteristics established by the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud).

When dealing with a repeat offender of any of the conduct described in the preceding paragraphs, the minimum of the penalty of disqualification from driving any type of vehicle shall be five years and the maximum may be up to nine years.

When a prison sentence (pena de prisión) of three years or less is imposed, the court may substitute the custodial sentence for a pecuniary fine (multa pecuniaria) which may not be less than one base salary (salario base), nor more than three monthly base salaries, corresponding to the "Administrative Assistant One" that appears in the Judicial Branch Position Listing, in accordance with the Law of the Ordinary Budget of the Republic approved in the month of November prior to the date on which the traffic violation was committed, associated with an alternative measure of community service, which may be from three hundred eighty hours to one thousand eight hundred hours of service, in the places and manner ordered by the competent jurisdictional authority.

(Thus reformed by Article 246 of the Ley de Tránsito por Vías Públicas Terrestres y Seguridad Vial, N° 9078 of October 4, 2012)

Abortion Abortion with or without consent.

• 1)With imprisonment (prisión) of three to ten years, if acting without the woman's consent or if she is under fifteen years of age. This penalty shall be two to eight years if the fetus(*) had reached six months of intrauterine life; (*) (Note from Sinalevi: In the drafting of this paragraph, the absence of the adverb of negation "no" is evident to give meaning to its objective. As it appears in the original text, it lacks logic, as the penalty is lesser for a more serious act. Note that the subsequent paragraph does contain the indicated adverb.)
• 2)With imprisonment (prisión) of one to three years, if acting with the woman's consent. This penalty shall be six months to two years if the fetus had not reached six months of intrauterine life. In the above cases, the respective penalty shall be increased if the act results in the death of the woman.

Self-induced abortion.

The woman who consents to or causes her own abortion shall be punished with imprisonment (prisión) of one to three years. This penalty shall be six months to two years if the fetus had not reached six months of intrauterine life. Ficha articulo Abortion honoris causa.

If the abortion was committed to conceal the dishonor of the woman, whether by herself or by third parties with her consent, the penalty shall be from three months to two years of imprisonment (prisión). Ficha articulo Non-punishable abortion.

(Note from Sinalevi: By executive decree (Decreto Ejecutivo) N° 42113 of December 12, 2019, the Norma Técnica para el Procedimiento Médico Vinculado con el artículo 121 del Código Penal was officialized; it can be consulted in the Sistema Nacional de Legislación Vigente database or at the following link) Culpable abortion

Anyone who, by fault (culpa), causes an abortion shall be penalized with sixty to one hundred twenty days-multas (días multa). Ficha articulo

INJURIES (LESIONES) Extremely serious injuries.

(Thus reformed by Article 69 (now 82) of the Ley sobre Igualdad de Oportunidades para las Personas con Discapacidad; Nº 7600 of May 2, 1996) Torture

(Thus added by the sole article of Ley N° 8189 of December 18, 2001).

Serious injuries

Imprisonment (prisión) of one to six years shall be imposed if the injury produced a persistent weakening of health, a sense, an organ, a limb, or a function, or if it incapacitated the offended party from dedicating themselves to their habitual occupations for more than one month, or left an indelible mark on the face. Ficha articulo Minor injuries

(Thus reformed by paragraph e) of Article 1 of Ley N° 8250 of May 2, 2002) Circumstances of aggravation.

(Thus reformed by Article 1 of Ley Nº 6726 of March 10, 1982).

Circumstances of mitigation.

(Thus reformed by Article 1 of Ley Nº 6726 of March 10, 1982).

Culpable injuries

Imprisonment (prisión) of up to one year, or up to one hundred days-multa, shall be imposed on anyone who, by fault (culpa), causes another injuries of the types defined in Articles 123, 124, and 125. For the adjustment of the penalty to the responsible person, the court must take into account the degree of fault (culpa), the number of victims, and the magnitude of the damages caused.

In every case, the perpetrator of the culpable injuries (lesiones culposas) shall also be imposed a disqualification (inhabilitación) of six months to two years for the practice of the profession, trade, art, or activity in which the act occurred.

A prison sentence (pena de prisión) of three months to three years and disqualification from driving vehicles of any type for one to three years shall be imposed on anyone who, by fault (culpa) and by means of a vehicle, has caused injuries to a person, the perpetrator being found engaging in conduct established in Category A of the Ley de Tránsito por Vías Públicas Terrestres y Seguridad Vial, or under the influence of alcoholic beverages, with a blood alcohol concentration greater than zero point seventy-five grams (0.75 g) per liter of blood or with a breath alcohol concentration greater than zero point thirty-eight milligrams (0.38 mg) per liter.

The same penalty shall apply in cases where the perpetrator is a professional driver or a driver whose driver's license has been issued for the first time within a period of less than three years, with respect to the day on which the presence of alcohol was detected, when the blood alcohol concentration is greater than zero point fifty grams (0.50 g) of alcohol per liter of blood or when the breath alcohol concentration is greater than zero point twenty-five milligrams (0.25 mg) per liter, or, in cases where the perpetrator is under the influence of toxic drugs, narcotics, psychotropic substances, or other substances that produce states of alteration and analogous enervating or depressive effects, in accordance with the definitions, scopes, and characteristics established by the Ministry of Health.

When it involves a repeat offender of any of the conducts indicated in the preceding paragraphs, the minimum penalty of disqualification from driving all types of vehicles shall be three years and the maximum may be up to seven years.

When a prison sentence of three years or less is imposed, the court may substitute the custodial sentence with a monetary fine, which may not be less than one base salary nor more than three monthly base salaries, corresponding to the "Administrative Assistant One" that appears in the List of Positions of the Judiciary, in accordance with the ordinary budget law of the Republic, approved in the month of November prior to the date on which the traffic infraction was committed, associated with an alternative measure of community service, which may be from two hundred hours up to nine hundred fifty hours of service, in the places and manner ordered by the competent jurisdictional authority.

(As amended by Article 246 of the Law on Transit on Public Land Roads and Road Safety, No. 9078 of October 4, 2012) Consented Injuries.

Injuries inflicted upon a person with their consent are not punishable, when the action is intended to benefit the health of others. Article card Venereal Contagion.

A person who, knowing they suffer from a venereal disease, infects another shall be punished with imprisonment of one to three years. This offense is only prosecutable upon private complaint. Article card Negligence with Animals

When physical harm is caused to another person as a consequence of this conduct, the penalty shall be six months to one year of imprisonment, provided that the conduct does not constitute the crimes of causing injuries or homicide.

(Thus added by subsection b) of Article 3) of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002).

(Thus amended by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 13852-08 of September 17, 2008.)

DUEL

8250 of May 2, 2002).

Regular Duel.

8250 of May 2, 2002).

Irregular Duel.

8250 of May 2, 2002).

Vilification for Chivalrous Cause.

8250 of May 2, 2002).

Provocation for Immoral Purposes.

8250 of May 2, 2002).

Irregular Combatant.

8250 of May 2, 2002).

Duel with Treachery.

8250 of May 2, 2002).

Duel Arranged to the Death.

8250 of May 2, 2002).

Homicide or Injuries in a Brawl (riña)(*) (*) (By Article 2 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982, the title of this section was modified) Brawl (Riña)

(Thus amended by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 03903-1994 of August 3, 1994, which declared unconstitutional the modification made by Article 1 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982, and orders that the original version of this article return to its previous wording, but also declaring unconstitutional and eliminating the former second paragraph)

AGGRESSION WITH WEAPONS (*) (Sinalevi Note: By Article 2 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982, the position of this section was modified to the current one.)

Aggression with Weapons.

Anyone who attacks another with any weapon or blunt object, even if no wound is caused, or who threatens with a firearm, shall be punished with imprisonment of four months to two years.

If any of the circumstances provided for in aggravated homicide or in a state of violent emotion are present, the penalty shall be increased or decreased by one third respectively, at the discretion of the person judging.

(Thus amended by the sole article of the Law to impose a proportional penalty for aggression with a weapon, threats with a firearm against civilians and public officials in the exercise of their duties, No. 10677 of April 22, 2025) Aggravated Aggression.

If the aggression consists of firing a firearm at a person without manifest homicidal intent, the penalty shall be one year to three years of imprisonment. This penalty shall apply even if it causes minor injury.

If any of the circumstances provided for in aggravated homicide or in a state of violent emotion are present, the respective penalty shall be increased or decreased at the judge's discretion.

The penalty may be increased by up to one third when a prohibited firearm is used.

(Thus amended by Article 2 of the Law for the strengthening of the sanctioning framework for crimes committed with prohibited firearms, No. 10610 of November 15, 2024)

ABANDONMENT OF PERSONS (*) (Sinalevi Note: By Article 2 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982, the position of this section was modified to the current one.)

Abandonment of Incapacitated Persons and Cases of Aggravation.

The penalty shall be imprisonment of three to six years, if as a consequence of the abandonment serious harm results to the body or health of the victim. If death occurs, the penalty shall be six to ten years of imprisonment.

Abandonment of Older Adults and Cases of Aggravation

A penalty of one year to three years of imprisonment shall be applied to anyone who has the obligation to care for and abandons an older adult person in a state of vulnerability.

If as a consequence of the abandonment the life, or the physical, mental, or social health of the older adult person is endangered, the sanction shall be one year to four years of imprisonment, provided it is not more severely punished.

If as a consequence of the abandonment serious harm results to the body or health of the older adult person, the penalty shall be three to six years of imprisonment.

If as a consequence of the abandonment the death of the older adult person occurs, it shall be punished with a prison sentence of six to twelve years, provided that the specific conduct does not fall within or fit a more serious criminal type.

(Thus added by the sole article of the Law that penalizes the abandonment of older adult persons, No. 9857 of June 15, 2020) (Thus amended by the sole article of the Law to sanction abandonment against older adult persons, No. 10776 of October 29, 2025) Abandonment for Reason of Honor.

A mother who abandons a newborn not more than three days old, to conceal her dishonor, shall be punished with imprisonment of one month to one year. If as a consequence of the abandonment serious harm or death results, the penalty shall be imprisonment of one to four years. Article card Omission of Assistance.

7337, of May 5, 1993. The judge may increase this sanction up to double, considering the personal conditions of the perpetrator, their economic possibilities, the effects, and the seriousness of the action.

(Thus amended by Article 69 (currently 82) of the Law on Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities; No. 7600 of May 2, 1996)

CRIMES AGAINST HONOR SOLE SECTION SLANDER, DEFAMATION, LIBEL Slander (Injurias).

The penalty shall be fifteen to seventy-five days' fine if the offense was inflicted in public.

Defamation.

Anyone who dishonors another or disseminates information (propalare especies) suitable for affecting their reputation shall be punished with twenty to sixty days' fine. Article card Libel (Calumnia).

Anyone who falsely attributes to a person the commission of a criminal act shall be sanctioned with fifty to one hundred fifty days' fine. Article card Offense to the Memory of a Deceased Person.

Anyone who offends the memory of a deceased person with slanderous or defamatory expressions shall be sanctioned with ten to fifty days' fine. The right to accuse for this crime belongs to the spouse, children, parents, grandchildren, and consanguineous siblings of the deceased. Article card Proof of Truth.

However, the accused may only prove the truth of the imputation:

• 1)If the imputation is linked to the defense of a current public interest; and 2) If the complainant requests proof of the imputation directed against them, provided that such proof does not affect the rights or secrets of third parties.

The perpetrator of libel (calumnia) and libelous defamation may prove the truth of the imputed fact, unless it involves crimes of public prosecution or private complaint and these have not been initiated by the entitled party.

(Sinalevi Note: Regarding the incompatibility of this article with the first paragraph of Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights, see Judgment of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of July 2, 2004. H.U. vs. C.R.)

Prejudiciality.

If the imputed fact is the subject of a pending proceeding, the trial for libel (calumnia) or libelous defamation shall be suspended until a judgment is rendered in that proceeding, which shall be res judicata regarding the existence or non-existence of the fact. Article card Exclusion of Crime.

Unfavorable judgments of literary, artistic, historical, scientific, or professional criticism are not punishable as offenses against honor; nor is an unfavorable opinion expressed in fulfillment of a duty or exercising a right, provided that the manner of proceeding or the lack of confidentiality when there should have been such, does not demonstrate an offensive purpose. Article card Publication of Offenses.

(Sinalevi Note: Regarding the incompatibility of this article with the first paragraph of Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights, see Judgment of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of July 2, 2004. H.U. vs. C.R.)

Defamation of a Legal Entity.

Anyone who disseminates (propalare) false facts concerning a legal entity or its representatives by reason of the exercise of their duties that may seriously damage public trust or the credit they enjoy shall be punished with thirty to one hundred days' fine. Article card Offenses in Court.

Offenses contained in written submissions or in statements or speeches made by litigants, attorneys-in-fact, or defenders before the Courts, and concerning the subject matter of the trial, shall be subject only to the corresponding disciplinary corrections. Article card Reparatory Publication.

A condemnatory judgment for offenses against honor committed publicly must order, if the offended party so requests, the publication of the ruling at the expense of the convicted person. This provision is also applicable in the case of retraction. Article card

SEXUAL CRIMES

Rape (Violación), Statutory Rape (Estupro), and Indecent Abuse (Abuso Deshonesto) Rape (Violación)

Anyone who makes another person accede to or has carnal knowledge by oral, anal, or vaginal route or through orifices created on any part of the body, with a person of either sex, shall be sanctioned with a prison sentence of ten to sixteen years, in the following cases:

1- When the victim is under thirteen years of age.

2- When taking advantage of the victim's vulnerability or when the victim is incapacitated and unable to resist.

3- When bodily violence or intimidation is used.

The same penalty shall be imposed if the action consists of introducing objects, animals, or any part of the body into the victim, by oral, anal, or vaginal route, or through orifices created on any part of the body, or in forcing the victim to introduce them themselves by such routes.

(Thus amended by the sole article of Law No. 10557 of October 23, 2024) Aggravated Rape (Violación calificada)

• 1)The perpetrator is the spouse of the victim or a person linked to them in an analogous cohabitation relationship.
• 2)The perpetrator is an ascendant, descendant, sister, or brother of the victim, up to the third degree by consanguinity or affinity.
• 3)The perpetrator is an uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, or cousin of the victim, up to the third degree by consanguinity or affinity.
• 4)The perpetrator is the guardian or person in charge of the education, care, or custody of the victim.
• 5)Serious harm to the victim's health results.
• 6)A pregnancy results.
• 7)The conduct is committed with the participation (concurso) of one or more persons.
• 8)The perpetrator carries out the conduct by taking advantage of a power relationship resulting from the exercise of their position, and this is carried out by religious ministers, spiritual guides, members of the Public Force (Fuerza Pública), or members of the Supreme Powers (Supremos Poderes).

(Thus amended by Article 1 of the Law "Strengthening the Fight Against the Sexual Exploitation of Minors through the amendment and addition of various articles to the Penal Code, Law No. 4573, and amendment of various articles of the Criminal Procedure Code, Law No. 7594"; Law No. 8590 of July 18, 2007).

Aggravated Rape (Violación Agravada).

4573, and amendment of various articles of the Criminal Procedure Code, Law No. 7594"; Law No. 8590 of July 18, 2007).

Sexual Relations with Minors

Anyone who makes a minor accede to or has carnal knowledge by oral, anal, or vaginal route, with a minor, provided it does not constitute the crime of rape (violación), shall be sanctioned with a prison sentence, in the following cases:

• 1)With a prison sentence of three to six years, when the victim is over thirteen and under fifteen years of age, and the perpetrator is five or more years older than that age.
• 2)With a prison sentence of two to three years, when the victim is over fifteen and under eighteen years of age, and the perpetrator is seven or more years older than that age.
• 3)With a prison sentence of four to ten years, provided the perpetrator has, with respect to the victim, the condition of ascendant, uncle, aunt, brother, sister, or cousin by consanguinity or affinity, is a guardian (tutor) or caretaker (guardador), or is in a position of trust or authority with respect to the victim or their family, whether a kinship relationship exists or not.

The same circumstances shall apply if the action consists of the introduction of one or more fingers, objects, or animals by the vaginal or anal route.

(Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 9406 of November 30, 2016, "Strengthening the legal protection of girls and adolescent women in situations of gender-based violence associated with abusive relationships.") Remunerated Sexual Acts with Minors

• 1)Imprisonment of four to ten years, if the offended person is under thirteen years of age.
• 2)Imprisonment of three to eight years, if the offended person is over thirteen but under fifteen years of age.
• 3)Imprisonment of two to six years, if the offended person is over fifteen but under eighteen years of age.

(Thus amended by Article 1 of the Law "Strengthening the Fight Against the Sexual Exploitation of Minors through the amendment and addition of various articles to the Penal Code, Law No. 4573, and amendment of various articles of the Criminal Procedure Code, Law No. 7594"; Law No. 8590 of July 18, 2007).

Sexual Abuse against Minors and Incapacitated Persons

Anyone who abusively performs acts for sexual purposes against a minor or incapacitated person or forces them to perform them on the agent, on themselves, or on another person, provided it does not constitute the crime of rape (violación), shall be sanctioned with a prison sentence of three to eight years.

The penalty shall be four to ten years of imprisonment when:

• 1)The offended person is under fifteen years of age.

(Thus amended the previous subsection by Article 1 of Law No. 9406 of November 30, 2016, "Strengthening the legal protection of girls and adolescent women in situations of gender-based violence associated with abusive relationships.") 2) The perpetrator takes advantage of the offended person's vulnerability, or the person is incapacitated and unable to resist, or bodily violence or intimidation is used.

• 3)The perpetrator is an ascendant, descendant, sister, or brother of the victim.
• 4)The perpetrator is an uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, or cousin of the victim.
• 5)The perpetrator is the stepmother, stepfather, stepsister, or stepbrother of the victim.
• 6)The perpetrator is the guardian (tutor) or person in charge of the education, care, or custody of the victim.
• 7)The perpetrator carries out the conduct against any of the relatives of their spouse or cohabitant, indicated in subsections 3) and 4) above.
• 8)The perpetrator takes advantage of their relationship of trust or authority with the victim or their family, whether a kinship relationship exists or not.

(Thus amended the previous subsection by Article 1 of Law No. 9406 of November 30, 2016, "Strengthening the legal protection of girls and adolescent women in situations of gender-based violence associated with abusive relationships.") (Thus amended by Article 1 of the Law "Strengthening the Fight Against the Sexual Exploitation of Minors through the amendment and addition of various articles to the Penal Code, Law No. 4573, and amendment of various articles of the Criminal Procedure Code, Law No. 7594"; Law No. 8590 of July 18, 2007).

When a sexual crime is committed whose victim is a minor, the judges are empowered to impose, in addition to the penalties stated in each case, those of absolute disqualification for such time as they deem pertinent, in accordance with the seriousness of the act and within the limits established for this penalty.

The disqualification shall be in effect for the entire term established in the condemnatory judgment, without the possibility of it being reduced by any benefits that, in accordance with criminal procedure legislation, may be granted to the convicted person.

(Thus added by Article 2 of the Law "Reforms the Penal Code, Law No. 4573, to promote the Protection of Sexual Integrity and the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of Minors"; Law No. 8874 of September 24, 2010) Sexual Abuse against Adults

Anyone who abusively performs acts for sexual purposes against an adult, or forces them to perform them on the agent, on themselves, or on another person, provided it does not constitute the crime of rape (violación), shall be sanctioned with a prison sentence of two to four years.

The penalty shall be three to six years of imprisonment when:

• 1)The perpetrator takes advantage of the offended person's vulnerability, or the person is incapacitated and unable to resist, or bodily violence or intimidation is used.
• 2)The perpetrator is an ascendant, descendant, sister, or brother of the victim.
• 3)The perpetrator is an uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, or cousin of the victim.
• 4)The perpetrator is the stepmother, stepfather, stepsister, or stepbrother of the victim.
• 5)The perpetrator is the guardian (tutor) or person in charge of the education, care, or custody of the victim.
• 6)The perpetrator carries out the conduct against any of the relatives of their spouse or cohabitant, indicated in subsections 3) and 4) above.
• 7)The perpetrator takes advantage of their relationship of trust with the victim or their family, whether a kinship relationship exists or not.

(Thus amended by the sole article of the Law to Restitute the penalty for sexual abuse against adults, No. 9584 of July 4, 2018)

Anyone who promotes or carries out programs, campaigns, or advertisements, using any means, to project the country nationally and internationally as an accessible tourist destination for the commercial sexual exploitation or prostitution of persons of any sex or age shall be sanctioned with a prison sentence of four to eight years.

(Thus added by Article 79 of the Law against Trafficking in Persons and Creation of the National Coalition against the Illegal Smuggling of Migrants and Trafficking in Persons (CONATT), No. 9095 of October 26, 2012)

ABDUCTION (RAPTO) Proper Abduction (Rapto propio).

10817 of November 16, 2025) Improper Abduction (Rapto impropio).

10817 of November 16, 2025) Abduction for the Purpose of Marriage.

10817 of November 16, 2025) Abduction as a Crime of Public Prosecution.

10817 of November 16, 2025)

Corruption, Procuration (Proxenetismo), Pimping (Rufianería) Corruption

Anyone who maintains or promotes the corruption of a minor or incapacitated person, for erotic, pornographic, or obscene purposes, in public or private exhibitions or shows, even if the minor or incapacitated person consents, shall be sanctioned with a prison sentence of four to nine years.

The penalty shall be six to twelve years of imprisonment, if the actor, using social networks or any other computer or telematic means, or other communication medium, seeks sexual encounters for themselves, for another, or for groups, with a minor or incapacitated person; uses these persons to promote corruption or forces or instigates them to perform premature sexual acts, even if the victim consents to participate in them or watch them be performed.

(Thus amended by Article 8 of the Law for the prevention of harassment of minors by electronic or virtual means (GROOMING), No. 10020 of September 9, 2021)

Anyone who, by any means, establishes communications of a sexual or erotic nature, whether or not they include images, videos, texts, or audios, with a minor or incapacitated person shall be punished with imprisonment of two to four years.

The same penalty shall be imposed on anyone who, impersonating the identity of a third party or through the use of a false identity, by any means, seeks to establish communications of a sexual or erotic nature, whether or not they include images, videos, texts, or audios, with a minor or incapacitated person.

The penalty shall be three to five years, for the conducts described in the two preceding paragraphs, when the actor seeks a personal encounter in some physical place with a minor or incapacitated person.

(Thus added by Article 2 of Law No. 9135 of April 24, 2013) (Thus amended by Article 8 of the Law for the prevention of harassment of minors by electronic or virtual means (GROOMING), No. 10020 of September 9, 2021) Aggravated Corruption

In the case of the crime of corruption, contained in Article 167 of this law, the penalty shall be six to twelve years of imprisonment when:

• 1)The victim is under thirteen years of age.
• 2)The act is carried out for profit-making purposes.
• 3)The act is carried out with deceit, violence, abuse of authority, or any other means of intimidation or coercion.
• 4)The perpetrator is an ascendant, descendant, sister, or brother of the victim.
• 5)The perpetrator is an uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, or cousin of the victim.
• 6)The perpetrator is the stepmother, stepfather, stepsister, or stepbrother of the victim.
• 7)The perpetrator is the guardian (tutor) or person in charge of the education, care, or custody of the victim.
• 8)The perpetrator carries out the conduct against any of the relatives of their spouse or cohabitant, indicated in subsections 4), 5), and 6) above.
• 9)The perpetrator takes advantage of their relationship of trust with the victim or with their family, whether a kinship relationship exists or not.

(Thus amended by Article 8 of the Law for the prevention of harassment of minors by electronic or virtual means (GROOMING), No. 10020 of September 9, 2021)

(Thus added by Article 21 of the Law Incentive for Tourist Corporate Social Responsibility, No. 8811 of May 12, 2010) Procuration (Proxenetismo).

The same penalty shall be imposed on anyone who keeps another person in sexual servitude.

(Thus amended by Article 1 of the "Law against the Sexual Exploitation of Minors"; Law No. 7899 of August 3, 1999) Aggravated Procuration (Proxenetismo)

The penalty shall be four to ten years of imprisonment, when one of the actions provided for in the previous article is carried out and, in addition, any of the following circumstances is present:

• 1)The victim is under eighteen years of age.
• 2)There is deceit, violence, abuse of authority, a situation of need of the victim, or any means of intimidation or coercion.
• 3)The perpetrator is an ascendant, descendant, sister, or brother of the victim.
• 4)The perpetrator is an uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, or cousin of the victim.
• 5)The perpetrator is the stepmother, stepfather, stepsister, or stepbrother of the victim.
• 6)The perpetrator is the guardian (tutor), or person in charge of the education, care, or custody of the victim.
• 7)The perpetrator carries out the conduct against any of the relatives of their spouse or cohabitant, indicated in subsections 3) and 4) above.
• 8)The perpetrator takes advantage of their relationship of trust with the victim or their family, whether a kinship relationship exists or not.

(Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 8590 of July 18, 2007).

Pimping (Rufianería)

Whoever coercively causes himself to be maintained, even partially, by a person who engages in prostitution, exploiting the earnings derived from that activity, shall be punished with a prison term of two to eight years.

The penalty shall be:

• 1)Prison term of four to ten years, if the victim is under thirteen years of age.
• 2)Prison term of three to nine years, if the victim is over thirteen years of age, but under eighteen years of age.

(Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 8590 of July 18, 2007).

Whoever, through the use of technologies or any other means, resorting to threat, the use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power, a situation of vulnerability, or the granting or receipt of payments or benefits to obtain the consent of a person having authority over another, promotes, facilitates, favors, or carries out the recruitment, transfer, transport, lodging, concealment, retention, delivery, or receipt of one or more persons within or outside the country, to subject them to forced labor or services and other forms of labor exploitation, servitude, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servile or forced marriage, irregular adoption, illegal intermediation in prenatal fostering (acogimiento prenatal) processes, forced begging, forced pregnancy and forced abortion, and the execution of any form of sexual exploitation, shall be punished with a prison term of six to ten years.

(Thus amended the preceding paragraph by Article 10 of the Prenatal Fostering Law, No. 10506 of September 6, 2024) The prison term shall be from eight to sixteen years, if, in addition, any of the following circumstances occur:

(Thus amended the preceding paragraph by Article 10 of the Prenatal Fostering Law, No. 10506 of September 6, 2024) a) The victim is under eighteen years of age, an elderly adult, or a person with a disability.

• b)The perpetrator is the spouse, cohabitant, or relative of the victim up to the third degree of consanguinity or affinity.
• c)The perpetrator takes advantage of a relationship of authority or trust with the victim or their family, whether or not a kinship relationship exists.
• d)The perpetrator takes advantage of the practice of their profession or the function they perform.
• e)The victim suffers serious damage to their health, death, or death by suicide as a consequence of the act of trafficking in persons described above.
• f)The punishable act was committed by a criminal group composed of two or more members.
• g)The perpetrator acts by intermediating in requests for prenatal fostering (acogimiento prenatal). Intermediation consists of any approach or agreement, whether or not economic compensation or a promise of economic compensation is involved, and whose purpose or result is that the being in gestation is placed in prenatal fostering (acogimiento prenatal) with a specific person or couple.

(Thus added the preceding subparagraph by Article 10 of the Prenatal Fostering Law, No. 10506 of September 6, 2024) Whoever promotes, facilitates, favors, or carries out the recruitment, transfer, transport, lodging, concealment, retention, delivery, or receipt of one or more persons within or outside the country, for the illicit extraction or illicit transplant of organs, tissues, cells, or human fluids, shall be punished with the penalty indicated in the first paragraph of this number.

In the case of minors, for the configuration of the crime it shall not be necessary to resort to the modes of execution described in the first paragraph of this article.

(Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 9545 of April 24, 2018)

Whoever manufactures, produces or reproduces, disseminates or uses images, voice or personal data, by any means, of child pornography (material pornográfico infantil) shall be punished with a prison term of five to nine years.

The same penalty shall be imposed on whoever induces or obligates a minor or incapable person to send pornographic material of any type, by any electronic means.

Whoever transports or brings into the country, by any means, this type of material shall be punished with a prison term of four to seven years.

For the purposes of this Code, child pornography (material pornográfico infantil) shall be understood as any written, visual, or auditory representation produced by any means, of a minor, their image or their voice, altered or modified, engaged in explicit sexual activities, real or simulated, or any representation of the genital parts of a minor for sexual purposes.

(Thus amended by Article 8 of the Law for the Prevention of Harassment of Minors by Electronic or Virtual Means (GROOMING), No. 10020 of September 9, 2021)

Whoever possesses pornographic material in which a minor or incapable person appears shall be punished with a prison term of two to five years.

The same penalty shall be imposed on whoever possesses child pornography (material pornográfico infantil) in local or remote storage on any electronic device.

(Thus added by Article 1 of Law No. 8590 of July 18, 2007) (Thus amended by Article 8 of the Law for the Prevention of Harassment of Minors by Electronic or Virtual Means (GROOMING), No. 10020 of September 9, 2021)

Whoever delivers, trades, disseminates, distributes, or exhibits pornographic material to minors or incapable persons shall be punished with a prison term of four to eight years.

A penalty of five to nine years shall be imposed on whoever exhibits, disseminates, distributes, finances, or trades, by any means and under any title, pornographic material in which a minor or incapable person appears, or possesses it for these purposes.

(Thus amended by Article 8 of the Law for the Prevention of Harassment of Minors by Electronic or Virtual Means (GROOMING), No. 10020 of September 9, 2021)

A prison term of six months to two years shall be imposed on whoever possesses, produces, sells, distributes, exhibits, or facilitates, by any means, pornographic material in which, without having used minors:

• a)An adult person is used who simulates being a minor engaging in sexual activities.
• b)An image, caricature, drawing, or representation of any kind is used that appears or simulates a minor engaging in sexual activities.

(Thus added by Article 3 of Law No. 9177 of November 1, 2013) Participation of third parties related to the victim by kinship or who abuse their authority or position.

Ascendants or descendants by consanguinity or affinity, the spouse, siblings, and any persons who, abusing their authority or their position, cooperate by any direct act in the perpetration of the crimes corresponding to this Section and whose participation has not been expressly typified, shall be punished with the penalty of the perpetrators. Article file

The owner, lessor, possessor, or administrator of an establishment or place who destines it for or benefits from trafficking in persons, illicit migrant smuggling (tráfico ilícito de migrantes), or its related activities shall be punished with a prison term of three to five years.

(Thus added by Article 78 of the Law against Trafficking in Persons and Creation of the National Coalition against Illicit Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons (CONATT), No. 9095 of October 26, 2012)

(Thus added the preceding section by Article 5 of the Law against Street Sexual Harassment, No. 9877 of August 10, 2020)

Whoever, in a public space, a space of public access, or in a remunerated means of transporting persons, masturbates himself, exhibits or shows his genitals with sexual connotation to another person, without their consent, shall be punished with a prison term of six months to one year or thirty to forty-five days fine (días multa), provided that the conduct does not constitute a crime with a higher penalty.

(Thus added by Article 5 of the Law against Street Sexual Harassment, No. 9877 of August 10, 2020)

Whoever, in a public space, a space of public access, or in a remunerated means of transporting persons, pursues or corners another person with sexual connotation, without their consent, shall be punished with a prison term of eight months to one year or thirty to forty-five days fine (días multa), provided that the conduct does not constitute a crime with a higher penalty.

(Thus added by Article 5 of the Law against Street Sexual Harassment, No. 9877 of August 10, 2020)

Whoever, in a public space, a space of public access, or in a remunerated means of transporting persons, records, captures, or produces audio, visual, or audiovisual material with sexual connotation of another person, without their consent, shall be punished with a prison term of ten months to eighteen months or thirty to forty-five days fine (días multa), provided that the conduct does not constitute a crime with a higher prison penalty.

The penalty shall be from eighteen months to three years of prison or forty-five to sixty days fine (días multa), in the event that said material was sent, shown, or transmitted to a third person, for profit or not, provided that the conduct does not constitute a crime with a higher prison penalty.

(Thus added by Article 5 of the Law against Street Sexual Harassment, No. 9877 of August 10, 2020)

The extremes of the custodial sanctions and days fine (días multa) provided for in Articles 175 ter, 175 quater, and 175 quinquies of this section shall be increased by one third when any of the following circumstances occur:

• a)The conduct is committed by two or more persons.
• b)To the detriment of a minor.
• c)To the detriment of a person over sixty-five years of age.
• d)To the detriment of a person with a disability.

(Thus added by Article 5 of the Law against Street Sexual Harassment, No. 9877 of August 10, 2020) (Note from Sinalevi: In accordance with the sole transitory provision of the Law against Street Sexual Harassment, No. 9877 of August 10, 2020, the provisions of this numeral, which was added by Article 5 of the aforementioned law, shall enter into force within one year from its publication, that is, on August 27, 2021. Within that non-extendable term, the Ministry of Justice and Peace, in coordination with the National Institute for Women (Inamu), must design and put into operation a specialized program for the execution of the accessory penalties applicable to the crimes provided for in Articles 175 ter Exhibitionism or masturbation in public spaces or spaces of public access or in a remunerated means of transporting persons; 175 quater Pursuit or cornering; and 175 quinquies Production of audiovisual material, of Section IV of Title III of Law 4573, Penal Code, of May 4, 1970.)

The crimes provided for in this section shall be punished, in addition, with accessory penalties that shall be applied together with the prison penalty or fine, and shall consist of:

• a)Submitting the person to an addiction treatment program for the control of the consumption of alcohol, narcotic substances, psychotropic substances, or enervating drugs, when said addiction is related to the sanctioned conduct or its circumstances.
• b)Submitting the person to a specialized program for offenders, oriented toward the control of violent conduct, reeducation and awareness regarding toxic masculinities (masculinidades tóxicas), gender equity, and respect for the human rights of women.

For the purposes of executing these penalties, the National Institute for Women (Inamu) and the Ministry of Justice and Peace shall send each year, to the Supreme Court of Justice, the list of accredited institutions, public and private, to which the competent judicial authority may refer for the fulfillment of these penalties.

The expenses incurred for this treatment shall be borne by the State, unless the convicted person has sufficient resources to cover them.

(Thus added by Article 5 of the Law against Street Sexual Harassment, No. 9877 of August 10, 2020)

CRIMES AGAINST THE FAMILY

Illegal Marriages Illegal marriage.

(Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982) Concealment of the impediment.

Whoever contracts marriage, knowing that an impediment exists that causes absolute nullity and conceals this circumstance from the other contracting party, shall be punished with prison from two to six years. Article file Simulation of marriage.

Whoever, through deception, simulates marriage with a person shall suffer prison from two to five years. Article file Responsibility of the public official.

The public official who knowingly authorizes a marriage of those covered in the preceding articles shall be punished with the penalty determined therein, increased by one third at the judge's discretion. If acting through fault, the penalty shall be fifteen to sixty days fine (días multa). Article file Non-observance of formalities.

A fine of fifteen to sixty days (días multa) and, in addition, loss of the position held and inability to obtain another equal one, from six months to two years, shall be imposed on the public official who, outside the cases provided for in the preceding article, proceeds to the celebration of a marriage without having observed all the formalities required by law, even if the marriage is not annulled. Article file Responsibility of the guardian

(Thus amended by Article 3 of the Law "Reform of Articles 14 and 64 Family Code, Article 38 Civil Code, Article 181 Penal Code and repeal of subsection 3) of Article 15, Article 19 and subsection c) of Article 65 Family Code to Prevent the Marriage of Minors Under 15 years" No. 8571 of February 8, 2007)

Persons who give their consent to marry, knowing that the marriage does not have as its purpose the fulfillment of the aims provided for in the Family Code (Código de Familia), or when one of the contracting parties grants to the other, by themselves or through an intermediary, a patrimonial benefit in order for them to give their consent to marry, shall be punished with prison from two to five years. The same penalty shall be imposed on witnesses and notaries public who participate fraudulently, in their capacity as such, in the celebration of simulated marriages.

When the marriage is celebrated to obtain migratory benefits of any type, in favor of one of the contracting parties, the prison penalty for both contracting parties, notaries public, and witnesses who participate fraudulently in the celebration of simulated marriages shall be from three to six years.

(Thus added by Article 2 of Law No. 8781 of November 11, 2009)

Offenses against filiation and civil status Supposition, suppression, and alteration of filiation or status(*) (*) (Its denomination modified by Article 7 of the Law "Reform of the Family Code, Organic Law of the National Children's Board, General Migration and Aliens Law, Organic Law of the TSE and Civil Registry and Penal Code, to regulate the adoption of persons"; Law No. 7538 of August 22, 1995)

Offenders of the registration process.

Whoever:

• a)Has a non-existent person registered in the Civil Registry (Registro Civil).
• b)Has false facts inserted in a birth certificate that alter the civil data or the filiation of a newborn person.
• c)Through concealment, substitution, or exposure leaves a newborn person without civil data, or without filiation, or makes uncertain or alters the filiation that corresponds to them, shall be punished with prison from three to eight years.

(Thus amended by Article 7 of the Law "Reform of the Family Code, Organic Law of the National Children's Board, General Migration and Aliens Law, Organic Law of the TSE and Civil Registry and Penal Code, to regulate the adoption of persons" No. 7538 of August 22, 1995) Specific attenuations.

In the cases of subsections 2) and 3) of the preceding article, if the act was committed to conceal the dishonor of the mother, the penalty shall be from one month to three years of prison. In the case of subsection 2), if the act was committed exclusively for the purpose of protecting the minor, the penalty shall be from one month to two years of prison. Article file Evasion of adoption procedures

Prison from three to eight years shall be imposed:

• a)On whoever promotes or facilitates the departure from the country of minors, contravening the migratory provisions that regulate it and infringing Costa Rican adoption provisions.
• b)On the pregnant woman who gives birth abroad, infringing Costa Rican adoption provisions.

In the cases of subsections a) and b) above, if the offenses were committed by a public official in the exercise of their function, the penalty shall be from five to ten years of prison, without prejudice to any applicable administrative sanctions.

(Thus added by Article 7 of the Law "Reform of the Family Code, Organic Law of the National Children's Board, General Migration and Aliens Law, Organic Law of the TSE and Civil Registry and Penal Code, to regulate the adoption of persons"; Law No. 7538 of August 22, 1995)

ABDUCTION OF A MINOR OR INCAPABLE PERSON

Whoever abducts (sustraiga) a minor or a person lacking volitional or cognitive capacity from the power of their parents, guardians, curators, tutors, or persons in charge shall be punished with prison from five to ten years; the same penalty shall be applied against whoever retains one of these persons against the will of the latter.

When it is the parents, guardians, curators, tutors, or persons in charge who abduct (sustraigan) or retain a minor or a person lacking volitional or cognitive capacity, they shall be punished with a prison term of six months to two years.

(Thus amended by Article 2 of the Law "Reform of the Penal Code to Harden Penalties for Abduction and Homicide of Children and Adolescents and Persons with Disabilities." Law No. 8387 of October 8, 2003).

Whoever illegitimately has in their charge minors subject to adoption shall be punished with prison from three to six years.

(Thus added by Article 8 of the Law "Reform of the Family Code, Organic Law of the National Children's Board, General Migration and Aliens Law, Organic Law of the TSE and Civil Registry and Penal Code, to regulate the adoption of persons"; Law No. 7538 of August 22, 1995)

The penalties for the crime typified in Article 184 of this Law shall be from twelve to twenty years of prison, in any of the following circumstances: 1. If the abduction (sustracción) lasts more than three days. 2. If the act is committed by two or more persons. 3. If the act is committed for profit.

(Thus added by subsection b) of Article 1 of the Law "Reform of the Penal Code to Harden Penalties for Abduction and Homicide of Children and Adolescents and Persons with Disabilities"; Law No. 8387 of October 8, 2003).

BREACH OF FAMILY DUTIES Breach of the duty of support (deber alimentario).

7337, of May 5, 1993, shall be imposed on the father, adoptive parent, tutor, or guardian of a minor under eighteen years of age or of a person who cannot fend for themselves, who deliberately, whether or not a civil judgment has been issued, omits to provide the indispensable means of subsistence to which they are obligated.

The judge may increase this penalty up to double, considering the personal conditions of the perpetrator, their economic possibilities, the effects and seriousness of the action.

The same penalty shall be imposed on those obligated to provide support (alimentos).

The responsibility of the perpetrator is not excluded by the fact that other persons have provided means of subsistence.

The same penalty shall be imposed on the child with respect to helpless parents and on the spouse with respect to the other spouse, separated or not, or divorced when obligated, and on the sibling with respect to the incapable sibling.

(Thus amended by Article 69 (current 82) of the Law on Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities; Law No. 7600 of May 2, 1996) Aggravated breach.

The maximum of the penalty prescribed in the preceding article shall be increased by one third when the perpetrator, to evade compliance with the support obligation (obligación alimentaria), transfers their assets to third parties, resigns from their job, or employs any other fraudulent means. Article file Breach of duties of assistance.

Whoever fails or neglects the duties of protection, care, and education incumbent upon them with respect to a minor under eighteen years of age, such that the minor finds themselves in a situation of material or moral abandonment, shall be punished with prison from six months to one year or twenty to sixty days fine (días multa) and, in addition, with incapacity to exercise the attributes of parental responsibility (responsabilidad parental) from six months to two years.

The same penalty shall apply to the spouse who does not protect and keeps their other spouse in a state of material abandonment. In this case and in those provided for by Articles 185 and 186, the person who pays the support (alimentos) owed and provides reasonable assurance, in the judge's opinion, of future compliance with their obligations shall be exempt from penalty.

(Thus amended by Article 2, point VI) of the law that approved the Family Procedural Code, No. 9747 of October 23, 2019) Breach or abuse of Parental Authority.

Whoever fails or abuses the rights granted by the exercise of the attributes of parental responsibility (responsabilidad parental), tutela, or safeguard, as applicable, with evident harm to the child, ward, or incapable person shall be punished with prison from six months to two years and, in addition, loss and incapacity to exercise the respective rights or positions, from six months to two years.

(Thus amended by Article 2, point VI) of the law that approved the Family Procedural Code, No. 9747 of October 23, 2019)

• 1)Whoever as owner, manager, entrepreneur, or police authority must prevent the entry of minors or incapable persons into places not authorized for them, tolerates or permits them to enter. Sale of dangerous objects to minors or incapable persons 2) Whoever sells weapons, explosive material, or poisonous substances to a minor or incapable person. Procurement of weapons or dangerous substances 3) Whoever delivers, entrusts, permits to carry, or places weapons, explosive materials, or poisonous substances within reach of a minor or incapable person or of another person who did not know or could not handle or use them.

Sale or procurement of alcoholic beverages and tobacco to minors or incapable persons.

• 4)A penalty of six months to three years of prison shall be imposed on the owner or person in charge of a commercial establishment who serves or sells alcoholic beverages or tobacco to minors or incapable persons.

(Thus amended the preceding subsection by Article 28 of Law No. 9047 of June 25, 2012, "Law of Regulation and Commercialization of Beverages with Alcoholic Content") (Thus added by subsection c) of Article 3) of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002).

CRIMES AGAINST FREEDOM

Crimes Against Individual Freedom Plagio.

Whoever reduces a person to servitude or another analogous condition or maintains them in it shall be punished with prison from four to twelve years. Article file

Whoever induces, maintains, or subjects one or more persons to perform labor or services under force, deception, coercion, or threat shall be punished with a prison term of six to ten years.

The prison term shall be from eight to sixteen years if the victim is a person under eighteen years of age or is in a situation of vulnerability or disability.

In no case shall the consent given by the victim exempt from criminal responsibility.

(Thus added by Article 80 of the Law against Trafficking in Persons and Creation of the National Coalition against Illicit Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons (CONATT), No. 9095 of October 26, 2012) (Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 9545 of April 24, 2018) Concealment of detainees by authorities.

The same penalty and, in addition, the loss of the employment, position, commission held or incapacity to obtain it for six months to two years, shall be incurred by authorities who order and agents who execute the concealment of a detainee, refuse to present them to the respective Court, or in any other way circumvent the guarantee of Article 37 of the Political Constitution. Article file Deprivation of liberty without profit motive.

Whoever, without profit motive, deprives another of their personal liberty shall be punished with prison from six months to three years. Article file Aggravated forms.

The prison term shall be from four to ten years when another is deprived of their personal liberty, if any of the following circumstances occur:

• 1)When the victim is a person under eighteen years of age or is in a situation of vulnerability or disability.
• 2)By means of coercion, deception, or violence.
• 3)Against the spouse, cohabitant, or relative up to the third degree of consanguinity or affinity, or a public official.
• 4)When it lasts more than twenty-four hours.
• 5)When the perpetrator takes advantage of a relationship of authority or trust with the victim or their family, whether or not a kinship relationship exists.
• 6)When the perpetrator takes advantage of the practice of their profession or the function they perform.
• 7)With serious damage to the health of the victim.

(Thus amended by Article 74 of the Law against Trafficking in Persons and Creation of the National Coalition against Illicit Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons (CONATT), No. 9095 of October 26, 2012) (Note from Sinalevi: By means of Article 1 of Law No. 5061 of August 23, 1972, this article was interpreted in the sense that the penalty indicated is that of prison).

Whoever abducts (sustraiga) a minor or person with cognitive or physical disability from the power of their parents, guardians, curators, tutors, or persons in charge shall be punished with prison from ten to fifteen years. The penalty shall be from twenty to twenty-five years of prison if serious or very serious injuries are inflicted on the victim, and from thirty-five to fifty years of prison if the victim dies.

When it is the parents, guardians, curators, tutors, or persons in charge who abduct (sustraigan) or retain a minor, a person with a disability, or a person lacking the capacity to resist, they shall be punished with a prison term of twenty to twenty-five years.

(Thus added by Article 75 of the Law against Trafficking in Persons and Creation of the National Coalition against Illicit Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons (CONATT), No. 9095 of October 26, 2012)

Crimes Against Freedom of Determination Coercion (Coacción).

Whoever, through serious threat or physical or moral violence, compels a person to do, not do, or tolerate something to which they are not obligated shall be punished with a prison term of three to five years.

(As amended by Article 74 of the Law against Human Trafficking and Creation of the National Coalition against the Illicit Trafficking of Migrants and Human Trafficking (CONATT), No. 9095 of October 26, 2012) Predatory Harassment

Whoever, repeatedly and insistently, harasses or stalks a person, without the victim's consent, and affects their privacy, integrity, private life, or daily activities, by carrying out one or more of the following conducts, shall be punished with a prison sentence of three to eighteen months or a fine of one hundred to two hundred days:

1- Watching, lurking around, pursuing, or seeking physical closeness with the person.

2- Establishing or attempting to establish contact with the victim, by physical, cybernetic means, or through third parties.

3- Hacking, interfering with, intercepting, or controlling a device or personal data of the person.

This crime is prosecutable by public action at the instance of a private party.

(Thus added by the sole article of the Law against Predatory Harassment, No. 10487 of May 16, 2024) Aggravating Circumstances

1- When the victim is a person under eighteen years of age or is in a situation of vulnerability or disability.

2- When deceit or violence is involved.

3- When contact is established through means of communication that include manifest sexual content.

4- When the conduct is committed by two or more persons.

5- When the perpetrator carries out the conduct against a person with whom they maintain or have maintained a relationship or bond as a couple, whether marital, common-law union, courtship, cohabitation, non-cohabitation, casual, or another analogous bond, even when there is divorce, separation, or breakup.

6- When the perpetrator takes advantage of a relationship or bond of trust, friendship, authority, or a power relationship they had with the victim, whether or not a kinship relationship exists, or it occurs within family relationships by consanguinity or affinity up to the third degree.

7- When the perpetrator takes advantage of the exercise of their profession or the role they perform.

8- When damage results to the physical or mental health of the victim.

9- When the predatory harassment is motivated by the sexual and gender identity of the victims.

10- When the perpetrator has a history of violence perpetrated against a victim, in the family, work, educational, community, or religious sphere, even when the acts have not been previously reported.

11- When the perpetrator is a client for sexual exploitation, trafficker, or pimp of the victim.

12- When the victim had refused to establish or reestablish a permanent or casual relationship or bond as a couple with the perpetrator, or to have any type of sexual contact.

13- When the perpetrator committed the act by reason of the victim's participation, position, or political activity.

14- When the perpetrator committed the act as an act of vengeance, retaliation, or debt collection in organized crimes of drug trafficking or other related crimes.

(Thus added by the sole article of the Law against Predatory Harassment, No. 10487 of May 16, 2024)

6726 of March 10, 1982).

Aggravated Threats.

Whoever makes use of unjust and serious threats to alarm or threaten a person shall be sanctioned with a prison sentence of six months to two years.

If the threats were committed by two or more persons gathered together, or if the threats were anonymous or symbolic, the prison sentence shall be one to three years, provided that the specific conduct does not fit a more serious criminal classification.

(Thus amended by the sole article of the Law to impose a proportional penalty for assault with a weapon, threats with a firearm against civilians and public officials in the exercise of their duties, No. 10677 of April 22, 2025)

CRIMES AGAINST THE SPHERE OF PRIVACY

Violation of Secrets Violation of correspondence.

Whoever, with danger or harm to the intimacy or privacy of another and without their authorization, seizes, accesses, modifies, alters, deletes, interferes with, intercepts, opens, delivers, sells, forwards, or diverts from its destination documentation or communications directed to another person, shall be punished with a prison sentence of one to three years.

The same sanction indicated in the preceding paragraph shall be imposed on whoever, with danger or harm to the intimacy of another, uses or disseminates the content of private communications or documents that lack public interest.

The same penalty shall be imposed on whoever promotes, incites, instigates, promises, or pays a patrimonial benefit to a third party to carry out the conducts described in the two preceding paragraphs.

The penalty shall be two to four years of imprisonment if the conducts described in the first paragraph of this article are carried out by:

• a)Persons responsible for the collection, delivery, or safeguarding of the documents or communications.
• b)Persons responsible for administering or providing support to the computer or telematic system or network, or who, by reason of their functions, have access to said system or network, or to the electronic, optical, or magnetic containers.

(Thus amended by article 1 of Law No. 9135 of April 24, 2013)

Whoever, for their own benefit or that of a third party, with danger or harm to intimacy or privacy and without the authorization of the data holder, seizes, modifies, interferes with, accesses, copies, transmits, publishes, disseminates, collects, renders unusable, intercepts, retains, sells, buys, diverts for a purpose different from that for which they were collected, or gives unauthorized processing to the images or data of a natural or legal person stored in computer or telematic systems or networks, or in electronic, optical, or magnetic containers, shall be sanctioned with a prison sentence of one to three years.

The penalty shall be two to four years of imprisonment when the conducts described in this rule:

• a)Are carried out by persons responsible for administering or providing support to the computer or telematic system or network, or who, by reason of their functions, have access to said system or network, or to the electronic, optical, or magnetic containers.
• b)The compromised information corresponds to a minor or an incapacitated person.
• c)The conducts affect data that reveal a person's ideology, religion, beliefs, health, racial origin, preference, or sexual life.

The publication, dissemination, or transmission of information of public interest, public documents, data contained in public registries or public databases of unrestricted access, when access has been obtained in accordance with the procedures and limitations of the law, does not constitute a crime.

Nor does the collection, copying, and use by financial entities supervised by SUGEF of information and data contained in databases of legitimate origin, in accordance with the procedures and limitations of the law, constitute a crime." (Thus added by Law No. 8148 of October 24, 2001, and subsequently amended as indicated by article 1 of Law No. 9135 of April 24, 2013) Subtraction, diversion, or suppression of correspondence.

(Thus amended by article 31 of the "Law on the Registration of Private Documents and Intervention of Communications"; Law No. 7425 of August 9, 1994) Improper capture of verbal manifestations.

The same penalty shall be imposed on whoever installs apparatuses, instruments, or their parts, with the aim of intercepting or impeding oral or written communications, whether or not they achieve their purpose.

(Thus amended by article 31 of the "Law on the Registration of Private Documents and Intervention of Communications"; Law No. 7425 of August 9, 1994) Abuse of function or office.

7425 of August 9, 1994) Aggravations

• a)By public officials, in relation to the exercise of their functions. b) By whoever executes the act, taking advantage of their connection with a public or private company or institution responsible for communications.
• c)When the author publishes the information obtained, or even without doing so, it is of a private nature, all at the discretion of the Judge.

(Thus amended by article 31 of the "Law on the Registration of Private Documents and Intervention of Communications"; Law No. 7425 of August 9, 1994) Improper use of correspondence.

Whoever improperly uses, in any form, letters, papers, recordings, telegraphic, telephonic, cablegraphic, or other dispatches of any nature that have been subtracted or reproduced, shall be punished with a prison sentence of six months to one year.

Disclosure.

If the act could cause harm, whoever, being legitimately in possession of correspondence, papers, or recordings not intended for publicity, makes them public without due authorization, even if they were addressed to them, shall be punished with a fine of thirty to sixty days. The penalty shall be a fine of thirty to one hundred days if the disclosed information is of a private nature, even when it does not cause harm. Article file Divulging secrets.

Whoever, having knowledge by reason of their status, office, employment, profession, or art of a secret whose disclosure may cause harm, reveals it without just cause, shall be punished with a prison sentence of one month to one year or a fine of thirty to one hundred days. If it concerns a public official or a professional, disqualification from the exercise of public offices and positions, or from licensed professions, for six months to two years shall also be imposed.

The penalty shall be four to six years of imprisonment when it concerns information from entities or companies supervised by the superintendencies of the National Financial System, or from clients of said entities or companies, when such information is protected by secrecy, confidentiality, or the prohibition of disclosure. If the disclosure is made by a public official or professional, in addition to the penalty indicated in this paragraph, disqualification from the exercise of public offices and positions or licensed professions for one to three years shall be imposed.

(Thus added the preceding paragraph by article 6 of Law No. 9746 of October 16, 2019)

VIOLATION OF DOMICILE Violation of domicile.

The penalty shall be one to three years if the act was committed with force against property, by scaling walls, with violence against persons, with the ostentation of weapons, or by multiple persons.

(Thus amended by article 1 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982).

Illegal raid.

A prison sentence of six months to three years and disqualification from the exercise of public offices and positions for one to four years shall be imposed on the agent of the authority or the public official who raids a domicile without the formalities prescribed by law or outside the cases it determines.

(Thus amended in accordance with the partial annulment ordered by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 4368 of April 29, 2009.)

Disturbance of Religious Acts and Profanations Disturbance of acts of worship.

Whoever impedes or disturbs a religious or funeral ceremony shall be punished with a fine of ten to thirty days. Article file Profanation of cemeteries and corpses.

Shall be punished with a prison sentence of one to six months or a fine of twenty to fifty days:

• 1)Whoever violates or vilifies the place where a deceased person or their ashes are buried; 2) Whoever profanes, outrages, or conceals a corpse or its ashes; and 3) Whoever mutilates or destroys a corpse or scatters its ashes, unless it is a dissection performed for educational or scientific purposes authorized by the relatives of the deceased or a corpse that has not been claimed within a period of seven days. Article file

CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY

THEFT Simple theft.

Whoever illegitimately takes possession of a movable item, totally or partially belonging to another, shall be punished with a prison sentence of one month to three years.

(Thus amended by article 19 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Process; Law No. 8720 of March 4, 2009.)

Aggravated theft.

A prison sentence of one to three years shall be applied, if the value of what was taken does not exceed five times the base salary(*), and one to ten years, if it exceeds that sum, in the following cases:

• 1)When the theft is of heads of large or small livestock, poultry, products, or items that are in use for agricultural exploitation.
• 2)If it was committed by taking advantage of the facilities arising from a disaster, a public commotion, or a particular misfortune of the injured party.
• 3)If a picklock, false key, or other similar instrument is used, or the true key that has been subtracted, found, or retained.
• 4)If it concerns travelers' luggage, in any type of vehicle or in the parking lots or terminals of transportation companies.
• 5)If it concerns vehicles left on public roads or in places of public access.
• 6)If it concerns things linked to the provision of a public service, or of scientific, artistic, cultural, security, or religious value, when, due to the place where they are located, they are destined for the service, utility, or reverence of an undetermined number of persons, or entrusted to the public trust.

(Thus amended the preceding subsection by article 1 of the Law against the theft and receipt of cable, aqueduct security devices, traffic signals, and railway lines, Law No. 10336 of March 3, 2023) 7) If it was committed by two or more persons.

(Thus amended by article 19 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Process, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009.)

(*) On the interpretation of the term "base salary", see the observations to the law).

Attenuated thefts.

A prison sentence of one month to one year or a fine of ten to sixty days shall be imposed if the act consisted of the taking of food or objects of scant value to provide for a personal or family member's need, without prejudice to the provisions of article 27. Article file Theft of use.

Anyone who takes an item with the sole purpose of making momentary use of it and restores it afterwards without any damage shall be penalized with a prison sentence of one to five months. If what was stolen for the stated purpose is a motor vehicle, the penalty shall be six months to three years. The penalty shall be a prison sentence of one to three years when the theft of a vehicle was to commit another crime, without prejudice to the incrimination of the act perpetrated. Article file

ROBBERY Simple robbery.

• 1)With a prison sentence of six months to three years, when the taking is committed with force against property and its amount does not exceed three times the base salary (*).
• 2)With a prison sentence of one to six years, if the circumstance provided in the preceding subsection is present and the amount taken exceeds three times the base salary.
• 3)With a prison sentence of three to nine years, when the act is committed with violence or intimidation against persons.

(*) On the interpretation of the term "base salary", see the observations.

(Thus amended by the sole article of the Law on the Penalization of Weapons and Objects in the Commission of Crimes, No. 10519 of September 9, 2024) Aggravated robbery.

• 1)If the robbery was perpetrated with perforation or fracture of a wall, a fence, a roof, a floor, a door, or a window, of an inhabited place, or its dependencies.
• 2)If it was committed with a bladed weapon, firearm, or toy weapon that simulates or imitates one, for the purpose of intimidation to dispossess the victim of goods or a movable item in their possession.
• 3)If any of the circumstances of subsections 1), 2), 4), 5), 6), and 7) of article 209 is present.
• 4)The conduct of simulating carrying a bladed weapon or firearm, without displaying it to intimidate the victim.

The cases of aggravation and attenuation for the crime of theft shall also be aggravating and attenuating for robbery, and the penalty shall be fixed by the judge, in accordance with article 71.

(Thus amended by the sole article of the Law on the Penalization of Weapons and Objects in the Commission of Crimes, No. 10519 of September 9, 2024)

EXTORTIONS Simple extortion.

Whoever, to procure a profit, forces another, with intimidation or serious threats, to make a patrimonial disposition harmful to themselves or a third party, shall be punished with a prison sentence of four to eight years.

The penalty shall be five to ten years of imprisonment when the conduct is carried out by means of any computer, telematic, electronic, or technological manipulation.

(Thus amended by article 1 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, "Reform of Section VIII, Computer and Related Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code")

Whoever uses threats and intimidation personally, through third parties, and by any means of communication, with the aim of forcing or who forces a debtor or their family members to pay a debt or credit obligation that has been granted to them, shall be sanctioned with a prison sentence of four to eight years.

The preceding penalty shall be five to ten years when:

• a)The threat or intimidation is directed at a minor, an older adult, or a person with a situation or condition of vulnerability.
• b)If the act is committed by two or more persons.
• c)If they physically or psychologically assault the victim.
• d)If the act is committed with weapons or property damage occurs.

The preceding penalty shall be eight to fifteen years of imprisonment when the acts qualify as organized crime in accordance with current international standards and Law 8754, Law against Organized Crime, of July 22, 2009.

(Thus added by article 1 of the Law that sanctions the crime of "Drop by Drop" money lending, No. 10471 of April 22, 2024) Extortive kidnapping.

If the passive subject is voluntarily released within three days after the commission of the act, without suffering any harm and without the kidnappers having obtained their purpose, the penalty shall be six to ten years of imprisonment.

The penalty shall be fifteen to twenty years of imprisonment:

1. If the perpetrator achieves their purpose.

2. If the act is committed by two or more persons.

3. If the kidnapping lasts more than three days.

4. If the kidnapped person is a minor, a pregnant woman, an incapacitated, sick, or elderly person.

5. If the kidnapped person suffers physical, moral, psychological, or economic damage due to the manner in which the kidnapping was carried out or by the means used in its consummation.

6. If violence has been used against third parties who have tried to assist the kidnapped person at the time of the act or subsequently, when they try to free them.

• 7)When the kidnapped person is a public official, diplomat, or consul accredited in Costa Rica or passing through the national territory, or any other internationally protected person in accordance with the definition established in Law No. 6077, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents, of August 11, 1977, and other provisions of International Law, and political or political-social conditions are demanded for their release.

(Thus amended the preceding subsection by article 1, point 1., subparagraph b) of the Law to Strengthen Legislation against Terrorism, No. 8719 of March 4, 2009).

• 8)When the kidnapping is carried out to demand a measure or concession from the national public authorities, of another country, or of an international organization.

(Thus amended the preceding subsection by article 1, point 1., subparagraph b) of the Law to Strengthen Legislation against Terrorism, No. 8719 of March 4, 2009).

The penalty shall be twenty to twenty-five years of imprisonment if serious or very serious injuries are inflicted on the kidnapped person, and thirty-five to fifty years of imprisonment if they die.

(Thus amended by the sole article of Law No. 8127 of August 29, 2001) Kidnapping of a person under twelve years of age or a person with a disability in a state of defenselessness.

The penalty shall be twenty to twenty-five years of imprisonment if serious or very serious injuries are inflicted on the kidnapped person, and thirty-five to fifty years of imprisonment if they die.

(Thus added by the sole article of the Law Adding a New Article 215 BIS to the Penal Code to Create the Crime of Kidnapping against Minors and Disabled Persons, with the aim of doing justice for Costa Rican children; Law No. 8389 of October 9, 2003).

FRAUDS AND OTHER DEFRAUDATIONS Fraud.

1.-With a prison sentence of two months to three years, if the amount defrauded does not exceed ten times the base salary(*).

2.-With a prison sentence of six months to ten years, if the amount defrauded exceeds ten times the base salary.

The preceding penalties shall be increased by one third when the indicated acts are carried out by whoever is the legal representative or administrator of a company that obtains its resources, totally or partially, from public savings, or by whoever, personally or through an entity, registered or unregistered, of any nature, has obtained its resources, totally or partially, from public savings.

(Thus amended by article 1 of Law No. 7337 of May 5, 1993.)

(*) On the interpretation of the term "base salary", see the observations to the law).

Stellionate.

• 1)On whoever, receiving a consideration, sells or encumbers litigious property, or seized or encumbered property, silencing or concealing such circumstance; 2) On whoever makes impossible, uncertain, or litigious the right over an asset or the fulfillment of an obligation referring to it, agreed to another for a price or as a guarantee, whether by any legal act relating to the same asset, even if it does not imply alienation, or by removing, concealing, or damaging it; 3) On the owner of a movable item who deprives whoever legitimately has it in their power of it, or damages or renders it unusable, thus frustrating, in whole or in part, the right of another. The same penalty shall be applicable to a third party who acts with the consent and for the benefit of the owner; and 4) On the debtor, depositary, or owner of a seized or pledged asset who abandons, deteriorates, or destroys it, with the intent to harm the attaching party or creditor, or who, after being warned, does not present it before the judge.

(Thus amended by article 1 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982).

A prison sentence of three to six years shall be imposed on whoever, to the detriment of a natural or legal person, manipulates or influences the input, processing, or result of the data of an automated information system, whether through the use of false or incomplete data, the improper use of data, programming, by means of some computer operation or technological artifice, or by any other action that affects the processing of the system's data or that results in false, incomplete, or fraudulent information, with which they seek or obtain a patrimonial or undue benefit for themselves or for another.

The penalty shall be five to ten years of imprisonment if the conducts are committed against public information systems, banking and financial entity information systems, or when the perpetrator is an employee responsible for administering or providing support to the computer or telematic system or network, or who, by reason of their functions, has access to said system or network, or to the electronic, optical, or magnetic containers.

(Thus added by Law "Addition of Articles 196 BIS, 217 BIS, and 229 BIS to the Penal Code, Law No. 4573 to repress and sanction computer crimes"; Law No. 8148 of October 24, 2001. Subsequently amended as indicated by article 1 of the Law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer and Related Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code"; Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012,) Simulation fraud.

(Thus amended by article 1 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982).

Fraud in the delivery of things.

The penalty indicated in article 216 shall be imposed, according to the amount of the harm, on whoever defrauds in the substance, quality, or quantity of the things they must deliver or the materials they must use, when it concerns precious stones or metals, archaeological or artistic objects, or objects subject to official control.

(Thus amended by article 1 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982).

Insurance fraud.

Whoever, with the purpose of obtaining for themselves or for another the improper collection of insurance or another illegal profit, destroys, damages, or makes a covered item disappear, shall be punished with a prison sentence of six months to three years and a fine of thirty to one hundred days. If they achieve their purpose, the penalty shall be that contemplated in article 223. The same penalties shall apply to the insured person who, for the same purpose, inflicts a wound on themselves or aggravates the consequences of wounds produced by a misfortune.

Check fraud.

(Thus amended by article 1 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982).

FRAUDULENT ADMINISTRATION AND MISAPPROPRIATIONS Fraudulent administration.

(As amended by Article 1 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982).

Misappropriation and unlawful retention.

If there is no misappropriation but rather improper use of the thing, to the detriment of another, the penalty shall be reduced, at the judge's discretion.

In any case, the accused shall first be warned by the authority hearing the matter to return or deliver the property within a term of five days, and if they do so, there shall be no crime, without prejudice to any civil actions the owner may have.

(As amended by Article 1 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982).

Irregular appropriation.

• 1)Anyone who appropriates a lost thing belonging to another without fulfilling the requirements prescribed by law; 2) Anyone who appropriates a thing belonging to another into whose possession they entered as a consequence of an error or a fortuitous event; and 3) Anyone who appropriates, in whole or in part, a discovered treasure, without delivering the portion that corresponds to the property owner, in accordance with the law.

USURPATIONS Usurpation

A prison sentence of six months to four years shall be imposed:

• 1)On anyone who, by violence, threats, deception, abuse of trust, or clandestinely, dispossesses another, totally or partially, of the possession or tenancy of an immovable property or of the exercise of a real right constituted over it, whether the dispossession occurs by invading the property, remaining on it, or expelling the occupants.
• 2)On anyone who, in order to seize all or part of an immovable property, alters the boundaries or limits.
• 3)On anyone who, with violence or threats, disturbs the possession or tenancy of an immovable property.

(As amended by Article 19 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in Criminal Proceedings No. 8720 of March 4, 2009.)

Usurpation of waters.

• 1)Diverts for their own benefit public or private waters that do not belong to them or takes them in a greater quantity than that to which they are entitled; and 2) In any way obstructs or impedes the exercise of the rights that a third party has over such waters.

Public Domain.

Shall be punished with a prison sentence of six months to four years or with a fine of fifteen to one hundred days:

• 1)Anyone who, without a title of acquisition or a right to possess, holds soil or space corresponding to streets, roads, gardens, parks, promenades, or other places of public domain, or vacant lands, or any other real property of the State or of the municipalities.
• 2)Anyone who, without legal authorization, exploits a national forest.
• 3)Anyone who, without title, exploits veins, deposits, seams, and other mineral deposits.
• 4)Anyone who, making use of free concessions granted by law for the benefit of agriculture, has entered into possession of a vacant land by virtue of a claim and, after exploiting the respective forest, abandons said claim.

(*)If the usurpations provided for in this article have been perpetrated in the name of or under the instructions of a society or company, criminal liability shall be attributed to its manager or administrator, without prejudice to the civil compensation also falling upon the society or company.

(As amended by Article 19 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in Criminal Proceedings No. 8720 of March 4, 2009.)

(*)(This paragraph, which also formed part of the text of the article before the amendment made by Law No. 8720, was interpreted by Resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 6361-93 of 3:03 p.m. on December 1, 1993, in the sense that it is not in itself unconstitutional, provided it is interpreted that for its application to a specific case, the judge must establish whether there is sufficient evidence proving the culpable participation of the administrator or manager of the society or company in the act under investigation, so that only in those cases where a direct, personally reprehensible relationship is found with the latter, can their criminal liability be agreed upon.) Article file

Damages

Shall be punished with a prison sentence of fifteen days to one year, or with a fine of ten to one hundred days, anyone who destroys, renders useless, makes disappear, or damages in any way a thing, totally or partially belonging to another.

(As amended by Article 19 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in Criminal Proceedings No. 8720 of March 4, 2009.)

Aggravated damage.

A prison sentence of one to four years shall be imposed:

(As amended the preceding paragraph by the single article of Law No. 10732 of June 4, 2025) 1) If the damage is executed on things of scientific, artistic, cultural, or religious value, when, due to the place where they are located, they are entrusted to public trust, or destined for the service, utility, or reverence of an indeterminate number of people.

• 2)When the damage falls upon means or routes of communication or transit, on bridges or canals, on production plants or conduits of water, electricity, or energy substances.
• 3)When the act is executed with violence against persons or with threats.
• 4)When the act is executed by three or more persons.
• 5)When the damage is against equipment, electronic or technological devices, used by any police authority.

(As amended the preceding subsection by the single article of Law No. 10732 of June 4, 2025) 6) When the damage falls upon networks, systems, or computer, telematic, or electronic equipment, or their physical, logical, or peripheral components.

(As added subsection 6) above by Article 2 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code") (As amended by Article 19 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in Criminal Proceedings No. 8720 of March 4, 2009.)

A prison sentence of one to three years shall be imposed on anyone who, without authorization from the owner or exceeding that which had been granted and to the detriment of a third party, deletes, modifies, or destroys information contained in a computer or telematic system or network, or in electronic, optical, or magnetic containers.

The sentence shall be three to six years of imprisonment if the information deleted, modified, or destroyed is irreplaceable or irrecoverable.

(As added by the single article of the Law "Addition of Articles 196 BIS, 217 BIS, and 229 BIS to the Penal Code, Law No. 4573 to repress and punish computer-related crimes"; No. 8148 of October 24, 2001. Subsequently amended in the manner indicated by Article 1 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012,)

A prison sentence of three to six years shall be imposed on anyone who, for their own benefit or that of a third party, destroys, alters, hinders, or renders useless the information contained in a database, or else prevents, alters, obstructs, or modifies without authorization the functioning of an information processing system, its physical or logical parts or components, or a computer system.

The sentence shall be four to eight years of imprisonment when:

• a)As a consequence of the author's conduct, collective danger or social harm ensues.
• b)The conduct is carried out by an employee charged with administering or supporting the computer or telematic system or network, or who, by reason of their duties, has access to said system or network, or to the electronic, optical, or magnetic containers.
• c)The computer system is of a public nature or the information is contained in public databases.
• d)Without being authorized, they employ technological means that prevent authorized persons from the lawful access of telecommunication systems or networks.

(As added by Article 2 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code")

Computer-related and connected crimes (As added Section VIII "Computer-related and connected crimes", above by Article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code")

Shall be punished with a prison sentence of one to three years anyone who impersonates the identity of a natural person, legal entity, or a commercial brand on any social network, website, electronic or technological information medium.

(As added by Article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code") (As amended by Article 1 of Law No. 9135 of April 24, 2013)

A prison sentence of three to six years shall be imposed on anyone who, without authorization from the owner or responsible party, by means of any computer or technological manipulation, seizes, transmits, copies, modifies, destroys, uses, blocks, or recycles information of value for the economic traffic of industry and commerce.

(As added by Article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code")

Shall be punished with a prison sentence of one to six years anyone who, without authorization and by any means, installs malicious computer programs in a computer or telematic system or network, or in electronic, optical, or magnetic containers.

The same penalty shall be imposed in the following cases:

• a)On anyone who induces a person's error so that they install a malicious computer program in a computer or telematic system or network, or in electronic, optical, or magnetic containers, without due authorization.
• b)On anyone who, without authorization, installs harmful computer programs or applications on legitimate websites, in order to turn them into suitable means for propagating malicious computer programs, known as attacking websites.
• c)On anyone who, to propagate malicious computer programs, invites other people to download files or visit websites that allow the installation of malicious computer programs.
• d)On anyone who distributes computer programs designed for the creation of malicious computer programs.
• e)On anyone who offers, contracts, or provides services for denial of service, sending of unsolicited mass communications, or propagation of malicious computer programs.

The sentence shall be three to nine years of imprisonment when the malicious computer program:

• i)Affects a banking, financial, savings and credit cooperative, solidarity association, or state entity.
• ii)Affects the functioning of public services.
• iii)Obtains remote control of a system or a computer network to form part of a network of zombie computers.
• iv)Is designed to carry out actions aimed at procuring a patrimonial benefit for oneself or for a third party.
• v)Affects health computer systems and the impact on these may endanger the health or life of people.
• vi)Has the capacity to reproduce itself without the need for additional intervention by the legitimate user of the computer system.

(As added by Article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code")

A prison sentence of one to three years shall be imposed on anyone who, to the detriment of a third party, impersonates legitimate sites on the Internet network.

The sentence shall be three to six years of imprisonment when, as a consequence of the impersonation of the legitimate Internet site and by means of deception or by causing error, they capture confidential information of a natural or legal person for their own benefit or that of a third party.

(As added by Article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012,"Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code")

A prison sentence of one to four years shall be imposed on anyone who facilitates the means for the accomplishment of a crime carried out by means of a computer or telematic system or network, or electronic, optical, or magnetic containers.

(As added by Article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012,"Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code")

The penalty shall be doubled when any of the crimes committed by means of a computer or telematic system or network, or electronic, optical, or magnetic containers affects the fight against drug trafficking or organized crime.

(As added by Article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code")

Shall be punished with a prison sentence of three to six years anyone who, through electronic, computer means, or by means of a telecommunications system, propagates or disseminates false news or facts capable of distorting or causing harm to the security and stability of the financial system or its users.

(As added by Article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code")

(As the numbering of the previous Section was moved by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from Section VIII to Section IX) General Provision Possession and manufacture of lock picks and other instruments.

6410-96 of 3:12 p.m. on November 26, 1996.)

(As its numbering was moved by Article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 230 to 237, "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code")

CRIMES AGAINST GOOD FAITH IN BUSINESS

CREDITORS' MEETINGS Fraudulent insolvency proceeding

• 1)Simulating debts, alienations, expenses, losses, or credits.
• 2)Removing or concealing assets that belong to the estate or not justifying their removal or alienation.
• 3)Granting undue advantages to any creditor.
• 4)Having removed, destroyed, or falsified, in whole or in part, the books or other accounting documents, or having kept them in such a way that makes the reconstruction of the patrimony or the movement of business impossible, when they have the obligation to keep them.

(As its numbering was moved by Article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 231 to 238, "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code") (As amended by Article 74 of Law No. 9957 of April 14, 2021 "Insolvency Law of Costa Rica") Negligent insolvency proceeding

(As its numbering was moved by Article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 232 to 239, "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code") (As amended by Article 74 of Law No. 9957 of April 14, 2021 "Insolvency Law of Costa Rica") Liability of legal representatives

(As its numbering was moved by Article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 233 to 240, "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code") (As amended by Article 74 of Law No. 9957 of April 14, 2021 "Insolvency Law of Costa Rica") Fraudulent administration in insolvency proceedings

• 1)Altering their accounts, the prices or conditions of contracts, the terms and clauses of acts of disposition of assets and payments made.
• 2)Simulating operations or expenses of contracts, totally or partially.
• 3)Concealing or retaining values or other types of assets of the concurso estate.
• 4)Using the concurso patrimony in an abusive or improper manner.
• 5)Granting undue benefits to any creditor.
• 6)Failing to inform the concurso court of any conduct contemplated in the five preceding subsections, carried out by those who administer the active mass, when they have the function of supervising the administration of the bankrupt's assets.

(As its numbering was moved by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 234 to 241) (As amended by Article 74 of Law No. 9957 of April 14, 2021 "Insolvency Law of Costa Rica") Malicious connivance

The same penalty shall be applied to the debtor or to the persons referred to in Article 240, who conclude an agreement of this type.

(As its numbering was moved by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 235 to 242) (As amended by Article 74 of Law No. 9957 of April 14, 2021 "Insolvency Law of Costa Rica")

USURY AND AGIOTAJE Usury.

The same penalty is applicable to anyone who knowingly acquires or enforces a usurious credit.

The penalty shall be nine months to three years or a fine of thirty to one hundred days, when the crime is committed by someone who, habitually engaged in the business of lending or leasing money with personal or collateral security, on wages or salaries, does not keep accounting books in accordance with legal requirements or does not present, for registration in the Collateral Registry, in cases where these are constituted in a public document or where the creditor does not waive the collateral privilege, the document recording the operation within a period of no more than sixty days following the date on which the contract was constituted.

(Corrected by Errata published in La Gaceta No. 234 of November 24, 1971).

(Sinalevi Note: By Article 60 of the Law for the Promotion of Competition; No. 7472 of December 20, 1994, this criminal offense is broadened by doubling its penalties when the action is committed to the detriment of consumers, in the terms of Article 2 of said law. In addition, it indicates two more scenarios where said penalties will be applied, according to the amount of the damage caused or the number of products or services traded) (As its numbering was moved by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 236 to 243)

(As amended by Article 69 of the Law on Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities No. 7600; of May 2, 1996) (As its numbering was moved by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 237 to 244) Agiotaje.

The penalty shall be increased by one third if the alteration of prices is achieved, and doubled, if in the case it concerns food articles of first necessity, whether or not the alteration of their prices is achieved. The legal entity responsible for any of the crimes included in this section, shall be imposed a security measure consisting of the closure of the establishment, for a term of five to thirty days.

The intermediary in said crimes shall be considered an accomplice.

(Sinalevi Note: By Article 60 of the Law for the Promotion of Competition No. 7472 of December 20, 1994, this criminal offense is broadened by doubling its penalties when the action is committed to the detriment of consumers, in the terms of Article 2 of said law. In addition, it indicates two more scenarios where said penalties will be applied, according to the amount of the damage caused or the number of products or services traded) (As its numbering was moved by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 238 to 245)

CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC TRUST Fraudulent offering of credit instruments.

Anyone who offers to the public bonds of any class, shares, or obligations of mercantile companies, disguising or concealing true facts or circumstances, or affirming or implying false facts or circumstances, shall be punished with a prison sentence of six months to two years. The penalty may be increased up to double, when it concerns a public offering of securities.

(As amended by Article 184 of the Securities Market Regulatory Law; No. 7732 of December 17, 1997) (As its numbering was moved by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 239 to 246) Publication and authorization of false balance sheets.

The penalty may be increased up to double, when it concerns an entity that makes a public offering of securities.

(As amended by subsection b) of Article 184 of the Securities Market Regulatory Law; No. 7732 of December 17, 1997) (As its numbering was moved by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 240 to 247) Authorization of improper acts.

The penalty may be increased up to double, when it concerns a subject that makes a public offering of securities.

(As amended by subsection c) of Article 184 of the Securities Market Regulatory Law; No. 7732 of December 17, 1997) (As its numbering was moved by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 241 to 248) Unfair advertising.

(Sinalevi Note: By Article 60 of the Law for the Promotion of Competition No. 7472 of December 20, 1994, this criminal offense is broadened by doubling its penalties when the action is committed to the detriment of consumers, in the terms of Article 2 of said law. In addition, it indicates two more scenarios where said penalties will be applied, according to the amount of the damage caused or the number of products or services traded) (As its numbering was moved by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Penal Code"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 242 to 249) Drawing checks without sufficient funds.

• 1)If it is drawn without having provision of funds or express authorization from the bank, and if it was drawn to be made in overdraft; (The preceding subsection was corrected by Errata published in La Gaceta No. 102 of May 27, 1982. It was subsequently annulled by Resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 2994-92 of 2:55 p.m. on October 6, 1992, so said subsection retains the wording given by the reform made by Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982).
• 2)If a countermand of payment is given, outside of the cases in which the law authorizes it; 3) If it is done knowing that at the time of its presentation it cannot be legally paid.

In every case, the drawer must be personally informed of the non-payment, by means of a notarial certificate, or through the authority hearing the proceeding. The drawer shall be exempt from penalty if the amount of the check is paid within five days following notification.

(Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982).

(Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 243 to 250)

(Thus added by Article 1 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 243 bis to 250 bis)

Stock Market Offenses (Delitos Bursátiles) (Thus this Section added by Article 185, subsection a), of the Securities Market Regulatory Law (Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores); No. 7732 of December 17, 1997. It also orders the renumbering of the subsequent articles, moving former Article 244 to become 246 and so on until 419, which became 421) Market Price Manipulation

(Thus added by subsection a) of Article 185, of the Securities Market Regulatory Law (Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores); No. 7732 of December 17, 1997.

(Former Article 244 is now 246) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 244 to 251) Use of Insider Information (Uso de información privilegiada)

For the purposes of this article, insider information is considered to be that which by its nature can influence the prices of the issued securities and which has not yet been made known to the public.

(Thus added by subsection b) of Article 185, of the Securities Market Regulatory Law (Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores); No. 7732 of December 17, 1997.

(Former Article 245 is now 247) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 245 to 252)

OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC SAFETY (DELITOS CONTRA LA SEGURIDAD COMÚN)

ARSON AND OTHER DEVASTATION (INCENDIOS Y OTROS ESTRAGOS) Arson or Explosion

The penalty shall be:

• 1)Six to fifteen years imprisonment, if there was danger of death to any person, if there existed danger of destruction of property of scientific, artistic, historical, or religious value, if public safety was endangered, or if terrorist purposes were involved.
• 2)Ten to twenty years imprisonment, if the act caused the death or extremely serious injuries to one or more persons, or if the destruction of the property referred to in the preceding subsection actually occurred.
• 3)Five to ten years imprisonment, if other types of injuries were caused by the act, or property other than that listed in the preceding paragraphs was destroyed.

For the purposes of this article and Articles 281(*) and 381(*), the following are considered acts of terrorism:

(*)(Thus the numbering of these articles renumbered by the indicated law No. 7732, which transferred them from 272 to 274, and from 372 to 374, respectively. Subsequently, by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, the numbering was modified, so numeral 274 is now Article 281 and numeral 374 is now 381) a) The acts provided for in subsection 4) of Article 112, subsections 7) and 8) of Article 215, and in Articles 253 bis(*), 257(*), 258(*), 265(*), 266(*), 267(*), 281 bis(*), and 291 bis(*) of the Criminal Code, as well as in Article 69 bis of Law No. 8204, Comprehensive Reform of the Law on Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances, Drugs of Unauthorized Use, and Related Activities, of December 26, 2001, and its reforms.

(Thus the preceding subsection amended by point 1., subpart c) of Article 1, of the Law to Strengthen Legislation against Terrorism (Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo), No. 8719 of March 4, 2009). (*) (Subsequently, by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, the numbering was modified, so numeral 246 bis is now Article 253 bis, 250 is 257, 251 is 258, 258 is 265, 259 is 266, 260 is 267, 274 bis is 281 bis, and 284 bis is 291 bis) b) Attacks against the life or physical integrity of public officials or of diplomats or consuls accredited in Costa Rica or passing through the national territory.

• c)Attacks against vessels, aircraft on the ground, installations of a maritime or river port or an airport, collective transport vehicles, public buildings or buildings open to the public, committed through the use of firearms or explosives, or through the causing of arson or explosion.

(Thus the preceding subsection amended by point 1., subpart c) of Article 1, of the Law to Strengthen Legislation against Terrorism (Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo), No. 8719 of March 4, 2009).

(Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 6989 of July 16, 1985).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185, of Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 244 to 246) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 246 to 253)

Whoever creates a common danger to persons or property, by means of the emission, propagation, or impact of chemical, toxic, or hazardous substances or products, biological agents or toxins or similar substances, or radiation from radioactive material, shall incur the penalties provided for in Article 253.

(Thus added by point 2., subpart c) of Article 1 of the Law to Strengthen Legislation against Terrorism (Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo), No. 8719 of March 4, 2009).

(Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 246 bis to 253 bis) (Thus amended by Article 1 of the Law to provide clarity in the criminal types contained in Title IX, Offenses against Public Safety (Delitos contra la Seguridad Común), No. 10609 of November 15, 2024)

Whoever causes devastation (estrago) by means of flood, collapse, demolition of a building, or by any other powerful means of destruction shall incur, depending on the cases, the penalties indicated in Article 253.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185, of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law (Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores); No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 245 to 247) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 247 to 254) (Thus amended by Article 2 of the Law to provide clarity in the criminal types contained in Title IX, Offenses against Public Safety (Delitos contra la Seguridad Común), No. 10609 of November 15, 2024) Rendering Defenses Against Disasters Useless.

If the disaster occurs, the penalty shall be increased at the discretion of the Judge.

The same penalty shall be applied to whoever, in order to prevent or hinder defense tasks against a disaster, removes, conceals, or renders useless materials, instruments, or other means intended for the referred defense.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185, of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law (Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores) No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 246 to 248) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 248 to 255)

Whoever negligently causes a disaster of those defined in Articles 253 and 254 shall be punished with imprisonment of one month to two years. The penalty shall be six months to three years when the circumstance of subsection 1) of Article 253 occurs, and one year to four years when the circumstance of subsection 2) of the same article occurs.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185, of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law (Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores) No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 247 to 249) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 249 to 256) (Thus amended by Article 3 of the Law to provide clarity in the criminal types contained in Title IX, Offenses against Public Safety (Delitos contra la Seguridad Común), No. 10609 of November 15, 2024) Manufacture or Possession of Explosive Materials.

The same penalty shall be imposed on whoever, knowing or having reason to presume that they are contributing to the commission of crimes, gives instructions for the preparation of the substances or materials referred to in the preceding paragraph.

Imprisonment of two to four years shall be imposed on whoever possesses, for purposes other than those indicated, without authorization from the corresponding authorities, the materials indicated in the first paragraph of this article.

(Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 6989 of July 16, 1985) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185, of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law (Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores) No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 248 to 250) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 250 to 257) Discharge of a Weapon

A penalty of six months to two years imprisonment shall be imposed on whoever discharges any firearm in a populated or frequented place, except in the case of shooting sports practitioners who are practicing their sport in shooting ranges duly authorized by the Ministry of Public Security (Ministerio de Seguridad Pública).

The penalty may be increased by up to one half when a prohibited firearm is used.

(Thus added by subsection e) of Article 3) of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002).

(Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 250 bis to 257 bis, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal") (Thus amended by Article 2 of the Law to strengthen the sanctioning framework for crimes committed with prohibited firearms, No. 10610 of November 15, 2024) Nuclear Materials

• 1)Receives, introduces, possesses, uses, transfers, alters, evacuates, or disperses nuclear materials without legal authorization, if such act is likely to cause death or slight, serious, or extremely serious injuries to a person or substantial damage to property or the environment.
• 2)Robs or steals nuclear materials.
• 3)Obtains nuclear materials through fraud.
• 4)Manufactures or possesses an explosive nuclear device or a radiation dispersal device or a radiation emission device that, due to its radiological properties, can cause death, slight, serious, or extremely serious bodily injury or considerable damage to property or the environment.
• 5)Uses nuclear materials or devices to cause death or serious injury to a person or substantial property damage.
• 6)Threatens to use nuclear materials or devices to cause death or slight, serious, or extremely serious injury to a person or substantial property damage, or to commit some of the acts described in subsection 2), in order to compel a natural or legal person, an international organization, or a State to do something or to refrain from doing something.
• 7)Uses or damages a nuclear facility in such a way as to cause the emission or entail the risk of causing the emission of radioactive material.

(Thus added by point 2, subpart d) of Article 1, of the Law to Strengthen Legislation against Terrorism (Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo), No. 8719 of March 4, 2009).

(Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 250 ter to 257 ter)

A penalty of two to four years imprisonment shall be imposed on whoever, without being legally or regulatorily authorized to do so, possesses, introduces, facilitates, or procures, by any means, the entry into a closed-modality penitentiary establishment of cellular telephones, satellite telephones, or other communication devices, their technological components, as well as sim cards, that enable communication.

The penalty shall be increased by one third when the previously described conducts are committed by a public official, providers of goods or services in closed-regime penitentiary establishments, lawyers in the exercise of their professional activity, or any other person who possesses a special entry authorization, acting without the proper enablement or authorization in accordance with current regulations.

(Thus added by the sole article of the Law to criminally sanction persons who illegally introduce cellular telephones, satellite telephones, or other communication or electronic means into penitentiary centers, No. 10716 of April 30, 2025)

OFFENSES AGAINST MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION (DELITOS CONTRA LOS MEDIOS DE TRANSPORTE Y DE COMUNICACIONES) Danger of Shipwreck and Air Disaster.

If the act produces shipwreck, stranding, or air disaster, the penalty shall be six to twelve years imprisonment.

If the accident causes injury to any person, the penalty shall be six to fifteen years imprisonment, and if it causes death, it shall be imprisonment of eight to eighteen years.

The preceding provisions shall apply even if the action falls upon one's own property, the installations of a maritime or river port, or an airport, if the act constitutes a danger to public safety.

(Thus amended by point 1, subpart d) of Article 1, of the Law to Strengthen Legislation against Terrorism (Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo), No. 8719 of March 4, 2009).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185, of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law (Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores) No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 249 to 251) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 251 to 258) Creation of Danger for Land Transportation.

If the act produces derailment, collision, or other serious accident, the penalty shall be six to fifteen years imprisonment, and if it causes death, imprisonment of eight to eighteen years.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185, of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law (Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores) No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 250 to 252) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 252 to 259)

The application of this law is exempted when it concerns what is provided for in Article 49 of Law 8642, General Telecommunications Law (Ley General de Telecomunicaciones), of June 4, 2008.

If the crime is committed by public servants, the penalty shall be increased by one third.

(Thus added by Article 2 of Law No. 10415 of November 29, 2023) Attack on Plants, Energy and Communication Conduits.

• 1)Attacking plants, works, and installations intended for the production or transmission of electrical energy or energy substances; 2) Attacking the security of any telecommunications medium; and 3) Obstructing the repair of damages to the plants, works, or installations referred to in subsection 1), or the reestablishment of interrupted communications.

If a disaster derives from these acts, the penalty shall be imprisonment of three to eight years.

The acts provided for in this article shall be punishable with the penalty established by Article 246 when they are executed to prevent or hinder defense or rescue tasks against an occurring disaster.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185, of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law (Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores) No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 251 to 253) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 253 to 260) Disaster by Negligence.

If any person is injured or dies as a result of the act, imprisonment of one to six years shall be imposed.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185, of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law (Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores) No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 252 to 254) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 254 to 261) Reckless Driving (Conducción temeraria)

A penalty of imprisonment of one to three years shall be imposed in the following cases:

• a)On whoever drives a motor vehicle in speed competitions on public roads.
• b)On whoever drives a motor vehicle at a speed exceeding one hundred fifty kilometers per hour (150 km/h).
• c)On whoever drives a motor vehicle on public roads under the influence of alcoholic beverages, with a blood alcohol concentration greater than zero point seventy-five grams (0.75 g) per liter of blood or with a breath alcohol concentration greater than zero point thirty-eight milligrams (0.38 mg) per liter, in both cases for any type of driver, or with a blood alcohol concentration greater than zero point fifty grams (0.50 g) of alcohol per liter of blood or with a breath alcohol concentration greater than zero point twenty-five milligrams (0.25 mg) per liter, in both cases, if dealing with a professional driver or a driver who has been issued a driver's license for the first time within a period of less than three years, with respect to the day on which the presence of alcohol was detected.

The same penalty shall be applied to whoever drives under the influence of toxic drugs, narcotics, psychotropic substances, or other substances that produce states of alteration and analogous enervating or depressive effects, in accordance with the definitions, scopes, and characteristics established by the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud).

In all the preceding circumstances, the person shall also be disqualified from driving all types of vehicles for two to four years, provided that, for the case provided for in subsection a), the disqualification sanction shall be a minimum of three years.

A repeat offender's prison sentence shall be increased by one third.

When a prison sentence of two years or less is imposed, the court may commute the custodial sentence to a monetary fine, which may not be less than one base salary, nor more than three monthly base salaries, corresponding to "Administrative Assistant One" that appears in the List of Positions of the Judicial Branch, in accordance with the ordinary budget law of the Republic approved in the month of November prior to the date on which the traffic infraction is committed, or alternatively, the imposition of an alternative measure of community service, which may range from one hundred hours to three hundred hours of service, in the places and manner provided by the competent jurisdictional authority.

The disqualification penalty shall be communicated to the competent body of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT), for its effective application.

(Thus added by subsection b) of Article 4 of Law No. 8696 of December 17, 2008. Said Article 4 was subsequently repealed by Article 251 of the Law on Transit on Public Land Roads and Road Safety (Ley de Tránsito por Vías Públicas Terrestres y Seguridad Vial) No. 9078 of October 4, 2012) (Note from Sinalevi: The Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) through resolution No. 7783 of June 15, 2011, ordered that: "the automatic application of Article 110 of the Criminal Code relating to confiscation (comiso), to the crime of reckless driving (conducción temeraria) established in this article, is unconstitutional.") (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 254 bis to 261 bis) (Thus amended by Article 3 of the Law to regulate the loss of license as a traffic infraction for participation in motor vehicle races on public roads, No. 10402 of November 14, 2023) Negligent Danger of Accident.

8298 of May 5, 2010.)

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185, of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law (Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores) No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 253 to 255.)

(Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 255 to 262) Obstruction of Public Services.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185, of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law (Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores) No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 254 to 256) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 256 to 263) Obstruction of the Public Way

(Thus added by subsection f) of Article 3) of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002).

(Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 256 bis to 263 bis) (Note from Sinalevi: By resolution of the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) No. 20763 of August 23, 2023, this article was interpreted provided that it does not criminalize or penalize the exercise of the right of assembly in public places.)

Abandonment of Transportation Service.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185, of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law (Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores) No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 255 to 257) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 257 to 264)

(*)Piracy and Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (*) (Thus the denomination of the title of this Section modified by point 1, subpart e) of Article 1 of the Law to Strengthen Legislation against Terrorism (Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo), No. 8719 of March 4, 2009).

(*) Piracy and Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (*) (Thus amended by point 1, subpart f) of Article 1 of the Law to Strengthen Legislation against Terrorism (Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo), No. 8719 of March 4, 2009).

• 1)Whoever carries out, in navigable rivers, in the territorial sea, or on the continental shelf, the unauthorized exploitation of the nation's fishery resources, or whoever carries out in said places any act of depredation or violence against a vessel, a fixed platform, or against persons or things found on them, without the vessel by means of which the act is executed belonging to the navy of some recognized power or without being authorized by some belligerent power or exceeding the limits of a legitimately granted authorization.

(Thus the preceding subsection amended by point 1, subpart f) of Article 1 of the Law to Strengthen Legislation against Terrorism (Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo), No. 8719 of March 4, 2009).

• 2)Whoever seizes a vessel or what belongs to its crew by means of fraud or violence committed against its commander.
• 3)Anyone who, in collusion with pirates, delivers to them a vessel, its cargo, or what belongs to its crew; 4) Anyone who, with threats or violence, opposes the commander or the crew defending the vessel attacked by pirates; 5) Anyone who, on his own account or another's, equips a vessel intended for piracy; and 6) Anyone who, from the territory of the Republic, knowingly traffics with pirates or supplies them with aid.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 256 to 258) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 258 to 265) (*)Aggravating circumstances of piracy and unlawful acts against the safety of maritime navigation (*)(Its heading thus amended by point 1, subparagraph g) of Article 1 of the Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo, No. 8719 of March 4, 2009).

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 257 to 259) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 259 to 266) Unlawful seizure or destruction of aircraft

• a)Seizes, through violence against persons or property, or by using serious threats, an aircraft in flight, shall be punished with imprisonment of five to fifteen years.
• b)Destroys, through the use of weapons, explosives, causing an explosion or fire, an aircraft in flight or the cargo transported therein.
• c)Causes damage that incapacitates the aircraft for flight.

(The preceding subsection thus added by point 2, subparagraph e) of Article 1 of the Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo, No. 8719 of March 4, 2009).

The penalty shall be imprisonment of fifteen to twenty-five years when the acts described in the preceding subsections result in the death of persons or cause them serious or very serious injury.

If the perpetrator voluntarily desists from the mentioned acts and in the attempt or seizure no damage is caused to the aircraft or its cargo, nor injury or death to any person, the penalty may be reduced at the discretion of the judge, but may not be less than three years of imprisonment.

For the purposes of this article, an aircraft shall be considered in flight from the moment all external doors are closed after embarkation until the moment any such door is opened for disembarkation.

(Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 6989 of July 16, 1985).

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 258 to 260) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 260 to 267)

CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH Corruption of foodstuffs or medicinal substances.

If the act is followed by the death of any person, the penalty shall be imprisonment of eight to eighteen years.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 259 to 261) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 261 to 268) Adulteration of other substances.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 260 to 262) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 262 to 269) Circulation of poisoned or adulterated substances.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 261 to 263) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 263 to 270) Propagation of disease.

• a)Donating blood or its derivatives, semen, breast milk, tissues, or organs.
• b)Maintaining sexual relations with another person without informing them of the infected condition.
• c)Using an invasive, cutting, or puncturing object that was previously used on themselves.

(Thus amended by Article 51 of the "Ley General del VIH-Sida," No. 7771 of April 29, 1998.)

(Note by Sinalevi: The affecting law No. 7771 was entirely amended by Law No. 9797 of December 2, 2019, leaving the original law with only fifty articles and not including the present amendment).

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 262 to 264) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 264 to 271) Liability for negligence (culpa)

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 263 to 265) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 265 to 272) Unfaithful supply of medicines.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores, No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 264 to 266) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 266 to 273) Improper supply of narcotics.

7093 of April 22, 1988, and subsequently repealed again by Article 5 of Law No. 7233 of May 8, 1991).

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 265 to 267) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 267 to 274) Aggravated forms.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 266 to 268) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 268 to 275) Facilitation of consumption of narcotics or depressants.

7093 of April 22, 1988, and subsequently repealed again by Article 5 of Law No. 7233 of May 8, 1991).

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 267 to 269) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 269 to 276) Violation of sanitary measures and violation of measures for the prevention of epizootics or plant pests.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 268 to 270) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 270 to 277) Illegal practice of medicine.

5395 of October 30, 1973).

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 269 to 271) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 271 to 278) Negligent (culposo) case.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 270 to 272) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 272 to 279)

Cruelty against animals (The preceding Section V thus added by Article 2 of Law No. 9458 of June 11, 2017. Previously this section had been added by Article 2 of Law No. 7883 of June 9, 1999, under the name: "Section V: Crimes against the environment.)

Anyone who, directly or through an intermediary, performs any of the following conducts shall be punished with imprisonment of three months to one year:

• a)Causes harm to a domestic or domesticated animal, which causes a persistent weakening in its health or entails the loss of a sense, an organ, a limb, or renders it unable to use an organ or a limb, or causes it intense suffering or pain or prolonged agony.
• b)Performs sexual acts with animals. A sexual act shall be understood as a sexual relationship of a person with an animal, that is, acts of oral, anal, or vaginal penetration.
• c)Practices vivisection of animals for purposes other than research.

A domestic animal shall be understood as any animal that, due to its evolutionary and behavioral characteristics, lives together with the human being. A domesticated animal shall be understood as any animal that, through the effort of the human being, has changed from its wild condition.

The maximum penalty may be increased by one third when the perpetrator of these acts performs them by using a relationship of power to intimidate, threaten, coerce, or subdue one or more persons, as well as when the conduct is committed among two or more persons, or when it involves persons in management or administrative positions or who are agents, employees, or owners of an establishment dedicated to the breeding, reproduction, and sale of companion animals.

Organizations duly registered in the Judicial Registry may represent the diffuse interests of the animals affected by the conducts described in this norm.

(Thus added by Article 2 of Law No. 9458 of June 11, 2017. Previously this numeral had been added by Article 2 of Law No. 7883 of June 9, 1999.)

(Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 272 bis to 279 bis) (Thus amended by the sole article of the Ley para penalizar el maltrato animal en los criaderos de animales domésticos, No. 10532 of September 18, 2024)

Anyone who intentionally, directly or through an intermediary, causes the death of a domestic or domesticated animal shall be punished with imprisonment of three months to two years; the same penalty shall apply when the death of the animal is a consequence of the conducts described in Articles 279 bis and 279 quinquies of this law.

A domestic animal shall be understood as any animal that, due to its evolutionary and behavioral characteristics, lives together with the human being. A domesticated animal shall be understood as any animal that, through the effort of the human being, has changed from its wild condition.

Organizations duly registered in the Judicial Registry may represent the diffuse interests of the animals affected by the conducts described in this norm.

Exception from the application of the penalty provided in this article shall be made when the death of the animal is caused exclusively for personal or family self-consumption.

(Thus added by Article 2 of Law No. 9458 of June 11, 2017)

• a)Fishing and aquaculture activities regulated by Law No. 7384, Creación del Instituto Costarricense de Pesca y Acuicultura (Incopesca), of March 16, 1994, and Law No. 8436, Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura, of March 1, 2005.
• b)Agricultural or zootechnical or livestock or veterinary activities regulated in accordance with Law No. 8495, Ley General del Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal, of April 6, 2006.
• c)Those for purposes of improvement, sanitary or phytosanitary control, marking, reproductive control, or hygiene of the respective animal species.
• d)Those performed for reasons of mercy.
• e)Those carried out for reasons of protection of crops or productive lands.
• f)Those having research purposes, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter III of Law No. 7451, Bienestar de los Animales, of November 16, 1994.
• g)Those performed for the purpose of safeguarding public health and public veterinary health.
• h)Public or private shows with animals, in accordance with current legislation.
• i)Breeding or transport activities, in accordance with current legislation.

(Thus added by Article 2 of Law No. 9458 of June 11, 2017)

Anyone who, directly or through an intermediary, organizes, promotes, or executes fights between animals of any species, without any exception in the national territory, shall be punished with imprisonment of three months to one year.

(Thus added by Article 2 of Law No. 9458 of June 11, 2017)

When a prison sentence is imposed for the commission of an animal cruelty crime, the court may substitute the custodial sentence, in accordance with what is indicated in Book I, Title IV of this law, as applicable.

(Thus added by Article 2 of Law No. 9458 of June 11, 2017)

CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC TRANQUILITY SOLE SECTION Public instigation.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 271 to 273) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 273 to 280)

Anyone who publicly solicits, offers, or promotes homicide services by commission, agreement, or remunerative promise shall be punished with imprisonment of three to five years.

The same penalty shall be imposed on anyone who publicly offers preparation or training services to carry out homicide by contract killing (sicariato).

(Thus added by the sole article of the Ley contra el Sicariato en Costa Rica, No. 10841 of January 22, 2026)

Anyone who takes part in an association of two or more persons to commit crimes, by the mere fact of being a member of the association, shall be punished with imprisonment of one to six years.

The penalty shall be imprisonment of six to ten years if the purpose of the association is to commit acts of terrorism or extortive kidnapping.

(Thus amended by the sole article of Law No. 8127 of August 29, 2001) (Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 272 to 274) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 274 to 281) Support and services for terrorism

• 1)Anyone who recruits another to participate in the commission of any terrorist act, or who, in any form, incites others to commit any terrorist act, regardless of the stage of execution in which they participate, shall be punished with imprisonment of six to ten years.
• 2)The same penalty shall be incurred by anyone who voluntarily provides any form of support or service, other than financing, including weapons, with the intention or knowledge that such service will be used for the planning or commission of any of the acts referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(Thus added by point 2, subparagraph f) of Article 1 of the "Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo," No. 8719 of March 4, 2009).

(Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 274 bis to 281 bis)

The person of legal age who, knowing the minority of age of a person, recruits them to involve them as perpetrator, co-perpetrator, or participant in the commission of intentional crimes shall be punished with imprisonment of four to six years.

The penalty shall be imprisonment of four to eight years if the perpetrator of the act assaults, intimidates, or threatens the minor, their family nucleus, or takes advantage of conditions of poverty, exclusion from the educational system, or irregular migratory status to coerce them into participating in the commission of criminal acts.

(Thus added by the sole article of the Ley para sancionar el reclutamiento ilícito de personas menores de edad, No. 10685 of April 9, 2025) Public intimidation.

If, as a consequence of the provoked tumult, serious harm or the death of any person results, the penalty shall be increased to six years of imprisonment.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 273 to 275) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 275 to 282) Apology of crime.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 274 to 276) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 276 to 283)

CRIMES AGAINST THE SECURITY OF THE NATION

ACTS OF TREASON.

Treason.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 275 to 277) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 277 to 284) Aggravated treason.

• 1)When it is aimed at subjecting the nation totally or partially to foreign domination or at impairing its independence or integrity; and 2) When the perpetrator has induced or decided a foreign power to make war against the nation.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 276 to 278) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 278 to 285) Acts against an allied power.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 277 to 279) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 279 to 286) Treason committed by foreigners

The respective penalties may, in any case, be prudentially reduced by the Judge.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 278 to 280) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 280 to 287) Conspiracy for treason.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 279 to 281) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 281 to 288)

CRIMES THAT COMPROMISE THE PEACE AND DIGNITY OF THE NATION Hostile acts.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 280 to 282) (Its numbering thus run by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 282 to 289) Violation of truce.

(Its numbering thus run by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 281 to 283) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 283 to 290) Violation of immunities.

• 1)On anyone who violates the immunity of the head of a State or the representative of a foreign Nation; and 2) On anyone who offends the dignity or decorum of any of said persons, while they are in Costa Rican territory.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 282 to 284) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 284 to 291) Attack against internationally protected premises

(Thus added by point 2, subsection g) of Article 1 of the Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo, No. 8719 of March 4, 2009.)

(Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 284 bis to 291 bis) Contempt for the symbols of a foreign nation.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 283 to 285) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 285 to 292) Disclosure of secrets.

Anyone who discloses duly decreed State secrets relating to the internal or external security of the nation, the defense of national sovereignty, or the foreign relations of the Republic shall be punished with a prison term of one to six years.

(Thus the numbering of this article amended by numeral 185, subsection a), of Law No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from 284 to 286) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 286 to 293, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal") (Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 9135 of April 24, 2013) Negligent disclosure.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 285 to 287) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 287 to 294) Espionage.

Anyone who illicitly procures or obtains duly decreed State secrets relating to the internal or external security of the nation, the defense of national sovereignty, and the foreign relations of Costa Rica shall be punished with a prison term of one to six years.

The penalty shall be two to eight years of imprisonment when the conduct is carried out by means of computer manipulation, malicious software programs, or through the use of information and communication technologies.

(Thus the numbering of this article amended by numeral 185, subsection a), of Law No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from 286 to 288) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 288 to 295, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal") (Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 9135 of April 24, 2013) Intrusion.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 287 to 289) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 289 to 296) Diplomatic infidelity.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 288 to 290) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 290 to 297) Improper exploitation of national wealth by foreigners.

If the act is carried out by more than five persons, the penalty shall be six months to three years of imprisonment and a fine (multa) of thirty to sixty days.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 289 to 291) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 291 to 298)

SABOTAGE Violation of contracts relating to national security.

If the breach is negligent, the penalty shall be six months to two years of imprisonment.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 290 to 292) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 292 to 299) Damage to an object of military interest.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 291 to 293) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 293 to 300)

CRIMES AGAINST THE PUBLIC POWERS AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER

POLITICAL ATTACKS Rebellion.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 292 to 294) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 294 to 301) Violation of the principle of alternation.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 293 to 295) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 295 to 302) Propaganda against the constitutional order.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 294 to 296) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 296 to 303) Riot.

Contempt for national symbols.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 295 to 297) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 297 to 304) Contempt for national symbols

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 296 to 298) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 298 to 305) (Thus amended by Article 22 of the Law regulating the use of the national ensign, flag, and coat of arms, No. 10178 of April 25, 2022)

COMMON PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO POLITICAL ATTACKS Liability of promoters or directors.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 297 to 299) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 299 to 306) Conspiracy.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 298 to 300) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 300 to 307) Seduction of security forces.

Infraction of the duty to resist.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 299 to 301) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 301 to 308) Infraction of the duty to resist.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 300 to 302) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 302 to 309) Special aggravation.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 301 to 303) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 303 to 310)

CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC AUTHORITY SOLE

Attack.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 302 to 304) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 304 to 311)

A prison term of one month to three years shall be imposed on anyone who uses intimidation or violence against a public official or against the person providing assistance to them at the official's request or by virtue of a legal duty, to prevent or obstruct the execution of an act proper to the legitimate exercise of their functions. The same penalty shall be imposed on anyone who uses force against police equipment used by the police authority to perform its work.

(Thus amended by Article 19 of the "Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal," No. 8720 of March 4, 2009.)

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 303 to 305) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 305 to 312) Aggravating circumstances.

• 1)If the act is committed with a weapon; 2) If the act is committed by two or more persons; 3) If the perpetrator is a public official; and 4) If the perpetrator assaults the authority.

For the purposes of this article and the two preceding articles, a private individual who attempts to apprehend or has apprehended an offender in flagrante delicto shall be considered a public official.

(Note from Sinalevi: By means of Article 1 of Law No. 5061 of August 23, 1972, this provision was authentically interpreted to mean: "...the penalty indicated therein is that of imprisonment") (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 304 to 306) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 306 to 313) Disobedience.

A prison term of six months to three years shall be imposed on anyone who fails to comply with or fails to enforce, in all its aspects, an order issued by a judicial body or by a public official in the exercise of their functions, provided that it was communicated personally, except if it concerns their own detention.

(Thus amended by Article 19 of the "Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal," No. 8720 of March 4, 2009.)

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 305 to 307) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 307 to 314) Disturbance or hindrance to authority.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 306 to 308) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 308 to 315)

Anyone who threatens a public official because of their functions, addressing them personally or publicly, or by written, telegraphic, or telephone communication, or through hierarchical channels, shall be punished with a prison term of one month to two years. If the action is carried out using a firearm, the penalty shall be two years to three years of imprisonment, provided that the specific conduct does not fit a more serious criminal offense.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 307 to 309) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 309 to 316) (Thus amended by the sole article of the Law to impose a proportional penalty for assault with a weapon, threats with a firearm to civilians and public officials in the exercise of their functions, No. 10677 of April 22, 2025)

Anyone who threatens personnel of the Costa Rican Red Cross, whether volunteers or salaried employees providing their services in attending to emergencies formally declared by the Executive Branch, or not yet declared but meeting the elements established in Law 8488, Ley Nacional de Emergencias y Prevención del Riesgo, of November 22, 2005, shall be punished with a prison term of one month to two years.

(Thus added by Article 22 of the Ley de la Cruz Roja Costarricense, No. 10632 of January 28, 2025) Usurpation of authority.

• 1)On anyone who assumes or exercises public functions without an appointment issued by the competent authority, or without having been invested in the position; 2) On anyone who, after having ceased by operation of law in the performance of a public office or after having received from the competent authority official notification of the resolution ordering the dismissal or suspension of their functions, continues to exercise them; and 3) On the public official who usurps functions corresponding to another position.

If the responsible person usurps functions carried out by police bodies of the State, municipal, and other public police forces whose competence is provided for by law, the maximum penalty shall be increased to two years.

(Thus the preceding paragraph added by Article 2 of the law "Calificación de los delitos cometidos contra la integridad y vida de los policías en el ejercicio de sus funciones," No. 8977 of August 3, 2011) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 308 to 310) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 310 to 317)

• 1)Anyone who, without being a police authority, uses uniforms, clothing, or insignia of any of the country's police forces, the Fire Department, the Red Cross, or the Public Ministry shall be sanctioned with a prison term of six months to one year.
• 2)Anyone who, for the purpose of committing an offense, uses, displays, carries, or identifies themselves with clothing, uniforms, insignia, or distinctive items identical or similar to those used by any of the country's Police forces, the Fire Department, the Red Cross, or the Public Ministry shall be punished with a prison term of three to five years.
• 3)The conduct described in subsections 1) and 2) above shall be sanctioned with a prison term of five to eight years when the purpose is to commit a serious offense.

(Thus added by Article 59 of the law "Contra la Delincuencia Organizada," No. 8754 of July 22, 2009) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 310 bis to 317 bis) Perjury.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 309 to 311) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 311 to 318) Violation of seals.

If the responsible person is a public official and committed the act by abuse of their position, the maximum penalty shall be increased to three years.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 310 to 312) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 312 to 319) Violation of custody of things.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 311 to 313) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 313 to 320) Negligent facilitation.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 312 to 314) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 314 to 321) Illegal practice of a profession.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 313 to 315) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 315 to 322)

CRIMES AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

FALSE TESTIMONY AND BRIBERY OF WITNESS False testimony.

If the false testimony is committed in a criminal case to the detriment of the accused, the penalty shall be two to eight years of imprisonment.

The preceding penalties shall be increased by one third when the false testimony is committed by means of bribery.

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 314 to 316) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 316 to 323) Bribery (Soborno).

Otherwise, the penalties corresponding to the false witness shall apply to the briber.

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 315 to 317) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 317 to 324)

Whoever, by any means, threatens or intimidates another person to prevent the complaint (denuncia), testimony, investigation, promotion and exercise of criminal action, or prosecution of criminal activities against the duties of public office shall be sanctioned with a prison term of three to five years.

(Thus added by Article 11 of the law "Reformas a leyes en materia de anticorrupción para atender recomendaciones del grupo de trabajo sobre el soborno en las transacciones comerciales internacionales de la Organización para la Cooperación y Desarrollo Económico (OCDE)", No. 10373 of September 20, 2023) Offerings of False Witnesses (Ofrecimientos de testigos falsos).

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 316 to 318) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 318 to 325)

FALSE ACCUSATIONS (FALSAS ACUSACIONES).

Slanderous Complaint and Querella (Denuncias y querella calumniosa) and Real Slander (calumnia real).

The penalty shall be three to eight years of imprisonment if the conviction of the innocent person results.

(Note from Sinalevi: Through Article 33 of the "Ley de Justicia Tributaria", No. 7535 of August 1, 1995, this article is expanded by providing that the penalty shall be three to ten years when the subject committing this crime is a public official of the Tax Administration (Administración Tributaria)) (Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which passed it from former Article 317 to 319) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 319 to 326) Simulation of a Crime (Simulación de delito).

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 318 to 320) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 320 to 327) Self-Slander (Autocalumnia).

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 319 to 321) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 321 to 328)

(*)Concealment (Encubrimiento) and Disclosure of Confidential Information (divulgación de información confidencial) (*) (Thus its heading modified by Article 20 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009.)

Personal Assistance (Favorecimiento personal).

Whoever, without a prior promise to the crime, helped someone to evade the investigations of the authority or to withdraw from its action, or omitted to report the act while being obliged to do so, shall be punished with a prison term of six months to four years.

(Thus reformed by Article 19 of the "Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal", No. 8720 of March 4, 2009.)

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores" No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 320 to 322).

(Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 322 to 329)

Whoever acquires, receives, and conceals money, things, or goods coming from a crime in which they did not participate, or intervenes in their acquisition, reception, or concealment, shall be punished with a prison term of six months to five years, and with twenty to sixty days-fine.

It shall be punished with a prison term of three to five years when the conducts described in the preceding paragraph concern the things referred to in subsection 6) of Article 209.

It shall be punished with a prison term of four to six years when the conduct described in the first paragraph concerns things or goods whose value is greater than five base salaries (salarios base).

The respective security measure (medida de seguridad) shall be applied when the perpetrator makes receiving stolen goods (receptación) a practice that implies professionalism(*).

(Thus its numbering modified by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores" No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from Article 321 to 323) (Thus its numbering modified by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from Article 323 to 330) (*) (Note from Sinalevi: As a reference to this provision, see the rulings of the Sala Constitucional No.1992-0088 of January 17, 1992 and No. 1052 of January 8, 2009. In these resolutions, it was considered that security measures (medidas de seguridad) as a sanction for habitual offenders must be regarded as unconstitutional) (Thus reformed by the sole article of the Ley para sancionar la receptación de mercancías de alto valor, No. 10736 of July 3, 2025) Receiving Goods of Suspicious Origin (Receptación de cosas de procedencia sospechosa).

Whoever, without a prior promise to the crime, received things or goods that, according to the circumstances, they should have presumed to come from a crime, shall be punished with a prison term of six months to four years.

It shall be punished with a prison term of four to six years when the conducts described in the preceding paragraph concern the things referred to in subsection 6) of Article 209.

(The preceding paragraph thus added by Article 3 of the Ley contra el Robo y la Receptación de Cable, Dispositivos de Seguridad de Acueductos, Señales de Tránsito y Líneas Férreas, No. 10336 of March 3, 2023, which transcribes the article in its entirety) If the perpetrator makes a habitual trade of it, the respective security measure (medida de seguridad) shall be imposed on them.(*) (Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores" No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 322 to 324) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 324 to 331) (*) (Note from Sinalevi: As a reference to this provision, see the rulings of the Sala Constitucional No.1992-0088 of January 17, 1992 and No. 1052 of January 8, 2009. In these resolutions, it was considered that security measures (medidas de seguridad) as a sanction for habitual offenders must be regarded as unconstitutional) Real Assistance (Favorecimiento real).

Whoever, without a prior promise to the crime, but after the execution of it, procured or helped someone to achieve the disappearance, concealment, or alteration of the traces, evidence, or instruments of the crime, or to secure the product or profit thereof, shall be punished with a prison term of three months to four years.

This provision does not apply to anyone who, in any way, has participated in the crime; nor to anyone who incurred in the act of negligent evasion (evasión culposa).

(Thus reformed by Article 19 of the "Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal" No. 8720 of March 4, 2009.)

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores" No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 323 to 325) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 325 to 332)

A prison penalty of two to eight years of imprisonment shall be imposed on whoever, by themselves or any means, disseminates confidential information related to persons subject to protection measures in the victim and witness program.

The penalty shall be six to twelve years of imprisonment if any of the following circumstances are present:

• a)The perpetrator receives an economic or other type of benefit.
• b)The victim suffers serious damage to their health or death.
• c)The protection measures were requested based on the investigation of an organized crime offense.
• d)The perpetrator's actions cause irreparable damage to the investigation, prosecution, or punishment of the crime that gave rise to the protection measures.

(Thus added by Article 21 of the "Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal", No. 8720 of March 4, 2009.)

(Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 325 bis to 332 bis)

EVASION AND BREACH OF PENALTY (EVASIÓN Y QUEBRANTAMIENTO DE PENA) Escape (Evasión).

The penalty shall be six months to two years if the escape was carried out by means of intimidation or violence against persons or force against things.

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 324 to 326) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 326 to 333) Assistance to Escape (Favorecimiento de evasión).

If the perpetrator is a public official, the penalty shall be increased by one third.

If the perpetrator is an ascendant, descendant, spouse, sibling, common-law husband, or common-law wife (manceba) of the escapee, the penalty shall be reduced by one third.

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 325 to 327) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 327 to 334) Negligent Escape (Evasión por culpa).

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 326 to 328) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 328 to 335) Breach of Disqualification (Quebrantamiento de inhabilitación).

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores" No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 327 to 329) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 329 to 336) Leaving the Scene of the Accident (Abandono del lugar del accidente).

525 of February 3, 1993).

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 328 to 330) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 330 to 337)

CRIMES AGAINST THE DUTIES OF PUBLIC OFFICE (DELITOS CONTRA LOS DEBERES DE LA FUNCIÓN PÚBLICA) (Note from Sinalevi: In relation to the statute of limitations period for crimes against public office, see subsection d) of Article 62 of the Ley contra la Corrupción y el Enriquecimiento Ilícito en la Función Pública. In the same manner, see also Article 31 subsection d) of the Código Procesal Penal. Currently, the statute of limitations period is thirty years from the commission of the crime)

ABUSES OF AUTHORITY (ABUSOS DE AUTORIDAD) Abuse of Authority (Abuso de Autoridad).

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores" No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 329 to 331) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 331 to 338) Breach of Duties (Incumplimiento de deberes)

The same penalty shall be imposed on the public official who illicitly does not abstain, recuse themselves, or excuse themselves from carrying out a proceeding, matter, or procedure, when they are obliged to do so." (Thus reformed by Article 11 of the "Ley para las Negociones Comerciales y la Administración de los Tratados de Libre Comercio, Acuerdos e Instrumentos de Comercio Exterior ", No. 8056 of December 21, 2000) (Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores" No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 330 to 332) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 332 to 339) Denial of Assistance (Denegación de auxilio).

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores" No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 331 to 333) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 333 to 340) Request of Force Against Legitimate Acts (Requerimiento de fuerza contra actos legítimos).

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores" No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 332 to 334) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 334 to 341) Abandonment of Position (Abandono del cargo).

7348 of June 22, 1993) (Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores" No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 333 to 335) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 335 to 342) Incitement to Collective Abandonment of Public Functions (Incitación al abandono colectivo de funciones públicas).

7348 of June 22, 1993) (Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 334 to 336) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 336 to 343) Illegal Appointments (Nombramientos ilegales).

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores" No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 335 to 337) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 337 to 344) Violation of Jurisdictional Privileges (Fueros).

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores" No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 336 to 338) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 338 to 345) Disclosure of Secrets (Divulgación de secretos).

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores" No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 337 to 339) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 339 to 346)

CORRUPTION OF OFFICIALS (CORRUPCIÓN DE FUNCIONARIOS).

Improper Bribery (Cohecho impropio)

In addition, a fine of up to fifteen times the amount equivalent to the economic benefit (beneficio patrimonial) obtained or promised shall be imposed.

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores" No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 338 to 340) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 340 to 347) (Thus reformed by Article 38 of the law on the Responsibility of Legal Persons for Domestic Bribery, Transnational Bribery and Other Crimes, No. 9699 of June 10, 2019) Proper Bribery (Cohecho propio)

In addition, a fine of up to thirty times the amount equivalent to the economic benefit (beneficio patrimonial) obtained or promised shall be imposed.

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores" No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 339 to 341) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 341 to 348) (Thus reformed by Article 38 of the law on the Responsibility of Legal Persons for Domestic Bribery, Transnational Bribery and Other Crimes, No. 9699 of June 10, 2019) Aggravated Corruption (Corrupción agravada)

• 1)Such acts are aimed at the granting of public positions, pensions (jubilaciones), benefits (pensiones), the setting or collection of public rates or prices, the collection of taxes or contributions to social security, or the execution of contracts or concessions in which the Public Administration is interested.
• 2)As a consequence of the perpetrator's conduct, serious financial harm (perjuicio patrimonial) is caused to the Public Treasury (Hacienda Pública), the provision of public services is deteriorated, or damage is caused to the users of these services.

(*) (Thus the numbering of these articles changed by the indicated Law No.7732, which transferred them from 338 to 340, and from 339 to 341, respectively. Subsequently, by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, the numbering was modified with numeral 340 now being Article 347 and numeral 341 being 348) (Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 340 to 342) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 342 to 349) (Thus reformed by Article 38 of the law on the Responsibility of Legal Persons for Domestic Bribery, Transnational Bribery and Other Crimes, No. 9699 of June 10, 2019) Acceptance of Gifts for an Act Performed (Aceptación de dádivas por un acto cumplido)

In addition, a fine of up to ten times the amount equivalent to the economic benefit (beneficio patrimonial) obtained shall be imposed.

(Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 341 to 343) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal, "No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 343 to 350) (Thus reformed by Article 38 of the law on the Responsibility of Legal Persons for Domestic Bribery, Transnational Bribery and Other Crimes, No. 9699 of June 10, 2019) Offering or Granting of a Gift or Remuneration (Ofrecimiento u otorgamiento de dádiva o retribución)

8630 of January 17, 2008) (Thus added by the sole article of Law No. 8185 of December 18, 2001) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 343 bis to 350 bis) Corruption of Judges (Corrupción de Jueces)

If the unjust resolution is a criminal sentence of more than eight years of imprisonment, the penalty shall be four to eight years of imprisonment.

(*)(Thus the numbering of these articles changed by the indicated Law No.7732, which transferred them from 339 to 341. Subsequently, by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal"; No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, the numbering was modified with numeral 341 now being 348) (Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 342 to 344) (Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 344 to 351) Penalty for the Corrupter (Penalidad del corruptor).

The penalties established in the five preceding articles shall apply to whoever gives, offers, or promises a public official an undue gift or advantage.

(Thus reformed by Article 1, subsection b) of Law No. 8630 of January 17, 2008) (Thus its numbering changed by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 343 to 345).

(Thus its numbering changed by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 345 to 352)

The penalties provided for in Articles 340 through 345 shall also apply in the following scenarios:

• a)When the gift, undue advantage (ventaja indebida), or promise is solicited or accepted by the public official, for himself or for a third party.
• b)When the public official uses his position as such, even if the act is outside his authorized competence.

(Thus added by subsection c) of Article 1 of Law No. 8630 of January 17, 2008) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 345 bis to 352 bis) Illicit enrichment (Enriquecimiento ilícito).

• 1)Accepts any gift (dádiva) or the promise of a gift to exert influence derived from his office before another official, so that the latter does or refrains from doing something related to his functions; 2) Uses, for profit for himself or for a third party, reserved information or data of which he has become aware by reason of his office; 3) Admits gifts that are presented or offered to him in consideration of his office, while he remains in the exercise of the office; and 4) (Repealed by Article 69 of the Law Against Corruption and Illicit Enrichment in Public Office, No. 8422 of October 6, 2004).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 344 to 346) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 346 to 353) Incompatible negotiations (Negociaciones incompatibles).

This provision is applicable to arbitrators (árbitros), amiable compounders (amigables componedores), experts (peritos), accountants (contadores), guardians (tutores), executors (albaceas), and curators (curadores), with respect to functions performed in such capacity. In the same manner shall be sanctioned the commercial negotiator appointed by the Executive Branch for a specific matter who, during the first year after the date on which he left office, represents a client in a matter that was the subject of his direct intervention in an international commercial negotiation. The commercial negotiator who proves that he has habitually engaged in the business or professional activity that is the subject of the negotiation, for at least one year before assuming his office, does not incur this crime." (Thus amended by Article 11 of the "Law for Commercial Negotiations and Administration of Free Trade Treaties, Agreements and Foreign Trade Instruments," No. 8056 of December 21, 2000) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 345 to 347) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 347 to 354)

CONCUSSION AND ILLEGAL EXACTION Concussion (Concusión).

(Corrected by means of Errata published in La Gaceta No. 234 of November 24, 1971).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 346 to 348) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 348 to 355) Illegal exaction (Exacción ilegal).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 347 to 349) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 349 to 356)

PREVARICATION AND UNFAITHFUL REPRESENTATION Prevarication (Prevaricato).

If it is a conviction in a criminal case, the penalty shall be three to fifteen years of imprisonment.

The provisions of the first paragraph of this article shall be applicable, as the case may be, to arbitrators (árbitros) and arbitradores.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 348 to 350) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 350 to 357) Unfaithful representation (Patrocinio infiel).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 349 to 351) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 351 to 358) Double representation (Doble representación).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 350 to 352) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 352 to 359) Assimilated subjects (Sujetos equiparados).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 351 to 353) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 353 to 360)

EMBEZZLEMENT AND MISAPPROPRIATION Embezzlement (Peculado).

Shall be punished with imprisonment of three to twelve years, the public official who steals or diverts money or goods whose administration, collection, or custody has been entrusted to him by reason of his office; likewise, with imprisonment of three months to two years, the public official who uses, for his own benefit or that of third parties, work or services paid for by the Public Administration or goods owned by it.

This provision shall also be applicable to private individuals and to the managers (gerentes), administrators (administradores), or agents (apoderados) of private organizations, beneficiaries (beneficiarios), subsidized entities (subvencionados), donees (donatarios), or concessionaires (concesionarios), as regards the public goods, services, and funds that they exploit, hold in custody, administer, or possess by any title or management modality.

(Thus amended by Article 64 of the Law Against Corruption and Illicit Enrichment in Public Office, No. 8422, of October 6, 2004).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 352 to 354).

(Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 354 to 361) Culpable facilitation of theft (Facilitación culposa de substracciones).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 353 to 355) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 355 to 362) Misappropriation (Malversación)

Shall be punished with imprisonment of one to eight years, the public official, private individuals, and the managers, administrators, or agents of private legal entities, beneficiaries, subsidized entities, donees, or concessionaires who give to the public funds (caudales), goods, services, or funds that they administer, have custody of, or exploit by any title or management modality, a use different from that for which they are intended. If damage or hindrance of the service results from this, the penalty shall be increased by one third.

(Thus amended by Article 64 of the Law Against Corruption and Illicit Enrichment in Public Office, No. 8422, of October 6, 2004).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 354 to 356) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 356 to 363) Embezzlement and misappropriation of private funds

(Thus added by Article 1 of Law No. 6726 of March 10, 1982).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 354 bis to 356 bis) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 356 bis to 363 bis) Unjustified delay of payments

The same penalty shall be incurred by the public official who, required by the competent authority, refuses to deliver an amount or item deposited or placed under his custody or administration.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 355 to 357) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 357 to 364)

COMMON PROVISION FOR THE CRIMES CONTEMPLATED IN THE THREE PRECEDING TITLES Crimes committed by public officials.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 356 to 358) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 358 to 365)

CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC TRUST

FORGERY OF DOCUMENTS IN GENERAL Forgery of public and authentic documents (Falsificación de documentos públicos y auténticos).

If the act is committed by a public official in the exercise of his functions, the penalty shall be two to eight years.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 357 to 359) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 359 to 366) Ideological falsehood (Falsedad ideológica).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 358 to 360) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 360 to 367) Forgery of private documents (Falsificación de documentos privados).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 359 to 361) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 361 to 368) Forgery of accounting records (Falsificación de registros contables)

The same sanction shall apply to the natural person who, with the same purpose, keeps double accounting or accounts not entered in the accounting books.

(Thus added by Article 39 of the Law on the Responsibility of Legal Entities for Domestic Bribery, Transnational Bribery, and Other Crimes, No. 9699 of June 10, 2019) Suppression, concealment, and destruction of documents (Supresión, ocultación y destrucción de documentos).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 360 to 362) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 362 to 369)

Shall be punished with a penalty of imprisonment of three to six years, whoever commercializes or distributes a public or private document, false or true, by any illicit means and such that harm results. The penalty shall be four to eight years of imprisonment, if the person commercializing or distributing the document is a public official.

(Thus added by Article 76 of the Law Against Trafficking in Persons and Creation of the National Coalition Against Illicit Migrant Smuggling (CONATT) No. 9095 of October 26, 2012) (Sinalevi Note: In accordance with the reform made by the Law to Reform Computer-Related and Connected Crimes No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, the numbering of the Criminal Code was modified, therefore the article number to be added is 369 bis and not 362 bis as indicated in the affecting norm) Assimilated documents (Documentos equiparados).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 361 to 363) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 363 to 370) Ideological falsehood in medical certificates (Falsedad ideológica en certificados médicos).

The penalty shall be one to three years of imprisonment if the false certificate is intended to have a healthy person confined in a psychiatric hospital or other health facility.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 362 to 364) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 364 to 371) Use of a false document (Uso de falso documento).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 363 to 365) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 365 to 372)

COUNTERFEITING OF CURRENCY AND OTHER VALUES Counterfeiting of currency (Falsificación de moneda).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 364 to 366) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 366 to 373) Circulation of counterfeit currency received in good faith (Circulación de moneda falsa recibida de buena fe).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 365 to 367) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 367 to 374) Values assimilated to currency (Valores equiparados a moneda).

1.- Paper currency and legal tender, national or foreign; 2.- Credit or debit cards; 3.- National or municipal debt securities and their coupons; 4.- Bonds or bills of the national or municipal treasuries; 5.- Bearer securities, certificates (cédulas), and shares, their coupons, and bonds and bills issued by a foreign government; 6.- Clipped or altered currency; and 7.- Electronic book entries (anotaciones electrónicas en cuenta).

(Thus amended by Article 184 of the Securities Market Regulatory Law, No. 7732 of December 17, 1997) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 366 to 368) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 368 to 375)

FORGERY OF SEALS, MARKS, AND BRANDS Forgery of Seals (Falsificación de Sellos).

The same penalty shall be imposed on whoever knowingly introduces, sells, or uses them.

In these cases, as well as in those of the following articles, the fraudulent impression of a genuine seal shall be considered forgery.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 367 to 369) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 369 to 376) Forgery of marks and brands (Falsificación de señas y marcas).

• 1)Whoever forges marks (marcas), countermarks (contraseñas), or signatures (firmas) officially used to check weights or measures, identify any object, or certify its quality, quantity, or content, and whoever applies them to objects other than those to which they should have been applied.
• 2)Whoever forges tickets of public transportation companies; and 3) Whoever forges, alters, or suppresses the individualizing numbering of an object, registered in accordance with law for security or tax reasons.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 368 to 370) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 370 to 377) Fraudulent restoration of seals (Restauración fraudulenta de sellos).

The same penalty shall be incurred by whoever knowingly uses, causes to be used, or offers for sale the canceled effects referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 369 to 371) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 371 to 378) Possession of counterfeiting instruments (Tenencia de instrumentos de falsificación).

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 370 to 372) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 372 to 379)

CRIMES AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS SOLE

Racial discrimination (Discriminación racial).

For a repeat offender, the judge may also impose, as an accessory penalty, suspension from public office or positions for a period of no less than fifteen and no more than sixty days.

(Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 371 to 373) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 373 to 380) (Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 10156 of March 18, 2022) Crimes of an international character (Delitos de carácter internacional).

Imprisonment of ten to fifteen years shall be imposed on those who direct organizations of an international character engaged in trafficking in slaves, women, or children, drugs and narcotics (estupefacientes), or form part of them, commit acts of extortionate kidnapping (secuestro extorsivo) or terrorism, and violate provisions set forth in treaties signed by Costa Rica to protect human rights.

(Thus amended by the sole article of Law No. 8127 of August 29, 2001) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Securities Market Regulatory Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997," which transferred it from former Article 372 to 374) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reform of Section VIII, Computer-Related and Connected Crimes, of Title VII of the Criminal Code," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 374 to 381)

Whoever uses methods of torture directed at seriously affecting the physical, mental, or emotional integrity of the victim, carried out to affect human dignity, physical development, or the mental capacity of the victim, on the occasion of any type of discrimination or for reasons based on belonging to a racial, ethnic, nationality, religious group, or one defined by age, sex, sexual orientation, political opinion, migratory status, disability, or genetic characteristics, and any other condition, shall be punished with a prison sentence of three to fifteen years.

The same penalty shall be imposed on those who incur in the following grounds:

• 1)By commission or omission intentionally causes serious physical or mental pain or suffering to a person whom the accused has under their custody or control, whether by habitual care or by court order.
• 2)The public official who, in seeking or achieving the investigation or obtaining of information, uses coercive or intimidating methods.
• 3)The person who threatens or uses violence as punishment or as a method to intimidate, control, or exploit the victim, as a preventive measure or due to belonging to a racial, ethnic, national, religious group, or one defined by age, sex, sexual orientation, political opinion, migratory status, disability, or genetic characteristics.
• 4)The physician or any healthcare personnel who participates or collaborates in the perpetration or concealment of the crime of torture.
• 5)The public official who, acting in that capacity, orders, instigates, or induces its commission, or who, being able to prevent it, does not do so.
• 6)It is committed to the detriment of minors, in which case the penalties established in this article shall be increased by one third.
• 7)Through acts of a sexual nature.

(Thus added by article 1 of Law No. 10213 of May 5, 2022) The document for article 215675(215675) is not available

A prison sentence of fifteen to twenty-five years and disqualification from holding public office and private security duties shall be imposed on the public official, person, or group of persons who, acting with the authorization, support, or acquiescence of the State, carries out the arrest, detention, kidnapping, or any other form of deprivation of liberty of one or more persons, when these actions are followed by the refusal to acknowledge said deprivation of liberty or by the concealment of the whereabouts or status of the person, removing them from the protection of the law.

The prison sentence shall be thirty to thirty-five years if the victim is a person under eighteen years of age, a person over sixty-five years of age, a person with a disability, or a pregnant person. The same penalty shall be imposed in those cases in which the victim is a person born during the forced disappearance of their mother.

The penalties provided for in this article may be reduced by one third of the maximum and by half of the minimum when the perpetrators or participants contribute to the appearance alive of the victim or provide information that allows their effective appearance alive.

(Thus added by article 1 of the Law against the forced disappearance of persons, No. 10534 of September 18, 2024) Genocide.

Whoever commits the following shall be punished with the same penalty:

• 1)Causes serious bodily or psychological harm to members of those groups; 2) Places said groups in such precarious living conditions as to make possible the disappearance of all or part of the individuals that constitute them; 3) Takes measures intended to prevent births within those groups; and 4) Transfers, by means of force or intimidation, children from one of those groups to different ones.

(Thus its numbering corrected by subsection a) of article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former article 373 to 375) (Thus its numbering corrected by article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former article 375 to 382) Penalty for trafficking of minors for adoption.

Whoever promotes, facilitates, or favors the sale, for any purpose, of a minor and receives for it any type of payment, gratification, economic reward, or reward of another nature shall be punished with a prison sentence of eight to sixteen years. The same penalty shall be imposed on whoever pays, gratifies, or rewards with the purpose of buying the minor.

The prison sentence shall be ten to twenty years when the perpetrator is an ascendant or relative up to the third degree of consanguinity or affinity, the person in charge of the guard, custody, or any person who exercises representation of the minor. The same penalty shall be imposed on the professional or public official who sells, promotes, facilitates, or legitimizes, through any act, the sale of the minor. The professional and the public official shall also be subject to disqualification for the duration of the maximum penalty for the exercise of the profession or occupation in which the act occurred.

(Originally added by article 9 of the "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas", No. 7538 of August 22, 1995 and amended as indicated by article 74 of the Law against Trafficking in Persons and Creation of the Coalición Nacional contra el Tráfico Ilícito de Migrantes (CONATT) No. 9095 of October 26, 2012) (Thus its numbering corrected by article 185 of Law No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former article 374 to 376. Subsequently, article 3 of the law reforming Delitos Informáticos y Conexos No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, transferred it from article 376 to 383) (Note from Sinalevi: In accordance with the reform made by the law reforming delitos informáticos y conexos No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, the numbering of the Código Penal was modified, therefore the article number to be amended by Law No. 9095 is 383 and not 376 as indicated in the affecting norm)

(Thus added by article 9 of the "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas", No. 7538 of August 22, 1995).

(Thus its numbering corrected by subsection a) of article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former article 375 to 377) (Thus its numbering corrected by article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former article 377 to 384)

Whoever sells or buys organs, tissues, and/or human fluids or possesses or transports them illicitly shall be punished with a prison sentence of eight to sixteen years.

The same penalty shall be imposed on whoever:

• a)Delivers, offers, solicits, or receives any form of gratification, remuneration, or gift in cash or in kind for the donation of organs, tissues, and/or human fluids or the extraction thereof for donation purposes.
• b)Carries out acts of coercion or imposes economic, social, psychological, or any other kind of conditioning so that a person consents to the donation or extraction for donation purposes of organs, tissues, and/or human fluids.
• c)Publicly solicits or advertises, by any means, the need for an organ, tissue, or human fluid, or its availability, offering or soliciting some type of gratification, remuneration, or gift in cash or in kind, or imposing economic, social, psychological, or any other kind of conditioning.

(Thus amended by article 59 of the Ley de Donación y Trasplante de Órganos y Tejidos Humanos, No. 9222 of March 13, 2014) (Thus added by article 77 of the Law against Trafficking in Persons and Creation of the Coalición Nacional contra el Tráfico Ilícito de Migrantes (CONATT) No. 9095 of October 26, 2012) (Note from Sinalevi: In accordance with the reform made by the law reforming delitos informáticos y conexos No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, the numbering of the Código Penal was modified, therefore the article number to be added is 384 bis and not 377 bis as indicated in the affecting norm)

Whoever carries out the extraction of organs, tissues, and/or human fluids without having the prior informed consent of the living donor, in accordance with the provisions of articles 15 and 16 of Law 9222, Ley de Donación y Trasplante de Órganos y Tejidos Humanos, of March 13, 2014, or by inducing error through the concealment of information or the use of false information, or any other form of deception or manipulation, shall be punished with a prison sentence of five to twelve years. The same penalty shall be imposed on whoever carries out an extraction without first submitting the case to the clinical bioethics committee of the respective hospital, as established in article 21 of the aforementioned law.

The penalty shall be eight to sixteen years of imprisonment for whoever violates the prohibitions established in articles 17 and 26 of Law 9222, Ley de Donación y Trasplante de Órganos y Tejidos Humanos, of March 13, 2014.

Whoever extracts organs and/or human fluids from a deceased person without said person having expressed their consent in life or without the authorization of their relatives or representatives, in accordance with article 24 of Law 9222, Ley de Donación y Trasplante de Órganos y Tejidos Humanos, of March 13, 2014, shall be punished with a prison sentence of three to ten years.

The same penalty shall be applied to whoever extracts human tissues from a deceased person who expressed in life their refusal to donate, in accordance with the provisions of article 23 of the same law.

(Thus added by article 60 of the Ley de Donación y Trasplante de Órganos y Tejidos Humanos, No. 9222 of March 13, 2014) (Thus amended by article 3 of Law No. 9916 of April 14, 2021) War crimes.

(Thus added by article 2 of the "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad", No. 8272 of May 2, 2002).

(Thus its numbering corrected by article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former article 378 to 385, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal") Crimes against humanity

(Thus added by article 2 of the "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad", No. 8272 of May 2, 2002).

(Thus its numbering corrected by article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former article 379 to 386) BOOK THREE OF MISDEMEANORS

MISDEMEANORS AGAINST PERSONS

ACTS AGAINST BODILY INTEGRITY Very minor injuries (lesiones levísimas)

The penalty shall be a fine of fifteen to sixty days if the harm caused is equivalent to an inability to perform the victim's habitual occupations for five days or less.

In case of recidivism in any of these conducts, the penalty shall be ten to thirty days of imprisonment.

(Thus amended by article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002).

(Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 9 of the "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas", No. 7538 of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former article 374 to 376) (Thus its numbering corrected by subsection a) of article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former article 376 to 378) (Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 2 of the "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad", No. 8272 of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former article 378 to current 380).

(Thus its numbering corrected by article 3 of Law No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former article 380 to 387, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal")

Dueling 1) Participates in a duel.

Participation in a brawl (riña) 2) Takes part in a brawl in which two or more persons participate.

Assault on a pregnant woman 3) Assaults or causes a violent emotion to a pregnant woman, when the pregnancy of the offended woman is known to the perpetrator or is evident.

Commerce or advertisement of abortifacient substances 4) Trades or advertises procedures, instruments, medications, or substances intended to cause abortion.

(Thus amended by article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002).

(Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 9 of the "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas", No. 7538 of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former article 375 to 377).

(Thus its numbering corrected by subsection a) of article No. 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores", No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former article 377 to 379).

(Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 2 of the "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad", No. 8272 of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former article 379 to 381).

(Thus its numbering corrected by article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former article 381 to 388) Sexual harassment in public spaces or spaces of public access

A fine of fifteen to thirty days shall be imposed on whoever, in a public space, a space of public access, or in a paid means of transportation of persons, utters, directs, or executes, with sexual connotation, words, noises, whistles, panting, moans, gestures, or bodily movements toward another person, without their consent.

The penalty shall be a fine of twenty-five to thirty-five days if the conducts described in the preceding paragraph are committed by two or more persons, or through the use of electronic means of communication.

(Thus added by article 6 of the Law against street sexual harassment, No. 9877 of August 10, 2020)

PROTECTION OF MINORS

Immoderate punishment of children 1) Parents, guardians, or custodians of minors who punish them in an immoderate manner or attempt to hand them over to another person or public establishment, in order to evade the responsibilities inherent to their legal duty, or who expose them to corruption.

• 2)Whoever has a minor under their care and exposes them to any foreseeable or avoidable danger.

(*)Dissemination, disclosure, or use of image, voice, and personal data without consent 3) Whoever disseminates, discloses, or uses images, the voice, or the personal data of a minor, in any way that allows the identification of the minor, without the express consent of the legally responsible persons. The foregoing is without prejudice to any civil liabilities that may be claimed.

(*) (Thus the preceding subsection added by the sole article of the Law for the protection of the image, voice, and personal data of minors, No. 10238 of July 11, 2022) (Thus amended by article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002).

(Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 9 of the "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas", No. 7538 of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former article 376 to 378) (Thus its numbering corrected by subsection a) of article No. 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores", No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former article 378 to 380) (Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 2 of the "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad", No. 8272 of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former article 380 to 382).

(Thus its numbering corrected by article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former article 382 to 389) Begging

(Thus amended by article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002).

(Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 9 of the "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas", No. 7538 of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former article 377 to 379) (Thus its numbering corrected by subsection a) of article No. 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores", No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former article 379 to 381) (Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 2 of the "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad", No. 8272 of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former article 381 to 383).

(Thus its numbering corrected by article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former article 383 to 390)

PROVOCATIONS AND THREATS

Provocation to brawl (riña) 1) Provokes another to a brawl or fight.

Personal threats 2) Threatens another or their family.

Throwing of objects 3) Throws dirty things or any kind of objects at another person, without causing them harm.

(Thus amended by article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 9 of the "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas", No. 7538 of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former article 378 to 380) (Thus its numbering corrected by subsection a) of article No. 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores", No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former article 380 to 382) (Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 2 of the "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad", No. 8272 of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former article 382 to 384).

(Thus its numbering corrected by article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former article 384 to 391)

MISDEMEANORS AGAINST GOOD MORALS

SOLE

Drunkenness 1) On whoever appears drunk in a public place and causes a scandal, disturbs the tranquility of persons, or endangers their own safety or that of others. If they reoffend, the penalty shall be a fine of ten to fifty days.

Mistreatment of animals 2) (Repealed by article 4 of Law No. 9458 of June 11, 2017) Obscene words or acts 3) On whoever, in a public place or a private place exposed to the gaze of others, utters obscene words or executes acts, gestures, attitudes, or indecorous or dishonest exhibitions.

Disrespectful propositions 4) On whoever expresses disrespectful phrases or propositions to another, directs rude or mortifying gestures at them, or besieges them with impertinences of fact, oral or written.

Touchings 5) (Repealed by article 7 of the Law against street sexual harassment, No. 9877 of August 10, 2020) Exhibitionism 6) On whoever, in a public place, appears naked or exhibits their genital organs.

Usurpation of name 7) On whoever usurps the name of another.

Indiscreet glances 8) On whoever looks, in any manner, into the interior of an inhabited house, with the purpose of violating the privacy of its inhabitants.

Mortifying calls 9) On whoever makes mortifying calls by telephone or other analogous means.

(Thus amended by article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 9 of the "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas", No. 7538 of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former article 379 to 381) (Thus its numbering corrected by subsection a) of article No. 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores", No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former article 381 to 383) (Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 2 of the "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad", No. 8272 of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former article 383 to 385).

(Thus its numbering corrected by article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former article 385 to 392)

MISDEMEANORS AGAINST THE INVIOLABILITY OF LANDS, PROPERTIES, OR BUSINESSES

SOLE

Violent entry into businesses 1) Enters a public or private establishment, using violence.

Resistance to order to leave a public establishment 2) Being in a public or private establishment, does not leave after receiving the order to do so.

Hunting and fishing on forbidden grounds 3) Enters to hunt or fish on a closed property or forbidden grounds without permission from the owner or the authority, in the case of vacant lands.

Entry without permission onto another's land 4) Enters onto another's closed land, without permission from the owner or possessor.

(Thus amended by article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 9 of the "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas", No. 7538 of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former article 380 to 382) (Thus its numbering corrected by subsection a) of article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores; No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former article 382 to 384) (Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 2 of the "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad", No. 8272 of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former article 384 to 386).

(Thus its numbering corrected by article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former article 386 to 393)

MISDEMEANORS AGAINST PROPERTY AND ASSETS

SOLE

Drawing on walls 1) On whoever writes, exhibits, or draws pictures or emblems or affixes papers or posters on the exterior part of a construction, a public or private building, a dwelling house, a wall, a movable asset, a traffic signal, or on any other object located visibly, without permission from the owner or possessor or the respective authority, as the case may be. If they reoffend, the penalty shall be five to twenty days of imprisonment.

False weights or measures 2) On whoever, while engaging in commerce, uses false weights or measures or exact measures not verified or different from those authorized by law.

(Thus amended by article 19 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and other Participants in the Criminal Process, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009.)

(Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 9 of the "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas", No. 7538 of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former article 381 to 383) (Thus its numbering corrected by subsection a) of article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores; No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former article 383 to 385) (Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 2 of the "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad", No. 8272 of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former article 385 to 387).

(Thus its numbering corrected by article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal", No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former article 387 to 394)

MISDEMEANORS AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER

DISTURBANCES OF PUBLIC TRANQUILITY

Disturbances 1) On whoever, in any manner, causes a disturbance that disrupts the tranquility of persons.

False calls to emergency entities 2) On whoever falsely alarms or calls the police, the fire department, the ambulance, or another entity dedicated to attending emergencies.

Disorders 3) On whoever, in a public place or place of public access, promotes disorder or participates in it, when the act does not carry a more severe penalty.

(Thus amended by article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 9 of the "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas", No. 7538 of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former article 382 to 384) (Thus its numbering corrected by subsection a) of article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores; No.7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former article 384 to 386) (Thus its numbering corrected by article No. 2 of the "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad", No. 8272 of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former article 386 to 388).

(Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 388 to 395)

DISOBEDIENCE, CONTEMPT, AND DISRESPECT TOWARD AUTHORITY

Destruction of official seals 1) Anyone who has torn off, destroyed, or otherwise rendered unusable the seals affixed by the authority for judicial or tax purposes.

Failure to aid the authority 2) Anyone who fails to provide the aid requested by the authority in case of earthquake, fire, flood, shipwreck, or other calamity or misfortune, even if able to do so without serious detriment to themselves, or who fails to supply the information requested or provides false information.

Failure to appear as a witness 3) Any person who, having been lawfully summoned as a witness, refrains from appearing or refuses to give the corresponding statement.

Refusal to perform expert acts 4) Any physician, surgeon, pharmacist, or midwife who, called as an expert (perito) in a judicial proceeding, refuses to perform the examination and provide the report required by the judicial authority.

Refusal of the obligation to serve as an expert 5) Any expert (perito) or interpreter who, having accepted the appointment in a judicial matter, refuses without just cause to fulfill it or delays fulfilling it to the detriment of any of the parties to the matter.

Refusal to identify oneself 6) Anyone who, when requested or questioned by a competent authority in the exercise of its functions, refuses to present their identity card, passport, or residence permit, refuses to give their name, profession, marital status, nationality, place of birth, domicile, and other personal identification data, or provides false information.

Obstructing the action of authority 7) Anyone who, without assaulting a public official or the person providing assistance at the request of that official or by virtue of a legal obligation, obstructs or hinders, in any way, the performance of an act proper to their functions, resists them, or engages in other contempt that does not constitute a crime.

False wearing of insignia 8) Anyone who publicly wears insignia or badges of an office they do not hold, or falsely pretends to be vested with a public function, office, or authority, or authorized to exercise it.

(Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of Law No. 7538, "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 383 to 385) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of Law No. 7732, "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 385 to 387) (Thus renumbered by Article 2 of Law No. 8272, "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 387 to 389) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 389 to 396)

Public entertainment, amusements, and establishments

Blackouts 1) Anyone who, improperly, turns off all or part of the public lighting or that of a public place or a place accessible to the public.

• 2)Anyone who, with shouting, noisy demonstrations, or in any other way, disturbs a gathering, popular festival, or public spectacle.

(Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of Law No. 7538, "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 384 to 386) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of Law No. 7732, "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 386 to 388) (Thus renumbered by Article 2 of Law No. 8272, "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 388 to 390) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 390 to 397)

CIRCULATION OF CURRENCY AND OTHER SECURITIES

Refusal to receive legal tender currency 1) Anyone who refuses to receive national legal tender currency in payment for its value.

Manufacture or circulation of photographs resembling securities 2) Anyone who manufactures, sells, or circulates printed matter or photographs, photoengravings, and objects resembling banknotes, bonds, interest coupons, stamps, postage stamps, or other securities, in such a way as to facilitate confusion.

(Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of Law No. 7538, "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 385 to 387) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of Law No. 7732, "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 387 to 389) (Thus renumbered by Article 2 of Law No. 8272, "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 389 to 391) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 391 to 398)

MISDEMEANORS AGAINST PUBLIC SAFETY

TRAFFIC SAFETY Irregularities with public transport users

(Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of Law No. 7538, "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 386 to 388) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of Law No. 7732, "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 388 to 390) (Thus renumbered by Article 2 of Law No. 8272, "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 390 to 392) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 392 to 399)

Unauthorized use of public roads a) Anyone who installs signs or notices that, by similarity, shape, color, and placement, may hinder the reading of official traffic signals, the circulation of vehicles, or the visibility of the roads.

• b)Anyone who places, within the right-of-way, advertisements, signs, or structures with advertising that affect visibility or road safety and that lack the respective permits.
• c)Anyone who uses public roads for sales or lucrative activities, permanent vehicle repair, juggling acts, circus acts, begging, or other activities that obstruct free transit.
• d)Anyone who occupies, without proper authorization, urban and suburban public roads to construct stands or stalls for popular, patron saint, or other festivals.
• e)Anyone who throws onto a public road objects or substances that endanger road safety.

Alteration of official traffic devices and signals a) Anyone who alters, damages, removes without authorization, or makes unauthorized use of official traffic devices and signals.

Omission to place or remove signs a) Anyone who fails to place, or removes without authorization, the signs or notices ordered by law, regulations, or the authority, to indicate houses or places where there is a risk of collapse or other threat, or to warn people in a public thoroughfare, or who turns off a light placed as a signal.

Annoyance to pedestrians or drivers a) Anyone who obstructs or, in any way, hinders traffic on public roads or their sidewalks, with materials, debris, or objects, or crosses them with vehicles, beams, wires, or similar objects, without using the means required by the circumstances to avoid harm or annoyance to pedestrians or drivers, if placed without a license from the competent authority.

Violation of regulations concerning public roads a) Anyone who violates the laws or regulations on the opening, maintenance, or repair of public roads, when the act does not carry a more severe penalty.

(Thus amended by Article 246 of Law No. 9078, "Ley de Tránsito por Vías Públicas Terrestres y Seguridad Vial," of October 4, 2012) (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of Law No. 7538, "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 387 to 389) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of Law No. 7732, "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 389 to 391) (Thus renumbered by Article 2 of Law No. 8272, "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 391 to 393) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 393 to 400)

Safety of constructions and buildings

Delay in the repair or demolition of a construction 1) Anyone who omits or delays the repair or demolition of a construction or part thereof that threatens ruin, when obligated to repair or demolish it.

Omission of safety measures for the protection of persons 2) The director of the construction or demolition of a work who omits taking adequate safety measures for the protection of persons or property.

Opening of wells endangering neighboring constructions or properties 3) Anyone who, with or without authorization, opens wells, excavations, or carries out works involving danger to persons or property, without adopting the necessary prevention measures, provided no harm is caused.

Obligation to keep lands clean 4) Anyone who omits to fulfill the obligation to keep their lands and buildings in the necessary conditions of safety, public ornamentation (ornato), and health and, thereby, causes danger to the health, property, and integrity of neighbors or pedestrians, or causes detriment to public ornamentation (ornato).

Violation of construction regulations 5) Anyone who violates construction regulations on public ornamentation (ornato) and accessibility for all persons.

In the cases provided for in this article, the judge shall order all necessary repairs to be carried out, at the expense of the convicted person.

(Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of Law No. 7538, "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 388 to 390) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of Law No. 7732, "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 390 to 392) (Thus renumbered by Article 2 of Law No. 8272, "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 392 to 394) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 394 to 401)

FIRES AND OTHER DANGERS — VIOLATION OF MEASURES TO PREVENT DANGERS ARISING FROM MACHINERY AND OTHER OBJECTS

(Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of Law No. 7538, "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 389 to 391) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of Law No. 7732, "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 391 to 393) (Thus renumbered by Article 2 of Law No. 8272, "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 393 to 395) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 395 to 402)

Contravention of fire prevention provisions 1) Anyone who contravenes provisions aimed at preventing fires or preventing their spread.

Violation of regulations on pests 2) Anyone who violates the law on the control and extermination of all pests harmful to agriculture, livestock, and poultry farming.

(Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of Law No. 7538, "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 390 to 392) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of Law No. 7732, "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 392 to 394) (Thus renumbered by Article 2 of Law No. 8272, "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 394 to 396) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 396 to 403)

SUPERVISION OF THE INSANE Illegal custody of the insane

The same penalty shall be imposed on anyone who, having such persons under their custody, allows them to circulate publicly without supervision.

(Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of Law No. 7538, "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 391 to 393) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of Law No. 7732, "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 393 to 395) (Thus renumbered by Article 2 of Law No. 8272, "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 395 to 397) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 397 to 404)

SUPERVISION AND CARE OF ANIMALS Abandonment of animals

(Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of Law No. 7538, "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 392 to 394) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of Law No. 7732, "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 394 to 396) (Thus renumbered by Article 2 of Law No. 8272, "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 396 to 398) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 398 to 405)

The following shall be sanctioned with a fine of twenty to fifty days:

• a)Anyone who performs acts of animal cruelty. Animal cruelty (maltrato animal) shall be understood as any conduct that causes unjustified injuries to a domestic or domesticated animal.
• b)Anyone who abandons domestic animals to their own devices.

A domestic animal shall be understood as any animal that, due to its evolutionary and behavioral characteristics, coexists with human beings. A domesticated animal shall be understood as any animal that, through human effort, has changed its wild condition.

Organizations duly registered in the Judicial Registry may represent the diffuse interests of animals affected by the conduct described in this provision.

(Thus added by Article 3 of Law No. 9458 of June 11, 2017)

The following activities are excepted from the application of the penalties provided for in Article 405 bis of this law:

• a)Fishing and aquaculture activities, regulated by Law No. 7384, "Creación del Instituto Costarricense de Pesca y Acuicultura (Incopesca)," of March 16, 1994, and Law No. 8436, "Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura," of March 1, 2005.
• b)Agricultural, zootechnical, livestock, or veterinary activities regulated in accordance with Law No. 8495, "Ley General del Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal," of April 6, 2006.
• c)Activities for the purposes of health or phytosanitary control improvement, marking, reproductive control, or hygiene of the respective animal species.
• d)Activities carried out for reasons of mercy.
• e)Activities carried out for reasons of protecting crops or productive lands.
• f)Activities carried out for research purposes, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter III of Law No. 7451, "Bienestar de los Animales," of November 16, 1994.
• g)Activities carried out for the purpose of safeguarding public health and public veterinary health.
• h)Public or private shows with animals, in accordance with current legislation.
• i)The duly accredited professional training of assistance animals for persons with disabilities and of animals used for human security or for combating crime.
• j)Breeding or transport activities, in accordance with current legislation.

(Thus added by Article 3 of Law No. 9458 of June 11, 2017)

Environment

Violation of regulations on burning 1) Anyone who violates the regulations concerning the cutting or burning of forests, trees, weeds, stubble, or other products of the land, when no other express penalty exists.

Obstruction of ditches or canals 2) Anyone who throws into ditches or canals objects that obstruct the flow of water.

Opening or closing of faucets 3) Anyone who improperly opens or closes faucets, or in any other way not expressly penalized, contravenes existing regulations on water.

Violation of hunting and fishing regulations 4) Anyone who, in any way, violates the laws or regulations on hunting and fishing, provided the violation is not expressly punished in another legal provision.

(Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of Law No. 7538, "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 393 to 395) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of Law No. 7732, "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 395 to 397) (Thus renumbered by Article 2 of Law No. 8272, "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 397 to 399) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 399 to 406) Use of illegal substances for fishing

(Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of Law No. 7538, "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 394 to 396) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of Law No. 7732, "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 396 to 398) (Thus renumbered by Article 2 of Law No. 8272, "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 398 to 400) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 400 to 407)

PUBLIC HEALTH Concealment or removal of unsanitary objects

(Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of Law No. 7538, "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 395 to 397) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of Law No. 7732, "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 397 to 399) (Thus renumbered by Article 2 of Law No. 8272, "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 399 to 401) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 401 to 408) Noxious emissions of smoke, vapor, or gas

The same penalty shall be imposed on the owners or lessees of all motor vehicles who fail to adopt the necessary measures to prevent emissions of carbon monoxide, smoke, and other sources of atmospheric pollution that cause annoyance to the public or harm their health.

(Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002) (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of Law No. 7538, "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 396 to 398) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of Law No. 7732, "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 398 to 400) (Thus renumbered by Article 2 of Law No. 8272, "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 400 to 402) (Thus renumbered by Article 3 of Law No. 9048, "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 402 to 409) BOOK FOUR Final Provisions

All laws concerning acts provided for and punished in this Code are likewise repealed, but only in their punitive provisions, with the exception of those relating to crimes of a military nature because they pertain to the service and discipline of the army, when the Republic is in a state of war, and also excluding the punishments that the Código Fiscal and related laws establish to penalize violations against the Public Treasury. Any legal or regulatory provision that contradicts or opposes the provisions of this Code is also repealed.

Also repealed are the Ley de Protección Agrícola No. 23 of July 2, 1943, and the provisions of the Código Sanitario that contradict the provisions of this Code.

(Thus renumbered by Article 9 of the "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," No. 7538 of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 414 to 416) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 416 to 418) (Note from Sinalevi: The numbering of this article was modified by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, which comprehensively reforms the Título Tercero of Contraventions, ordering the renumbering of the remaining articles, moving Article 418 to become current Article 401).

(Thus renumbered by Article 2 of the "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," No. 8272 of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 401 to 402).

(Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 403 to 410)

(Thus renumbered by Article 9 of the "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," No. 7538 of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 415 to 417) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 417 to 419) (Note from Sinalevi: The numbering of this article was modified by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, which comprehensively reforms the Título Tercero of Contraventions, ordering the renumbering of the remaining articles, moving Article 419 to become Article 402).

(Thus renumbered by Article 2 of the "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," No. 8272 of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 402 to 404).

(Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 404 to 411)

The payment shall be verified with the corresponding receipt issued by the respective Tesorería Cantonal Escolar.

(Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 5386 of October 19, 1973) (Note from Sinalevi: Law 5386 of October 19, 1973, in its transitional provision, ordered that "The sums collected as day-fines (días multa) and which have not been distributed to the Juntas de Educación, must be paid to the Patronato de Construcción, Instalación y Adquisición de Bienes de Adaptación Social, in order to make the transfer to the corresponding Juntas de Educación.") (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of the "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," No. 7538 of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 416 to 418) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 418 to 420) (Note from Sinalevi: The numbering of this article was modified by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, which comprehensively reforms the Título Tercero of Contraventions, ordering the renumbering of the remaining articles, moving Article 420 to become Article 403).

(Thus renumbered by Article 2 of the "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," No. 8272 of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 403 to 405).

(Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 405 to 412)

(Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 4589 of January 6, 1971) (Thus renumbered by Article 9 of the "Ley Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas," No. 7538 of August 22, 1995, which transferred it from former Article 417 to 419) (Thus renumbered by subsection a) of Article 185 of the "Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores," No. 7732 of December 17, 1997, which transferred it from former Article 419 to 421) (Note from Sinalevi: The numbering of this article was modified by Article 2 of Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, which comprehensively reforms the Título Tercero of Contraventions, ordering the renumbering of the remaining articles, moving Article 421 to become Article 404.)

(Thus renumbered by Article 2 of the "Ley Represión Penal como castigo por los Crímenes de Guerra y de Lesa Humanidad," No. 8272 of May 2, 2002, which transferred it from former Article 404 to current 406).

(Thus renumbered by Article 3 of the law "Reforma de la Sección VIII, Delitos Informáticos y Conexos, del Título VII del Código Penal," No. 9048 of July 10, 2012, which transferred it from former Article 406 to 413) TRANSITIONAL PROVISION I.- Until such time as the Instituto de Criminología is provided with the necessary economic means to render the reports referred to in Article 17 of the Código Penal, it shall be optional for it to answer them. If it fails to do so within the period of 15 days from the request for the report, which is mandatory, the judges shall give the case records (autos) the course of law.

(Thus added by Article 1 of Law No. 5054 of August 11, 1972) (NOTE: This article was eliminated by Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, which comprehensively reformed the Título Tercero of Contraventions). Article file (NOTE: This article was eliminated by Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, which comprehensively reformed the Título Tercero of Contraventions). Article file (NOTE: This article was eliminated by Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, which comprehensively reformed the Título Tercero of Contraventions). Article file (NOTE: This article was eliminated by Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, which comprehensively reformed the Título Tercero of Contraventions). Article file (NOTE: This article was eliminated by Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, which comprehensively reformed the Título Tercero of Contraventions). Article file (NOTE: This article was eliminated by Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, which comprehensively reformed the Título Tercero of Contraventions). Article file (NOTE: This article was eliminated by Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, which comprehensively reformed the Título Tercero of Contraventions). Article file (NOTE: This article was eliminated by Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, which comprehensively reformed the Título Tercero of Contraventions). Article file (NOTE: This article was eliminated by Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, which comprehensively reformed the Título Tercero of Contraventions). Article file (NOTE: This article was eliminated by Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, which comprehensively reformed the Título Tercero of Contraventions). Article file (NOTE: This article was eliminated by Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, upon comprehensively reforming the Título Tercero of Contraventions). Article file (NOTE: This article was eliminated by Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, upon comprehensively reforming the Título Tercero of Contraventions). Article file (NOTE: This article was eliminated by Law No. 8250 of May 2, 2002, upon comprehensively reforming the Título Tercero of Contraventions). Article file

NOTE: See current Article 404.

See current Article 405.

See current Article 406.

Date of generation: 9/3/2026 05:06:00 Go to beginning of document

Prohibición de analogía.

No podrá imponerse sanción alguna, mediante aplicación analógica de la ley penal.

Valor supletorio de este Código.

Las disposiciones generales de este Código se aplicarán también a los hechos punibles previstos en leyes especiales, siempre que éstas no establezcan nada en contrario. Ficha articulo

Aplicación en el Espacio Territorialidad.

La ley penal costarricense se aplicará a quien cometa un hecho punible en el territorio de la República, salvo las excepciones establecidas en los tratados, convenios y reglas internacionales aceptados por Costa Rica. Para los efectos de esta disposición se entenderá por territorio de la República, además del natural o geográfico, el mar territorial, el espacio aéreo que los cubre y la plataforma continental. Se considerará también territorio nacional las naves y aeronaves costarricenses. Ficha articulo Extraterritorialidad.

Se aplicará también la ley penal costarricense a los hechos punibles cometidos en el extranjero, cuando:

• 1)Atentaren contra la seguridad interior o exterior del Estado, lo mismo contra su economía; y 2) Sean cometidos contra la administración pública, por funcionarios al servicio de ella, sean o no costarricenses.

Posibilidad de incoar proceso por hechos punibles cometidos en el extranjero.

Podrá incoarse proceso por hechos punibles cometidos en el extranjero y en ese caso aplicarse la ley costarricense, cuando:

• 1)Produzcan o puedan producir sus resultados en todo o en parte, en el territorio nacional; 2) Hayan sido cometidos por personas al servicio de Costa Rica y no hubieren sido juzgadas en el lugar de comisión del hecho, en virtud de inmunidad diplomática o funcional; y 3) Se perpetraren contra algún costarricense o sus derechos.
• 4)Hayan sido cometidos por algún costarricense.

(Así adicionado el inciso anterior por el artículo 1°, punto 2., aparte a) de la Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo, N° 8719 de 4 de marzo de 2009).

Aplicación de la Ley penal para actos de terrorismo

En los casos de los delitos tipificados en el inciso 4) del artículo 112, los incisos 7) y 8) del artículo 215, y en los artículos 246, 246 bis, 250 ter, 251, 258, 259, 260, 274, 274 bis, 374, 284 bis de este Código, así como en el artículo 69 bis de la Ley N.º 8204, Reforma integral de la Ley sobre estupefacientes, sustancias psicotrópicas, drogas de uso no autorizado, y actividades conexas, de 26 de diciembre de 2001, y sus reformas, se aplicará la ley penal costarricense con ocasión de esos delitos, a las personas respecto de las cuales no proceda la extradición, de conformidad con las normas vigentes.

Para efectos de extradición, estos delitos no serán considerados delitos políticos ni delitos conexos con un delito político; tampoco, delitos inspirados en motivos políticos.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 1°, punto 2., aparte b) de la Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo, N° 8719 de 4 de marzo de 2009).

Independientemente de las disposiciones vigentes en el lugar de la comisión del hecho punible y la nacionalidad del autor, se penará, conforme a la ley costarricense, a quienes cometan actos de piratería, terrorismo o su financiamiento, o actos de genocidio; falsifiquen monedas, títulos de crédito, billetes de banco y otros efectos al portador; trafiquen, ilícitamente, armas, municiones, delitos sexuales contra personas menores de edad, o se ocupen del tráfico de estupefacientes o de publicaciones obscenas. Asimismo, se penará a quienes cometan los delitos de enriquecimiento ilícito; receptación, legalización o encubrimiento de bienes; legislación o administración en provecho propio; sobreprecio irregular; falsedad en la recepción de bienes y servicios contratados; pago irregular de contratos administrativos; tráfico de influencias; soborno transnacional, e influencia en contra de la Hacienda Pública, contemplados en la Ley N.° 8422, Ley contra la Corrupción y el Enriquecimiento Ilícito en la Función Pública, de 6 de octubre de 2004, y los delitos de cohecho impropio; cohecho propio; corrupción agravada; aceptación de dádivas por un acto cumplido; corrupción de jueces; penalidad del corruptor; negociaciones incompatibles; peculado; malversación; y peculado y malversación de fondos privados contemplados en el presente Código, así como otros hechos punibles contra los derechos humanos y el derecho internacional humanitario, previstos en los tratados suscritos por Costa Rica, en este Código y otras leyes especiales.

(Así reformado por el artículo 38 de la ley sobre la Responsabilidad de las personas jurídicas sobre cohechos domésticos, soborno transnacional y otros delitos, N° 9699 del 10 de junio del 2019) Cuando pueden ser perseguidos los delitos mencionados anteriormente.

Para que los delitos a que se contrae el artículo 5º sean perseguibles en Costa Rica, se requiere únicamente la acción del Estado. En los contemplados en los artículos 6º y 7º, es necesario que el delincuente esté en el territorio nacional. Además en los casos del artículo 6º, se precederá con la simple querella del ofendido y en los del artículo 7º sólo podrá iniciarse la acción penal, mediante instancia de los órganos competentes. Ficha articulo Sin valor de cosa juzgada la sentencia extranjera en los delitos mencionados anteriormente.

No tendrán el valor de cosa juzgada las sentencias penales extranjeras que se pronuncien sobre los delitos señalados en los artículos 4º y 5º; sin embargo a la pena o a parte de ella que el reo hubiere cumplido en virtud de tales sentencias, se abonará la que se impusiere de conformidad con la ley nacional, si ambas son de similar naturaleza y, si no lo son, se atenuará prudentemente aquélla.

Sentencias extranjeras con valor de cosa juzgada.

En los casos señalados en los artículos 6º y 7º, la sentencia penal extranjera absolutoria, tendrá valor de cosa juzgada para todos los efectos legales. La condenatoria en todos los casos la tendrá para determinar los fenómenos de la reincidencia y la habitualidad. Ficha articulo

Aplicación en el Tiempo Epoca de vigencia de la ley penal.

Los hechos punibles se juzgarán de conformidad con las leyes vigentes en la época de su comisión.

Ley posterior a la comisión de un hecho punible.

(Nota de Sinalevi: Mediante circular N° 178-2017 y publicada en el Boletín Judicial N° 45 del 9 de marzo de 2018, se publicó la tabla de conductas por accidentes de tránsito. Ajuste a multas por aplicación de sanción más favorable, artículo 12 Código Penal, misma que se transcribe a continuación:

”) Ley emitida antes del cumplimiento de la condena.

Si la promulgación de la nueva ley cuya aplicación resulta más favorable al reo, se produjere antes del cumplimiento de la condena, deberá el Tribunal competente modificar la sentencia, de acuerdo con las disposiciones de la nueva ley. Ficha articulo Ley temporal.

Los hechos realizados durante la vigencia de una ley destinada a regir temporalmente, se juzgarán siempre de conformidad con los términos de ésta.

En cuanto a medidas de seguridad.

En cuanto a las medidas de seguridad, se aplicará la ley vigente en el momento de la sentencia y las que se dicten durante su ejecución. Ficha articulo

Aplicación a las Personas Obligatoriedad de la ley penal y excepciones.

La aplicación de la ley penal es obligatoria para todos los habitantes, con excepción de:

• 1)Los jefes de Estado extranjeros que se encuentren en el territorio nacional y los agentes diplomáticos de otros Estados y demás personas que gocen de inmunidad penal, según las convenciones internacionales aceptadas por Costa Rica; y 2) Los funcionarios públicos que conforme a la Constitución Política gocen de inmunidad. Ficha articulo

APLICACIÓN POR LA MATERIA Ley especial para menores.

(Así reformado por el artículo 2° de la ley "Reforma Integral de Ley Orgánica de la Jurisdicción Tutelar de Menores" ley 7383 del 16 de marzo de 1994)

EL HECHO PUNIBLE

Forma, Tiempo y Lugar del Hecho Punible Forma del hecho punible.

El hecho punible puede ser realizado por acción o por omisión. Cuando la ley reprime el hecho en consideración al resultado producido, responderá quien no lo impida si podía hacerlo, de acuerdo con las circunstancias, y si debía jurídicamente evitarlo. Ficha articulo Tiempo del hecho punible.

El hecho se considera realizado en el momento de la acción u omisión, aun cuando sea otro el momento del resultado. Ficha articulo Lugar del hecho punible.

El hecho se considera cometido:

• a)En el lugar en que se desarrolló, en todo o en parte, la actividad delictuosa de autores o partícipes; y b) En el lugar en que se produjo o debió producirse el resultado.

En los delitos omisivos, el hecho se considera realizado donde hubiere debido tener lugar la acción omitida. Ficha articulo

Concurso de Delitos y Concurso Aparente de Normas Concurso ideal.

Hay concurso ideal cuando con una sola acción u omisión se violan diversas disposiciones legales que no se excluyen entre sí. Ficha articulo Concurso material.

Hay concurso material cuando un mismo agente comete separada o conjuntamente varios delitos.

Concurso aparente de normas.

Cuando una misma conducta esté descrita en varias disposiciones legales que se excluyan entre sí, sólo se aplicará una de ellas, así: la norma especial prevalece sobre la general, la que contiene íntegramente a otra se prefiere a ésta y aquélla que la ley no haya subordinado expresa o tácitamente a otra, se aplica en vez de la accesoria. Ficha articulo

TENTATIVA Cuándo existe.

No se aplicará la pena correspondiente a la tentativa cuando fuere absolutamente imposible la consumación del delito.

(Texto modificado por resolución de la Sala Constitucional Nº 1588-98 de las 16:27 horas del 10 de marzo de 1998).

Causas de Justificación Cumplimiento de la ley.

No delinque quien obrare en cumplimiento de un deber legal o en el ejercicio legítimo de un derecho.

(Corregido mediante Fe de Erratas publicada en La Gaceta N° 234 de 24 de noviembre de 1971).

Consentimiento del derechohabiente.

No delinque quien lesiona o pone en peligro un derecho con el consentimiento de quien válidamente pueda darlo. Ficha articulo Estado de necesidad.

No comete delito el que, ante una situación de peligro para bien jurídico propio o ajeno, lesiona otro, para evitar un mal mayor, siempre que concurran los siguientes requisitos:

• a)Que el peligro sea actual o inminente; b) Que no lo haya provocado voluntariamente; y c) Que no sea evitable de otra manera.

Si el titular del bien que se trata de salvar, tiene el deber jurídico de afrontar el riesgo, no se aplicará lo dispuesto en este artículo. Ficha articulo Legítima defensa.

• a)Agresión ilegítima; y b) Necesidad razonable de la defensa empleada para repeler o impedir la agresión.

Se entenderá que concurre esta causal de justificación para aquel que ejecutare actos violentos contra el individuo extraño que, sin derecho alguno y con peligro para los habitantes u ocupantes de la edificación o sus dependencias, se hallare dentro de ellas, cualquiera que sea el daño causado al intruso.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1º de la ley Nº 5743 de 4 de agosto de 1975).

Exceso en la defensa.

Si en los casos de los artículos anteriores, el agente ha incurrido en exceso, el hecho se sancionará de acuerdo con el artículo 79. No es punible el exceso proveniente de un excitación o turbación que las circunstancias hicieren excusable. Ficha articulo

Culpabilidad No hay pena sin culpa.

Nadie puede ser sancionado por un hecho expresamente tipificado en la ley si no lo ha realizado con dolo, culpa o preterintención. Ficha articulo Significado del dolo.

Obra con dolo quien quiere la realización del hecho tipificado, así como quien la acepta, previéndola a lo menos como posible. Ficha articulo Preterintención.

Obra con preterintención quien realiza una conducta de la cual se deriva un resultado más grave y de la misma especie que el que quiso producir, siempre que este segundo resultado pueda serle imputado a título de culpa. Ficha articulo Caso fortuito o fuerza mayor.

No es culpable quien realiza el hecho típico por caso fortuito o fuerza mayor.

Error de hecho.

No es culpable quien, al realizar el hecho, incurre en error sobre algunas de las exigencias necesarias para que el delito exista, según su descripción. No obstante, si el error proviene de culpa, el hecho se sancionará sólo cuando la ley señale pena para su realización a tal título. Las mismas reglas se aplicarán respecto de quien supone erróneamente la concurrencia de circunstancias que justificarían el hecho realizado. Ficha articulo Error de derecho.

No es culpable, el que por error invencible cree que el hecho que realiza no está sujeto a pena. Si el error no fuere invencible, la pena prevista para el hecho podrá ser atenuada, de acuerdo con lo que establece el artículo 79. Ficha articulo Obediencia debida.

• a)Que la orden dimane de autoridad competente para expedirla y esté revestida de las formas exigidas por la ley; b) Que el agente esté jerárquicamente subordinado a quien expide la orden; y c) Que la orden no revista el carácter de una evidente infracción punible.

Pena más grave por consecuencia especial del hecho.

Si la ley señalare pena más grave por una consecuencia especial del hecho, se aplicará sólo al autor o partícipe que haya actuado, a lo menos culposamente respecto a ella. Ficha articulo Coacción o amenaza.

No es culpable quien obra bajo coacción o amenaza de un mal actual grave, sea o no provocada por la acción de un tercero, cuando razonablemente no pueda exigírsele una conducta diversa. Ficha articulo

Reincidencia Reincidencia y su apreciación.

Es reincidente quien comete un nuevo delito, después de haber sido condenado por sentencia firme de un tribunal del país o del extranjero, si el hecho es sancionado en la República y siempre que no se trate de delitos políticos, amnistiados o cometidos durante la minoría penal. Tampoco se tomará en cuenta el delito cometido en el extranjero si por su naturaleza no procediere la extradición. Ficha articulo Habitualidad.

No se tomará en cuenta para la declaración de habitualidad los delitos políticos o fiscales.

(Así reformado este artículo mediante resolución de la Sala Constitucional Nº 796-92 del 24 de marzo de 1992, que aclara resolución No. 88-92 de las 11 horas del 17 de enero de 1992.)

Profesionalidad.

(Así reformado este artículo mediante resolución de la Sala Constitucional Nº 796-92 del 24 de marzo de 1992, que aclara resolución No. 88-92 de las 11 horas del 17 de enero de 1992.)

EL AUTOR

Imputabilidad y sus Formas Inimputabilidad.

Es inimputable quien en el momento de la acción u omisión, no posea la capacidad de comprender el carácter ilícito del hecho o de determinarse de acuerdo con esa comprensión, a causa de enfermedad mental, o de grave perturbación de la conciencia sea ésta o no ocasionada por el empleo accidental o involuntario de bebidas alcohólicas o de sustancias enervantes.

(Corregido mediante Fe de Erratas publicada en La Gaceta N° 234 de 24 de noviembre de 1971).

Imputabilidad disminuida.

Se considera que actúa con imputabilidad disminuida quien, por efecto de las causas a que se refiere el artículo anterior, no posea sino incompletamente, en el momento de la acción u omisión, la capacidad de comprender el carácter ilícito del hecho o de determinarse de acuerdo con esa comprensión. Ficha articulo Perturbación provocada.

Cuando el agente haya provocado la perturbación de la conciencia a que se refieren los artículos anteriores, responderá del hecho cometido por el dolo o culpa en que se hallare en el momento de colocarse en tal estado y aún podrá agravarse la respectiva pena si el propósito del agente hubiera sido facilitar su realización o procurarse una excusa. Ficha articulo

Autores y Cómplices Autor y coautores.

Es autor del hecho punible tipificado como tal, quien lo realizare por sí o sirviéndose de otro u otros, y coautores los que lo realizaren conjuntamente con el autor. Ficha articulo Instigadores.

Son instigadores, quienes intencionalmente determinen a otro a cometer el hecho punible.

Cómplices.

Son cómplices los que presten al autor o autores, cualquier auxilio o cooperación para la realización del hecho punible. Ficha articulo Comienzo y alcance de la responsabilidad de los partícipes.

Los partícipes serán responsables desde el momento en que el hecho se haya iniciado, según lo establecido en el artículo 19. Si el hecho, fuere más grave del que quisieron realizar, responderán por aquél, quienes lo hubieren aceptado como una consecuencia probable de la acción emprendida.

Comunicabilidad de las circunstancias.

Las calidades personales constitutivas de la infracción son imputables también a los partícipes que no las posean, si eran conocidas por ellos. Las relaciones, circunstancias y calidades personales cuyo efecto sea disminuir o excluir la penalidad, no tendrán influencia sino respecto a los partícipes en quienes concurran. Las circunstancias materiales, que agraven o atenúen el hecho solo se tendrán en cuenta respecto de quien, conociéndolas, prestó su concurso. Ficha articulo

PENAS

CLASES DE PENAS Clases de penas

Las penas que este Código establece son:

• 1)Principales: prisión, extrañamiento, multa e inhabilitación.
• 2)Accesorias: inhabilitación especial.
• 3)Prestación de servicios de utilidad pública.
• 4)Arresto domiciliario con monitoreo electrónico.
• 5)Tratamiento de drogas bajo supervisión judicial restaurativa.

(Así reformado por el artículo 48 de la Ley de justicia restaurativa, N° 9582 del 2 de julio del 2018) Prisión y medidas de seguridad.

Su límite máximo es de cincuenta años.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1 de la ley Nº 7389 de 22 de abril de 1994) (Nota de Sinalevi: Mediante resolución de la Sala Constitucional N° 9877 del 3 de julio de 2015, se dispone la continuidad de los efectos de la reforma a los artículos 51 y 76 del Código Penal, efectuada mediante la Ley N° 7389 de 22 de abril de 1994, todo supeditado a lo que en definitiva resuelva la Sala Constitucional acerca de la conformidad con el Derecho de la Constitución de esas normas.)

Extrañamiento.

La pena de extrañamiento, aplicable únicamente a los extranjeros, consiste en la expulsión del territorio de la República, con prohibición de regresar a él, durante el tiempo de la condena. Se extiende de seis meses a diez años. Ficha articulo Multa.

La pena de multa obliga a la persona condenada a pagar una suma de dinero a la institución que la ley designe, dentro de los quince días posteriores a la firmeza de la sentencia.

Cuando se imponga la pena de días multa, el juez, en sentencia motivada, fijará en primer término el número de días multa que deberá cubrir la persona condenada, dentro de los límites señalados para cada delito y contravenciones, según la gravedad del hecho, las circunstancias de modo, tiempo y lugar, así como las características propias del autor, directamente relacionadas con la conducta delictiva o contravencional. Esta pena no podrá exceder de trescientos sesenta días multa.

En dicha sentencia, en forma motivada, el juez deberá determinar la suma de dinero correspondiente a cada día multa, conforme a la situación económica de la persona condenada, tomando en cuenta su nivel de vida, todos sus ingresos diarios y los gastos razonables para atender tanto sus necesidades como las de su familia. Cada día multa no podrá exceder de un cincuenta por ciento (50%) del ingreso diario del sentenciado. El fiscal o el juez en su caso, con la colaboración de la Oficina de Trabajo Social del Poder Judicial, debe realizar las indagaciones necesarias para determinar la verdadera situación económica del imputado y sus posibilidades de pago.

(Así reformado por el artículo 4° de la Ley contra el acoso sexual callejero, N° 9877 del 10 de agosto del 2020)

El dinero proveniente de las penas de multa impuestas, derivadas de la comisión de los delitos:

• a)Contra los deberes de la función pública, previstos en el título XV de la Ley 4573, Código Penal, de 4 de mayo de 1970, capítulo V de la Ley 8422, Ley Contra la Corrupción y el Enriquecimiento Ilícito en la Función Pública, de 29 de octubre de 2004; b) establecidos en el título I de la Ley 9699, Ley de Responsabilidad de las Personas Jurídicas sobre Cohechos Domésticos, Soborno Transnacional y otros Delitos, de 10 de junio del 2019.

Serán depositados en una cuenta especial a nombre del Instituto Costarricense sobre Drogas con el fin de realizar una administración, y transferencia, y se destinará de la siguiente manera:

i. Un veinticinco por ciento (25%) de la recaudación total será transferido al Ministerio Público, en específico para la investigación y el combate contra la corrupción.

ii. Un veinte por ciento (20%) de la recaudación total será transferido a la Procuraduría General de la República, Área Procuraduría de Ética Pública, para que sea invertido en su programa de Prevención, Detección y Combate de la Corrupción.

iii. Un treinta por ciento (30%) de la recaudación total será transferido al Organismo de Investigación Judicial, para que sea invertido en partes iguales en secciones especializadas en la investigación de delitos de corrupción, económicos, contables y cibercrimen, para ejercer sus funciones.

iv. Un quince por ciento (15%) de la recaudación total será transferido al Instituto Costarricense sobre Drogas, distribuido ocho por ciento (8%) para la Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera y siete por ciento (7%) para el aseguramiento y el mantenimiento de los bienes decomisados por delitos de corrupción.

v. Un diez por ciento (10%) de la recaudación total será transferido al Centro Judicial de Intervención de las Comunicaciones del Poder Judicial.

Los recursos serán depositados en una cuenta bancaria especial separada a nombre del departamento autorizado por el Instituto Costarricense sobre Drogas, que serán contabilizados y liquidados anualmente por separado para que sean transferidos a las instituciones mencionadas anteriormente.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 11 de la ley "Reformas a leyes en materia de anticorrupción para atender recomendaciones del grupo de trabajo sobre el soborno en las transacciones comerciales internacionales de la Organización para la Cooperación y Desarrollo Económico (OCDE)", N° 10373 del 20 de setiembre del 2023) Ejecución de la multa.

Por resolución posterior el Juez podrá, atendida la situación económica del condenado, acordar un plazo o autorizar el pago de la multa en cuotas, siempre que la garantice con cauciones reales o personales; el Juez tendrá facultad para prescindir prudencialmente de dichas garantías. Estos beneficios podrán ser revocados por incumplimiento en el pago o cuando mejore sensiblemente la condición económica del condenado. Ficha articulo Amortización de la multa.

Para tal efecto, un día de trabajo ordinario equivale a un día multa y cada dos días de trabajo ordinario equivalen a un día de prisión. Las labores de toda índole, que se realicen en el centro de adaptación social y fuera de él computarán en igual forma. El salario respectivo se abonará total o parcialmente para satisfacer la multa impuesta. El interno gozará de los beneficios que el Estado y sus instituciones otorguen a los trabajadores, aunque no existirá relación laboral entre el empleador y el empleado interno.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1º de la ley Nº 7398 de 3 de mayo de 1994) (Por resolución de la Sala Constitucional Nº 6829-93 del 24 de diciembre de 1993, indicó que el artículo 55 que establece la reducción de la pena no es inconstitucional, pero sí lo es la práctica administrativa de acordarlo en favor de indiciados con la misma amplitud que a los condenados ) Incumplimiento en el pago de la pena de multa

Cuando la persona condenada carezca de capacidad de pago, no pueda cubrir el importe de la pena de multa en cuotas ni pueda procurárselo, el juez dispondrá que cada día multa se convierta en un día de prestación de servicios de utilidad a favor del Estado o de instituciones de bien público.

Cuando se impongan conjuntamente las penas de multa y prisión, a esta última se le adicionará la que corresponda a la multa convertida, en su caso.

(Así reformado por el inciso c) del artículo 1 de la Ley N° 8250 de 2 de mayo del 2002) Prestación de servicios de utilidad pública

La prestación de servicios de utilidad pública consiste en el servicio gratuito con fines comunitarios y socioeducativos que ha de prestar la persona condenada a favor de las instituciones públicas y las asociaciones o fundaciones que conformen la red creada para los efectos del cumplimiento de este artículo. Puede imponerse como pena principal o, en su defecto, como pena sustitutiva a la prisión, cuando se cumplan los requisitos de este artículo.

El Ministerio de Justicia y Paz promoverá la articulación de redes institucionales y con la sociedad civil para garantizar el control, el seguimiento y la disponibilidad de lugares donde se podrán realizar los servicios de utilidad pública. Asimismo, llevará un registro de las entidades autorizadas para tales efectos y lo informará periódicamente al Poder Judicial. En caso de que estas favorezcan el incumplimiento de la pena o dificulten el control de su ejecución, serán excluidas de la red de beneficiarios del servicio de utilidad pública y del registro.

En caso de haber sido impuesta una pena de prisión, y cuando no proceda la ejecución condicional de la pena, el tribunal sentenciador podrá reemplazarla por la prestación de servicios de utilidad pública, cuando se cumplan los siguientes requisitos:

• a)Que la pena de prisión impuesta no sea superior a cinco años.
• b)Que en la comisión del delito no se hayan utilizado armas en sentido propio, a excepción de lo dispuesto en la Ley N.º 7530, Ley de Armas y Explosivos, de 10 de julio de 1995.
• c)Que la comisión del delito no se haya realizado con grave violencia física sobre la víctima.
• d)Que el sentenciado no tenga antecedentes penales por delitos dolosos con pena superior a seis meses.
• e)Que no se trate de delitos tramitados con procedimiento de crimen organizado, delitos contra los deberes de la función pública, delitos sexuales, homicidio doloso o feminicidio.
• f)Que la persona sentenciada tenga la disposición de restaurar el daño causado a la víctima o comunidad, a través del trabajo de utilidad pública para fines socioeducativos o comunitarios, la voluntad de continuar un proyecto de vida al margen del delito y el compromiso de ajustarse a las condiciones que impongan la autoridad judicial y penitenciaria para el cumplimiento.

El servicio se prestará por la cantidad de horas y dentro del plazo que determine el juez de sentencia, considerando el daño causado y las circunstancias personales de la persona condenada. Esta pena no podrá ser superior a mil horas por año.

Corresponderá a la autoridad penitenciaria, a través del programa en comunidad, definir el lugar, el horario y el plan de cumplimiento, sin interferir con la jornada laboral o educativa de la persona condenada. Además, deberá informar trimestralmente, al juzgado de ejecución de la pena, sobre el cumplimiento de la sanción.

En caso de presentar algún incumplimiento, la autoridad penitenciaria lo informará de manera inmediata al juzgado de ejecución de la pena, quien dará audiencia por cinco días a la defensa y al Ministerio Público, y convocará a vista oral. Contra lo resuelto cabrá apelación con efecto suspensivo, en el plazo de cinco días, ante el tribunal sentenciador. El incumplimiento injustificado en la prestación del servicio facultará al juzgado de ejecución de la pena a revocarla, con lo cual el sentenciado deberá cumplir la pena de prisión originalmente impuesta. Para tales efectos, cada ocho horas de prestación de servicio de utilidad pública equivale a un día de prisión.

Para los casos tramitados con el procedimiento de justicia restaurativa, así como la acreditación de las entidades y el seguimiento de la prestación del servicio de utilidad pública, se regirá conforme a lo establecido en la Ley de Justicia Restaurativa.

(Así adicionado el párrafo por el artículo 48 de la Ley de justicia restaurativa, N° 9582 del 2 de julio del 2018) (Así adicionado por el inciso a) del artículo 3) de la ley N° 8250 de 2 de mayo del 2002).

(Así reformado por el artículo único de la ley N° 9525 del 7 de marzo de 2018)

El tratamiento de drogas bajo supervisión judicial restaurativa consiste en aplicar como pena alternativa un abordaje terapéutico para la atención biopsicosocial de adicciones a drogas y sustancias psicoactivas, una vez que se determine que el delito cometido por el imputado está asociado a un consumo problemático de drogas y/o alcohol, mediante la aplicación del procedimiento restaurativo, cuyo plazo no excederá el monto de la pena principal.

La autoridad jurisdiccional competente deberá ejercer el control de la ejecución de esta pena alternativa. mediante audiencias de verificación, seguimiento según los objetivos establecidos por el equipo terapéutico a cargo, para evaluar avances, recaídas o recomendación de modificación del tratamiento.

En caso de incumplimiento grave e injustificado, la autoridad jurisdiccional revocará la pena alternativa y ordenará el cumplimiento de la pena principal. Para tal efecto, un día de internamiento de tratamiento equivale a un día de prisión y dos días de tratamiento ambulatorio equivale a un día de prisión.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 49 de la Ley de justicia restaurativa, N° 9582 del 2 de julio del 2018)

La inhabilitación absoluta que se extiende de seis meses a doce años, excepto la señalada en el inciso 6) de este artículo, que se extiende de cuatro años a cincuenta años, produce al condenado a lo siguiente:

• 1)Pérdida de empleo, cargo o comisiones públicas que ejerza, inclusive el de elección popular.
• 2)Incapacidad para obtener los cargos, los empleos o las comisiones públicas mencionados.
• 3)Privación de los derechos políticos activos y pasivos.
• 4)Incapacidad para ejercer la profesión, el oficio, el arte o la actividad que desempeñe.
• 5)Incapacidad para ejercer los atributos de la responsabilidad parental, tutela, salvaguarda o administración judicial de bienes.

(Así reformado el inciso anterior por el artículo 2° punto VI) de la ley que aprobó el Código Procesal de Familia, N° 9747 del 23 de octubre de 2019) 6) Incapacidad para ejercer u obtener empleo, cargo, profesión, oficio, arte o actividad que le coloque en una relación de poder frente a una o más personas menores de edad (Así reformado por el artículo 1° de la ley "Reforma el Código Penal, ley N° 4573, para promover la Protección de la Integridad Sexual y de los Derechos y las Libertades fundamentales de las personas menores de edad"; ley N° 8874 del 24 de setiembre de 2010) Arresto domiciliario con monitoreo electrónico

Para facilitar la reinserción social de la persona sentenciada, las autoridades de ejecución de la pena promoverán la educación virtual a distancia mediante el uso del Internet.

Al dictar sentencia, el juez tendrá la facultad de aplicarla, siempre que concurran los siguientes presupuestos:

• 1)Que la pena impuesta no supere los cuatro años de prisión.

(Así reformado el inciso anterior por el artículo único de la Ley para regular el beneficio del arresto domiciliario con brazalete electrónico, N° 10517 del 26 de agosto del 2024) 2) Que no sea por delitos que califiquen como delincuencia organizada ni delitos sexuales contra personas menores de edad, ni en los delitos contemplados en los artículos 59 y 7 4 de la Ley 7786, Ley sobre Estupefacientes, Sustancias Psicotrópicas, Drogas de Uso no Autorizado, Actividades Conexas, Legitimación de Capitales y Financiamiento al Terrorismo, de 30 de abril de 1998.

(Así reformado el inciso anterior por el artículo único de la Ley para regular el beneficio del arresto domiciliario con brazalete electrónico, N° 10517 del 26 de agosto del 2024) 3) Que se trate de un delincuente primario.

• 4)Que de acuerdo con las circunstancias personales del condenado se desprenda razonablemente que no constituya un peligro y que no evadirá el cumplimiento de la pena.

En este caso, a las veinticuatro horas de la firmeza de la sentencia la persona condenada deberá presentarse a la oficina que al efecto defina la Dirección General de Adaptación Social, la que valorará su caso y determinará su ubicación dentro del programa, sus obligaciones, su control y atención técnica de cumplimiento.

(*) El juez competente podrá autorizar salidas restringidas por razones laborales, salud, educación u obligaciones familiares, previo informe rendido por el Instituto Nacional de Criminología, salvo casos de urgencia donde el juez podrá valorar si se otorga o no la salida. La persona juzgadora competente podrá modificar o revocar esta modalidad de cumplimiento de la pena y ordenar el ingreso a prisión, cuando la persona sentenciada:

• a)Incumpla con las condiciones impuestas al momento de otorgarse el monitoreo electrónico.
• b)Altere, dañe o se desprenda del dispositivo.
• c)No reporte a la autoridad respectiva cualquier falla o alteración del dispositivo.
• d)Sea detenido por la comisión de un nuevo hecho delictivo en flagrancia.
• e)Haya sido elevada a juicio en un proceso penal distinto del que fue condenado.
• f)Se le haya impuesto prisión preventiva en otra causa penal.

(*) (Así reformado el párrafo anterior por el artículo único de la Ley para regular el beneficio del arresto domiciliario con brazalete electrónico, N° 10517 del 26 de agosto del 2024) (Así adicionado por el artículo 9° de la ley N° 9271 del 30 de setiembre de 2014, "Mecanismos electrónicos de seguimiento en materia penal") Inhabilitación especial

(Así reformado por el artículo 3° de la Ley para mejorar el proceso de control presupuestario, por medio de la corrección de deficiencias normativas y prácticas de la administración pública, N° 10053 del 25 de octubre de 2021)

Condena de Ejecución Condicional.

Casos de aplicación.

Al dictar sentencia, el Juez tendrá la facultad de aplicar la condena de ejecución condicional cuando la pena no exceda de tres años y consista en prisión o extrañamiento. Ficha articulo Requisitos.

La concesión de la condena de ejecución condicional se fundará en el análisis de la personalidad del condenado y su vida anterior al delito en el sentido de que su conducta se haya conformado con las normas sociales y en el comportamiento posterior al mismo, especialmente en su arrepentimiento y deseo demostrado de reparar en lo posible las consecuencias del acto, en los móviles, caracteres del hecho y circunstancias que lo han rodeado. Es condición indispensable para su otorgamiento que se trate de un delincuente primario. El Tribunal otorgará el beneficio cuando de la consideración de estos elementos pueda razonablemente suponerse que el condenado se comportará correctamente sin necesidad de ejecutar la pena. La resolución del Juez será motivada y en todo caso, deberá requerir un informe del Instituto de Criminología en donde se determine, si ese es el caso, el grado de posible rehabilitación del reo.

(Corregido mediante Fe de Erratas publicada en La Gaceta N° 234 de 24 de noviembre de 1971).

Condiciones.

Al acordar la condena de ejecución condicional, el Juez podrá imponer al condenado las condiciones que determine, de acuerdo con el informe que al respecto vierta el Instituto de Criminología; ellas podrán ser variadas si dicho Instituto lo solicita. Ficha articulo Término.

El Juez, al acordar la condena de ejecución condicional, fijará el término de ésta, sin que pueda ser menor de tres ni mayor de cinco años a contar de la fecha en que la sentencia quede firme. Ficha articulo Revocación.

La condena de ejecución condicional será revocada:

• 1)Si el condenado no cumple las condiciones impuestas; y 2) Si comete nuevo delito doloso sancionado con prisión mayor de seis meses, durante el período de prueba. Ficha articulo

De la Libertad Condicional Quién puede solicitar la libertad condicional.

El Instituto de Criminología podrá también solicitar en cualquier momento la libertad condicional, si el Juez hubiere denegado el beneficio cuando el reo lo solicitó y al efecto acompañará los documentos a que este artículo se refiere.

En el caso de aquellas personas que sean condenadas por primera vez a pena de prisión por los delitos contemplados en los artículos 1 1 1, 1 12, 156, 157, 161, 162, 172, 212, inciso 3, 213, 215, 382, 384 bis, 384 ter, 385 y 386 de este Código, todo sentenciado a pena de prisión podrá solicitar al juez competente y este, facultativamente, podrá conceder la libertad condicional, cuando haya cumplido, efectivamente, las dos terceras partes de la pena impuesta en sentencia ejecutoria.

(Así adicionado el párrafo anterior por el artículo único de la ley N° 10442 del 7 de febrero de 2024, “Reforma del cumplimiento de la pena para obtención del beneficio de libertad condicional”) De igual forma, este beneficio estará sometido a la limitación aquí impuesta en aquellos delitos dispuestos en los artículos 21 y 21 bis de la Ley 8589, Penalización de la Violencia contra las Mujeres, de 25 de abril de 2007; el artículo 13 de la Ley 8754, Ley contra la Delincuencia Organizada, de 22 de julio de 2009, y en la Ley 7786, Ley sobre Estupefacientes, Sustancias Psicotrópicas, Drogas de Uso no Autorizado, Actividades Conexas, Legitimación de Capitales y Financiamiento al Terrorismo, de 30 de abril de 1998, cuando las conductas tipificadas involucren actividades de terrorismo, financiamiento del terrorismo o legitimación de capitales, o hayan sido cometidas con violencia contra las personas o con el uso de armas o por personas que ejerzan dirección o autoridad o tengan un rol de participación significativo dentro de una organización criminal.

(Así adicionado el párrafo anterior por el artículo único de la ley N° 10442 del 7 de febrero de 2024, “Reforma del cumplimiento de la pena para obtención del beneficio de libertad condicional”) Requisitos.

La libertad condicional podrá concederse cuando se cumplan los siguientes requisitos:

• 1)Que el solicitante no haya sido condenado anteriormente por delito común sancionado con pena mayor de seis meses; y 2) Que el Instituto de Criminología informe sobre la buena conducta, servicios prestados, ocupación y oficios adquiridos por el condenado que le permitan una vida regular de trabajo lícito; y acompañe un estudio de su personalidad, de su medio social, así como un dictamen favorable sobre la conveniencia de la medida. Ficha articulo Condiciones.

Asimismo, el juez, por solicitud de la persona condenada, de la defensa o del Ministerio Público, podrá ordenar entre las condiciones la localización permanente con mecanismo electrónico.

(Así reformado por el artículo 4° de la ley N° 9271 del 30 de setiembre de 2014, "Mecanismos electrónicos de seguimiento en materia penal") Revocación.

• 1)Si el liberado no cumple con las condiciones fijadas por el Juez; y 2) Si el liberado comete, en el período de prueba, que no podrá exceder del que le falta para cumplir la pena, un nuevo hecho punible sancionado con prisión mayor de seis meses.
• 3)Si el liberado es aprehendido o detenido por cualquier autoridad policial administrativa o judicial en flagrancia o durante el curso de una investigación judicial, la autoridad policial que ejecute la aprehensión o la detención debe poner, en forma inmediata, en conocimiento del Ministerio Público y de la autoridad de Ejecución de la Pena competente, que concedió el beneficio, el hecho de la aprehensión o detención. Teniendo conocimiento el juez de esta situación, ordenará la suspensión provisional de la libertad condicional y remitirá a esa persona al centro penitenciario donde se encontraba recluido, con el fin de que, en un plazo no mayor a un mes, dicha persona sea valorada por el Instituto Nacional de Criminología para que emita un dictamen donde se indique si existe alguna variación en el criterio bajo el cual se le concedió el beneficio. Una vez recibido este dictamen, si se determina un cambio en las condiciones bajo las cuales se otorgó el beneficio, por parte del Instituto Nacional de Criminología, el juez de ejecución de la pena revocará, de manera inmediata y definitiva, el beneficio de libertad condicional.

El Poder Judicial deberá disponer de una base de datos que comprenda un listado de todas las personas condenadas que gozan del beneficio de libertad condicional, la que debe actualizarse de forma diaria. Dicha plataforma debe garantizar que las autoridades policiales administrativas y judiciales competentes, tanto del Poder Judicial como del Ministerio de Justicia y Paz, tengan acceso inmediato y actualizado de esta.

(Así adicionado el inciso anterior por el artículo único de la Ley para revocar o modificar el beneficio de libertad condicional al condenado que sea arrestado en el disfrute del beneficio, N° 10450 del 19 de marzo de 2024)

Efectos de la revocatoria y del cumplimiento del plazo.

Cuando la condena de ejecución condicional o la libertad condicional hayan sido revocadas, el beneficiado deberá descontar la parte de la pena que dejó de cumplir. Transcurrido el término de la condena de ejecución condicional o del tanto por descontar en el caso de la libertad condicional sin que hayan sido revocadas, la pena quedará extinguida en su totalidad. Ficha articulo

Conmutación Caso en que puede aplicarse.

Cuando a un delincuente primario se le imponga pena de prisión que no exceda de un año, el Juez podrá conmutarla por días multa, cuyo monto fijará atendiendo a las condiciones económicas del condenado. Ficha articulo

Rehabilitación Cuándo se puede o no conceder rehabilitación.

El condenado podrá solicitar su rehabilitación, después de transcurrido la mitad del término fijado para la pena de inhabilitación impuesta en sentencia firme; el Juez reintegrará al condenado en el ejercicio de sus derechos. El reincidente, el habitual o el profesional, no podrá ser rehabilitado sino seis años después de extinguida la pena o la medida de seguridad. Para que se pueda conceder la rehabilitación es necesario que quien la solicite haya observado buena conducta y satisfecho la responsabilidad civil, salvo que justifique la imposibilidad de hacerlo. En todo caso el Juez pedirá un informe al Instituto de Criminología sobre el comportamiento del solicitante. La rehabilitación quedará revocada por la comisión de un nuevo delito. Ficha articulo

Fijación de las Penas Modo de Fijación.

Para apreciarlos se tomará en cuenta:

• a)Los aspectos subjetivos y objetivos del hecho punible.
• b)La importancia de la lesión o del peligro.
• c)Las circunstancias de modo, tiempo y lugar.
• d)La calidad de los motivos determinantes.
• e)Las demás condiciones personales del sujeto activo o de la víctima en la medida en que hayan influido en la comisión del delito.
• f)La conducta del agente posterior al delito.
• g)Que la persona sentenciada sea una mujer que se encuentre en estado de vulnerabilidad, por pobreza, por tener bajo su responsabilidad el cuido y la manutención de familiares dependientes, por discapacidad o por ser víctima de violencia de género, cuando ese estado haya influido en la comisión del hecho punible.

Las características, psicológicas y sociales, lo mismo que las referencias a educación y antecedentes, serán solicitadas al Instituto de Criminología, el cual podrá incluir en su informe cualquier otro aspecto que pueda ser de interés para mejor información del juez.

Cuando se trate de delitos dolosos en donde intervenga una persona adulta, cualquiera que sea su tipo de participación y en donde, para la ejecución del hecho ilícito, aquella haya involucrado a personas menores de edad y tal aspecto sea de conocimiento del autor o partícipe, el tribunal fijará la sanción de este partiendo del extremo mínimo abstracto del tipo penal más un tercio. En estos casos, no podrá disminuirse la sanción por complicidad o tentativa.

(Así reformado por el artículo único de la Ley N° 10544 del 9 de octubre del 2024, Ley para agravar la penalidad del autor, instigador y cómplice que participen personas menores de edad en la comisión de hechos delictivos) Concurrencia de atenuantes y agravantes.

Cuando concurra alguna de las circunstancias previstas en el inciso g) del artículo anterior y la mujer sentenciada no tenga antecedentes penales, el tribunal de juicio podrá disminuir la sanción, incluso por debajo del monto mínimo previsto en el tipo penal.

(Así reformado por el artículo 2° de la ley N° 9628 del 19 de noviembre del 2018) Penalidad del delito y de la tentativa.

El delito consumado tendrá la pena que la ley determine, fijada dentro de sus extremos, de acuerdo con el artículo 71. La tentativa será reprimida con la pena prevista para el delito consumado disminuida o no a juicio del Juez. No es punible la tentativa cuando se tratare de contravenciones.

Penalidad del autor, instigador y cómplice.

Los autores e instigadores serán reprimidos con la pena que la ley señala al delito. Al cómplice le será impuesta la pena prevista para el delito, pero ésta podrá ser rebajada discrecionalmente por el Juez, de acuerdo con lo dispuesto en el artículo 71 y grado de participación. Ficha articulo Penalidad del concurso ideal.

Para el concurso ideal, el Juez aplicará la pena correspondiente al delito más grave y aún podrá aumentarla. Ficha articulo Penalidad del concurso material.

El Juez podrá aplicar la pena que corresponda a cada hecho punible, siempre que esto fuere más favorable al reo.

(Así reformado por el artículo 2 de la ley Nº 7389 de 22 de abril de 1994) (Nota de Sinalevi: Mediante resolución de la Sala Constitucional N° 9877 del 3 de julio de 2015, se dispone la continuidad de los efectos de la reforma a los artículos 51 y 76 del Código Penal, efectuada mediante la Ley N° 7389 de 22 de abril de 1994, todo supeditado a lo que en definitiva resuelva la Sala Constitucional acerca de la conformidad con el Derecho de la Constitución de esas normas.)

Penalidad del delito continuado.

Cuando los delitos en concurso fueren de la misma especie y afecten bienes jurídicos patrimoniales, siempre que el agente persiga una misma finalidad, se aplicará la pena prevista para el más grave, aumentada hasta en otro tanto. Ficha articulo Pena aplicable a los reincidentes

Las faltas o contravenciones cuya sanción consista en pena de prisión se juzgarán, al igual que el resto de los delitos, respetando las garantías y principios rectores del debido proceso.

(Así reformado por el inciso d) del artículo 1 de la Ley N° 8250 de 2 de mayo del 2002) Error de derecho no invencible y exceso en las causas de justificación.

En los casos de error no invencible a que se refiere el artículo 35 ó en los de exceso no justificado del artículo 29, la pena podrá ser discrecionalmente atenuada por el Juez. Ficha articulo

EXTINCIÓN DE LA ACCIÓN PENAL Y DE LA PENA

Causas que extinguen la acción penal y la pena.

Delitos de acción privada

(Nota de Sinalevi: El artículo 51 de la Ley General sobre el Sida; No.7771 de 29 de abril de 1998 adiciona un inciso d) al presente artículo, en el que indica que los delitos contemplados en dicha Ley son de acción pública y perseguibles sólo a instancia privada. Este tema se regula actualmente en el artículo 18 del Código Procesal Penal No.7594 de 10 de abril de 1996. Esta ley afectante No.7771 fue modificada íntegramente por la ley No.9797 de 02 de diciembre de 2019, dejando a la ley original con sólo cincuenta artículos y sin incluir la presente reforma).

Prescripción de la acción penal

Reglas generales

Prescripción de la pena.

• 1)En un tiempo igual al de la condena, más un tercio, sin que pueda exceder de veinticinco años ni bajar de tres, si fuere prisión, extrañamiento o interdicción de derechos; 2) En tres años, tratándose de días multa impuesta como consecuencia de los delitos; y 3) En un año si se tratare de contravenciones.

Prescripción de penas de diferentes clases.

La prescripción de las penas de diferentes clases o de distinta duración impuestas en una misma sentencia, se cumplirán separadamente en el término señalado para cada una. Ficha articulo Momento a partir del cual corre la prescripción.

La prescripción de la pena comienza a correr desde el día en que la sentencia quede firme, o desde que se revoque la condena de ejecución condicional o la libertad condicional, o desde que deba empezar a cumplirse una pena después de compurgada otra anterior o desde el quebrantamiento de la condena. Ficha articulo Interrupción de la prescripción en curso.

Se interrumpe la prescripción de la pena quedando sin efecto el tiempo transcurrido, en el caso de que el reo se presente o sea habido o cuando cometiere un nuevo delito antes de completar el tiempo de la prescripción. Ficha articulo Declaración de oficio y prescripción separada de la pena en caso de varios delitos.

Amnistía.

La amnistía que sólo puede ser concedida por la Asamblea Legislativa en materia de delitos políticos o conexos con éstos extingue la acción penal así como la pena impuesta. Ficha articulo Indulto.

El indulto sólo podrá ser concedido por el Consejo de Gobierno, el cual previamente a resolver, oirá el criterio de Instituto de Criminología. Consultará también a la Corte Suprema de Justicia, únicamente, cuando la solicitud del indulto se fundamente en una crítica a la sentencia judicial. Dichos organismos deberán pronunciarse en un término no mayor de treinta días naturales, y si no contestaren dentro de ese término, el Consejo de Gobierno podrá resolver lo que corresponda.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1º de la ley No. 6726 de 10 de marzo de 1982).

Recomendación judicial de indulto.

Los jueces podrán, en sentencia definitiva, recomendar el otorgamiento del indulto.

Matrimonio del procesado o condenado con la ofendida.

8590 de 18 de julio de 2007).

Perdón Judicial.

• 1)A quien siendo responsable de falso testimonio se retracte de su dicho y manifieste la verdad a tiempo para que ella pueda ser apreciada en sentencia; 2) A quien mediante denuncia dirigida o declaración prestada se inculpa a sí mismo de un delito doloso que no ha cometido para salvar a su ascendiente, descendiente, cónyuge, hermano, bienhechor, o a su concubinario o manceba con quien haya tenido vida marital por lo menos durante dos años continuos inmediatamente antes de la comisión del hecho; 3) A quien haya incurrido en los delitos de encubrimiento, hurto, robo con fuerza en las cosas, estafa, daños o lesiones leves, cuando lo solicite el ofendido que tenga los mismos lazos de parentesco o relación con el reo a que se refiere el inciso anterior; 4) A quien haya causado un aborto para salvar el honor propio o lo haya producido con ese fin a una ascendiente o descendiente por consanguinidad o hermana; 5) A la mujer que hubiere causado su propio aborto si el embarazo ha sido consecuencia de una violación; 6) A quienes en caso de homicidio piadoso, se compruebe que accedieron a reiterados requerimientos de la víctima y el propósito además fue el de acelerar una muerte inevitable; 7) (Derogado mediante el artículo 3° de la ley N° 8590 del 18 de julio del 2007).
• 8)(Derogado mediante el artículo 3° de la ley N° 8590 del 18 de julio del 2007).
• 9)A quien por móviles de piedad haya declarado ante el Registro Civil como su hijo a una persona que no lo es o hubiere usurpado el estado civil de otro o por un acto cualquiera lo hiciere incierto, lo alterare o suprimiere; 10) A los autores de contravenciones, previa amonestación por parte de la autoridad juzgadora; y 11) A quien injuriare a otro si la injuria fuere provocada o a quien se retracte de su dicho injurioso antes de contestar la querella o en el momento que la contesta. A quienes se injuriaren recíprocamente. No procede el perdón judicial cuando la injuria conlleva una imputación a un funcionario público, con motivo de sus funciones.
• 12)A quien fuera sindicado por el Ministerio Público como autor en el tráfico de las sustancias o drogas reguladas por la Ley de Psicotrópicos, Drogas de Uso no Autorizado y Actividades Conexas, Nº 7093 que diera información correcta, la cual permitiera el descubrimiento del delito y sus autores, más allá de su participación en él o también cuando pusiera, espontáneamente, en conocimiento de la autoridad, lo que él supiera sobre la comisión de los delitos mencionados anteriormente y lo hiciera con tiempo suficiente para impedir la comisión de éstos.

(Así adicionado el inciso anterior por el artículo 2º de la ley Nº 7233 de 8 de mayo 1991).

Cuando fueren varios los acusados, el Juez podrá otorgar el perdón a uno de ellos, a varios o a todos los responsables del hecho delictuoso, siempre que se encuentren comprendidos en los casos de los artículos anteriores. Ficha articulo El perdón no puede ser condicional ni a término.

El perdón que otorguen los jueces no puede ser condicional ni a término y no podrá concederse sino una vez. En todo caso, para su otorgamiento, los jueces requerirán un informe del Instituto de Criminología. Los beneficios que indica este título no afectan la responsabilidad civil ni el comiso. Ficha articulo

El otorgamiento de la amnistía, el indulto, la rehabilitación, el perdón judicial, la condena de ejecución condicional y la libertad condicional no afectan la responsabilidad civil ni el comiso. La extinción de la acción penal y de la pena no producirá efectos con respecto a la obligación de reparar el daño causado, ni impedirá el decomiso de los instrumentos del delito. Ficha articulo

DE LAS MEDIDAS DE SEGURIDAD

Principios de legalidad.

Las medidas de seguridad se aplicarán solamente a las personas que hayan cometido un hecho punible, cuando del informe que vierta el Instituto de Criminología se deduzca la posibilidad de que vuelvan a delinquir. Ficha articulo Aplicación obligatoria.

• 1)Cuando el autor de un delito haya sido declarado inimputable o tuviere disminuida su imputabilidad; (Interpretado este inciso por resolución de la Sala Constitucional Nº 322 del febrero de 1992, en el sentido de que la imposición de una medida de seguridad por un Alcalde, fundamentándose en este inciso, resulta inconstitucional conforme a lo dispuesto en el artículo 39 de la Constitución Política.)
• 2)Cuando por causa de enfermedad mental se interrumpe la ejecución de la pena que le fue impuesta; 3) (Anulado este inciso mediante resolución de la Sala Constitucional Nº 88-92 del 17 de enero de 1992.)
• 4)(Anulado este inciso mediante resolución de la Sala Constitucional Nº 88-92 del 17 de enero de 1992.)
• 5)(Anulado este inciso mediante resolución de la Sala Constitucional Nº 1588-98 del 10 de marzo de 1998.)
• 6)Cuando la toxicomanía o el alcoholismo son habituales y han determinado la conducta delictiva del reo; y (La Sala Constitucional, mediante resolución N° 010404 del 31 de julio de 2013, anuló del inciso anterior "únicamente en cuanto incorporan como supuestos para la imposición de medidas de seguridad, la prostitución y el homosexualismo.", términos presentes en su anterior redacción) 7) En los demás casos expresamente señalados en este Código.

Aplicación de medidas de seguridad a mayores de 17 y menores de 21 años

Duración, no extinguibilidad por amnistía o indulto, ni suspensión pero posibilidad de que se reanuden las medidas de seguridad.

Cada dos años el Tribunal se pronunciará sobre el mantenimiento, la modificación o la cesación de la medida de seguridad impuesta, sin perjuicio de hacerlo en cualquier momento, mediante informes del Instituto de Criminología Las medidas de seguridad no se extinguen por amnistía ni por indulto.

Tampoco pueden suspenderse condicionalmente. El quebrantamiento de una medida de seguridad, implica la posibilidad de que se reanude el tratamiento a que estaba sometido el sujeto.

(Así reformado este artículo por resolución de la Sala Constitucional Nº 88-92 del 17 de enero de 1992).

CLASIFICACIÓN Y APLICACIÓN DE LAS MEDIDAS DE SEGURIDAD Clases.

1.-El ingreso en un hospital psiquiátrico.

2.- El ingreso en un establecimiento de tratamiento especial educativo.

3.- Someterse a un tratamiento psiquiátrico.

(Así reformado por el artículo 69 (actual 82) de la Ley sobre Igualdad de Oportunidades para las Personas con Discapacidad Nº 7600 de 2 de mayo de 1996) Aplicación.

• a)En servicios psiquiátricos idóneos o establecimientos de tratamiento especial educativo, se internarán los enfermos mentales, toxicómanos habituales, alcohólicos y sujetos de imputabilidad disminuida que hayan intentado suicidarse.

(Así reformado el inciso anterior por el artículo 69 (actual 82) de la Ley sobre Igualdad de Oportunidades para las Personas con Discapacidad; N°. 7600 de 2 de mayo de 1996) b) Anulado.

( La Sala Constitucional mediante resolución N°1588-98 del 10 de marzo de 1998, declaró inconstitucional el inciso anterior de este artículo, el cual según reforma efectuada por resolución N° 88-92 del 17 de enero de 1992, disponía textualmente así: "A colonias agrícolas, o establecimientos de trabajo en donde estarán sometidos a un régimen especial, se destinarán los autores de delito imposible;") c) La libertad vigilada se ordenará en los casos de condena de ejecución condicional, así como en los casos en que se suspende otra medida de seguridad y el Juez ordene aplicarla por un tiempo prudencial.

El Instituto de Criminología informará periódicamente al Juez sobre la conducta de las personas sometidas a libertad vigilada; (Así reformado el párrafo primero de este inciso por resolución de la Sala Constitucional Nº 88-92 de las 11 horas del 17 de enero de 1992) d) (Anulado este inciso por resolución de la Sala Constitucional Nº 88-92 del 17 de enero de 1992) e) La prohibición de frecuentar determinados lugares es medida de prevención especial y se impondrá al condenado por delito cometido bajo la influencia del alcohol o de drogas enervantes.

(La Sala Constitucional, mediante resolución N° 010404 del 31 de julio de 2013, anuló del inciso anterior "únicamente en cuanto incorporan como supuestos para la imposición de medidas de seguridad, la prostitución y el homosexualismo.", términos presentes en su anterior redacción)

CONSECUENCIAS CIVILES DEL HECHO PUNIBLE

Qué efectos comprende.

• 1)La restitución de las cosas o en su defecto el pago del respectivo valor; 2) La reparación de todo daño; y la indemnización de los perjuicios causados tanto al ofendido como a terceros; y 3) El comiso.

a. Por cualquiera de los hechos tipificados en los artículos 58, 59, 60 y 61 de la Ley 7935, Ley Integral para la Persona Adulta Mayor, de 25 de octubre de 1999; b. la que condene por el delito de abandono de persona adulta mayor en estado de vulnerabilidad, conforme al artículo 142 bis de este Código y; c. la que condene por violencia en cualquiera de sus diferentes manifestaciones, cuando esta sea una persona adulta mayor .

(Así adicionado por el artículo 3° de la Ley para la aplicación de las sanciones civiles de indignidad para heredar e ingratitud para recibir por donación de bienes, N° 10455 del 19 de marzo del 2024) Responsabilidad civil del inimputable.

En los casos de inimputabilidad, subsiste la responsabilidad del incapaz, siempre que queden asegurados sus alimentos o los gastos que ocasione su internamiento y de ella serán subsidiariamente responsables sus padres, tutores, curadores o depositarios que hubieren podido evitar el daño o descuidado sus deberes de guarda. La misma regla se aplicará en el caso de los semi-inimputables.

Reparación dismunuida por culpa de la víctima.

Cuando la víctima haya contribuido por su propia falta a la producción del daño, el Juez podrá reducir equitativamente el monto de la reparación civil. Ficha articulo Solidaridad de los partícipes.

Están igualmente obligados solidariamente con los autores del hecho punible, al pago de los daños y perjuicios:

• 1)Las personas naturales o jurídicas dueñas de empresas de transporte terrestre, marítimo o aéreo de personas o de cosas; 2) Las personas jurídicas cuyos gerentes, administradores o personeros legales, resulten responsables de los hechos punibles; 3) Las personas naturales o jurídicas dueñas de establecimientos de cualquier naturaleza, en que se cometiere un hecho punible por parte de sus administradores, dependientes y demás trabajadores a su servicio; 4) Los que por título lucrativo participaren de los efectos del hecho punible, en el monto en que se hubieren beneficiado; y 5) Los que señalen leyes especiales.
• 6)Las organizaciones y asociaciones comunitarias, deportivas, religiosas y sociales, así como las personas jurídicas cuyos personeros, ministros religiosos u otras autoridades cometan un delito sexual punible en perjuicio de persona menor de edad o de una persona con discapacidad, entendida como aquella que tiene deficiencias físicas, limitaciones mentales, intelectuales o sensoriales a largo plazo, cuando la condición clerical o de poder de aquellos haya facilitado la preparación, el intento, la consumación o el ocultamiento del hecho ilícito y se demuestre que, teniendo conocimiento del hecho punible, incumplieron con la obligación de denunciar, prevista en el inciso d) del artículo 281 de la Ley 7594, Código Procesal Penal, de 10 de abril de 1996.

(Así adicionado el inciso anterior por el artículo 1° de la Ley contra el silencia en delitos sexuales en perjuicio de la niñez y personas con discapacidad, responsabilidad civil solidaria, deber de denuncia y garantía de cumplimiento de protocolos de investigación, N° 10813 del 16 de noviembre del 2025) El Estado, las Instituciones Públicas, autónomas o semi-autónomas y las municipalidades, responderán subsidiariamente del pago de los daños y perjuicios derivados de los hechos punibles cometidos por sus funcionarios con motivo del desempeño de sus cargos.

Transmisión de la reparación civil.

La obligación de la reparación civil pesa sobre la sucesión del ofensor y grava los bienes relictos, transmitiendo la misma a sus herederos en cuanto a los bienes heredados; y el derecho de exigirla, lo tendrán los herederos del ofendido. Ficha articulo Reparación civil en caso de que prospere un recurso de revisión en favor del reo, éste haya sufrido una prisión preventiva prolongada y fuere declarado inocente.

El Estado en forma subsidiara y los acusadores o denunciantes particulares, estarán igualmente obligados, cuando en virtud de recurso de revisión fuere declarada la inocencia del reo o cuando éste obtuviere sentencia absolutoria después de haber sufrido prisión preventiva.

(Texto modificado por resolución de la Sala Constitucional Nº 5027-97 del 27 de agosto de 1997).

También responderán civilmente las autoridades judiciales o las administrativas en su caso, sin perjuicio de la acción penal, cuando a pesar de los reclamos del reo, prolongaren la pena de prisión, si hecha la liquidación según las reglas establecidas para su abono, se ha cumplido ésta.

Extinción de la reparación civil y efectos civiles de la sentencia condenatoria extranjera.

Las obligaciones correspondientes a la reparación civil se extinguen por los medios y en la forma determinada en el Código Civil y las reglas para fijar los daños y perjuicios, lo mismo que la determinación de la reparación civil subsidiaria o solidaria, serán establecidas en el Código de Procedimientos Civiles. Con excepción de lo dispuesto en el artículo 9º de este Código, la sentencia condenatoria dictada por Tribunales extranjeros producirá en Costa Rica todos sus efectos civiles, los que se regirán por la ley nacional. Ficha articulo Comiso.

El delito produce la pérdida en favor del Estado de los instrumentos con que se cometió y de las cosas o los valores provenientes de su realización, o que constituyan para el agente un provecho derivado del mismo delito, salvo el derecho que sobre ellos tengan el ofendido o terceros.

Se excluyen de esta previsión los vehículos involucrados en la comisión de los hechos tipificados en el artículo 254 bis(*) del Código Penal.

(Así reformado por el artículo 246 de la ley de Tránsito por Vías Públicas Terrestres y Seguridad Vial, N° 9078 del 4 de octubre de 2012) (*) (Nota de Sinalevi: De acuerdo con la reforma efectuada por la Ley sobre delitos informáticos y conexos, N° 9048 del 10 de julio de 2012, la cual corrió la numeración de los artículos del Código Penal, el numeral 254 bis, que castiga la conducción temeraria, corresponde ahora el 261 bis) Libro Segundo De los Delitos

DELITOS CONTRA LA VIDA

Homicidio Homicidio simple

(Así reformado por el artículo 1 de la ley Nº 7398 de 3 de mayo de 1994) Homicidio calificado

• 1)A su ascendiente, descendiente o cónyuge, hermanos consanguíneos, a su manceba o concubinario, si han procreado uno o más hijos en común y han llevado vida marital, por lo menos durante los dos años anteriores a la perpetración del hecho.
• 2)A uno de los miembros de los Supremos Poderes y con motivo de sus funciones.
• 3)A una persona menor de doce años de edad.
• 4)A una persona internacionalmente protegida, de conformidad con la definición establecida en la Ley N. º 6077, Convención sobre la prevención y el castigo de delitos contra las personas internacionalmente protegidas, inclusive agentes diplomáticos, de 11 de agosto de 1977, y otras disposiciones del Derecho internacional.
• 5)Con alevosía o ensañamiento.
• 6)Por medio de veneno suministrado insidiosamente.
• 7)Por un medio idóneo para crear un peligro común.
• 8)Para preparar, facilitar, consumar u ocultar otro delito o para asegurar sus resultados o procurar, para sí o para otro, la impunidad o por no haber logrado el fin propuesto al intentar otro delito.
• 9)Por precio o promesa remuneratoria.
• 10)A un miembro de los cuerpos policiales del Estado, municipal y de las demás fuerzas de policía públicas, cuya competencia esté prevista por ley, siempre que sea en ejercicio, por causa o en razón de sus funciones.

(Así adicionado el inciso anterior por el artículo 1° de la Ley "Calificación de los delitos cometidos contra la integridad y vida de los policías en el ejercicio de sus funciones"; ley N° 8977 del 3 de agosto del 2011) 11) A una persona por motives de odio a causa de su pertenencia a un grupo etario, racial, étnico, religioso, de su nacionalidad, opinión política, situación migratoria, orientación sexual, identidad o expresión de género, discapacidad o características genéticas.

(Así adicionado el inciso anterior por el artículo único de la ley N° 10175 del 25 de abril de 2022) (Así reformado por el artículo 1°, punto 1., aparte a) de la Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Legislación contra el Terrorismo, N° 8719 de 4 de marzo de 2009)

Se impondrá pena de prisión de veinte a cuarenta años a quien, en razón de la pertenencia o participación en una organización criminal, cause la muerte de otra persona por encargo, acuerdo, remuneración económica o promesa remuneratoria.

(Así adicionado por el artículo único de la Ley contra el Sicariato en Costa Rica, N° 10841 del 22 de enero del 2026) Homicidios especialmente atenuados.

• 1)A quien haya dado muerte a una persona hallándose el agente en estado de emoción violenta que las circunstancias hicieren excusable. El máximo de la pena podrá ser aumentado por el Juez sin que pueda exceder de diez años si la víctima fuere una de las comprendidas en el inciso primero del artículo anterior; 2) El que con la intención de lesionar causare la muerte de otro; y 3) A la madre de buena fama que para ocultar su deshonra diere muerte a su hijo dentro de los tres días siguientes a su nacimiento.

(Nota de Sinalevi: Mediante el artículo 1º de la ley N° 5061 de 23 de agosto de 1972, se interpretó el presente artículo en el sentido de que:". la pena señalada es la de prisión").

Tentativa de suicidio

Instigación o ayuda al suicidio

Será reprimido con presión de uno a cinco años el que instigare a otro al suicidio o lo ayudare a cometerlo, si el suicidio se consuma. Si el suicidio no ocurre, pero su intento produce lesiones graves, la pena será de seis meses a tres años. Ficha articulo Homicidio por piedad

Se impondrá prisión de seis meses a tres años al que, movido por un sentimiento de piedad, matare a un enfermo grave o incurable, ante el pedido serio e insistente de éste aún cuando medie vínculo de parentesco Ficha articulo Homicidio culposo

Se impondrá prisión de seis meses a ocho años a quien por culpa mate a otro. En la adecuación de la pena al responsable, el tribunal deberá tomar en cuenta el grado de culpa y el número de víctimas, así como la magnitud de los daños causados. En todo caso, al autor del homicidio culposo también se le impondrá inhabilitación de uno a cinco años para el ejercicio de la profesión, el oficio, el arte o la actividad en la que se produjo el hecho.

Se impondrá pena de prisión de un año a diez años e inhabilitación para la conducción de todo tipo de vehículos, por un período de tres a siete años a quien, por culpa y por medio de un vehículo automotor, haya dado muerte a una persona, encontrándose el autor bajo las conductas categoría A de la Ley de Tránsito por las Vías Públicas Terrestres y Seguridad Vial, o bajo la influencia de bebidas alcohólicas, con una concentración de alcohol en sangre superior a cero coma setenta y cinco gramos (0,75 g) por cada litro de sangre o con una concentración de alcohol en aire superior a cero coma treinta y ocho miligramos (0,38 mg) por litro.

Igual pena se aplicará en los casos en que el autor del hecho sea un conductor profesional o un conductor cuya licencia de conducir haya sido expedida por primera vez en un plazo inferior a tres años, respecto del día en que se detectó la presencia del alcohol, cuando la concentración de alcohol en sangre sea superior a cero coma cincuenta gramos (0,50 g) de alcohol por cada litro de sangre o cuando la concentración de alcohol en aire sea superior a cero coma veinticinco miligramos (0,25 mg) por litro, o bien, en los casos en que el autor del hecho se encuentre bajo la influencia de drogas tóxicas, estupefacientes, sustancias psicotrópicas u otras sustancias que produzcan estados de alteración y efectos enervantes o depresivos análogos, de acuerdo con las definiciones, los alcances y las características que haya establecido el Ministerio de Salud.

Cuando se trate de un conductor reincidente de alguna de las conductas señaladas en los párrafos anteriores, el mínimo de la pena de inhabilitación para la conducción de todo tipo de vehículos será de cinco años y el máximo podrá ser hasta de nueve años.

Cuando se imponga una pena de prisión de tres años o menos, el tribunal podrá sustituir la pena privativa de libertad por una multa pecuniaria la cual no podrá ser menor de un salario base, ni mayor de tres salarios base mensual, correspondiente al "Auxiliar Administrativo Uno", que aparece en la Relación de Puestos del Poder Judicial, de conformidad con la ley de presupuesto ordinario de la República, aprobada en el mes de noviembre anterior a la fecha en que se cometa la infracción de tránsito asociado a una medida alternativa de prestación de servicio de utilidad pública, que podrá ser de trescientas ochenta horas a mil ochocientas horas de servicio, en los lugares y la forma que disponga la autoridad jurisdiccional competente.

(Así reformado por el artículo 246 de la ley de Tránsito por Vías Públicas Terrestres y Seguridad Vial, N° 9078 del 4 de octubre de 2012)

Aborto Aborto con o sin consentimiento.

• 1)Con prisión de tres a diez años, si obrare sin consentimiento de la mujer o si ésta fuere menor de quince años. Esa pena será de dos a ocho años, si el feto(*) había alcanzado seis meses de vida intrauterina; (*) (Nota de Sinalevi: En la redacción de este inciso es evidente la falta del adverbio de negación "no" para darle sentido a su objetivo. De la forma como aparece en el texto original carece de lógica, pues la pena es menor por un hecho más grave. Obsérvese que el inciso posterior sí contiene el adverbio indicado).
• 2)Con prisión de uno a tres años, si obrare con consentimiento de la mujer. Esa pena será de seis meses a dos años, si el feto no había alcanzado seis meses de vida intrauterina. En los casos anteriores se elevará la respectiva pena, si del hecho resultare la muerte de la mujer.

Aborto procurado.

Será reprimida con prisión de uno a tres años, la mujer que consintiere o causare su propio aborto. Esa pena será de seis meses a dos años, si el feto no había alcanzado seis meses de vida intrauterina. Ficha articulo Aborto honoris causa.

Si el aborto hubiere sido cometido para ocultar la deshonra de la mujer, sea por ella misma, sea por terceros con el consentimiento de aquélla, la pena será de tres meses hasta dos años de prisión.

Aborto impune.

(Nota de Sinalevi: Mediante decreto ejecutivo N° 42113 del 12 de diciembre de 2019, se Oficializa la Norma Técnica para el Procedimiento Médico Vinculado con el artículo 121 del Código Penal, la misma puede ser consulta en la base de datos del Sistema Nacional de Legislación Vigente o en el siguiente link) Aborto culposo

Será penado con sesenta a ciento veinte días multa, cualquiera que por culpa causare un aborto.

LESIONES Lesiones gravísimas.

(Así reformado por el artículo 69 (actual 82) de la Ley sobre Igualdad de Oportunidades para las Personas con Discapacidad; Nº 7600 de 2 de mayo de 1996) Tortura

(Así adicionado por el artículo único de la Ley N° 8189 de 18 de diciembre de 2001).

Lesiones graves

Se impondrá prisión de uno a seis años, si la lesión produjere una debilitación persistente de la salud, de un sentido, de un órgano, de un miembro o de una función o si hubiere incapacitado al ofendido para dedicarse a sus ocupaciones habituales por más de un mes o le hubiere dejado un marca indeleble en el rostro. Ficha articulo Lesiones leves

(Así reformado por el inciso e) del artículo 1 de la ley N° 8250 de 2 de mayo del 2002) Circunstancia de calificación.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1º de la ley Nº 6726 de 10 de marzo de 1982).

Circunstancia de atenuación.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1º de la ley Nº 6726 de 10 de marzo de 1982).

Lesiones culposas

Se impondrá prisión hasta de un año, o hasta cien días multa, a quien por culpa cause a otro lesiones de las definidas en los artículos 123, 124 y 125. Para la adecuación de la pena al responsable, el tribunal deberá tener en cuenta el grado de culpa, el número de víctimas y la magnitud de los daños causados.

En todo caso, al autor de las lesiones culposas también se le impondrá inhabilitación de seis meses a dos años para el ejercicio de la profesión, el oficio, el arte o la actividad en la que se produjo el hecho.

Se impondrá pena de prisión de tres meses a tres años y la inhabilitación para conducir vehículos de todo tipo, de un año a tres años a quien por culpa y por medio de un vehículo haya causado lesiones a una persona, encontrándose el autor bajo las conductas establecidas en la categoría A de la Ley de Tránsito por Vías Públicas Terrestres y Seguridad Vial o bajo la influencia de bebidas alcohólicas, con una concentración de alcohol en sangre superior a cero coma setenta y cinco gramos (0,75 g) por cada litro de sangre o con una concentración de alcohol en aire superior a cero coma treinta y ocho miligramos (0,38 mg) por litro.

Igual pena se aplicará en los casos en que el autor del hecho sea un conductor profesional o un conductor cuya licencia de conducir haya sido expedida por primera vez en un plazo inferior a tres años, respecto del día en que se detectó la presencia del alcohol, cuando la concentración de alcohol en sangre sea superior a cero coma cincuenta gramos (0,50 g) de alcohol por cada litro de sangre o cuando la concentración de alcohol en aire sea superior a cero coma veinticinco miligramos (0,25 mg) por litro, o bien, en los casos en que el autor del hecho se encuentre bajo la influencia de drogas tóxicas, estupefacientes, sustancias psicotrópicas u otras sustancias que produzcan estados de alteración y efectos enervantes o depresivos análogos, de acuerdo con las definiciones, los alcances y las características que haya establecido el Ministerio de Salud.

Cuando se trate de un conductor reincidente de alguna de las conductas señaladas en los párrafos anteriores, el mínimo de la pena de inhabilitación para la conducción de todo tipo de vehículos, será de tres años y el máximo podrá ser hasta de siete años.

Cuando se imponga una pena de prisión de tres años o menos, el tribunal podrá sustituir la pena privativa de libertad por una multa pecuniaria, la cual no podrá ser menor de un salario base ni mayor de tres salarios base mensual, correspondiente al "Auxiliar Administrativo Uno" que aparece en la Relación de Puestos del Poder Judicial, de conformidad con la ley de presupuesto ordinario de la República, aprobada en el mes de noviembre anterior a la fecha en que se cometa la infracción de tránsito asociado a una medida alternativa de prestación de servicio de utilidad pública, que podrá ser de doscientas horas hasta de novecientas cincuenta horas de servicio, en los lugares y la forma que se dispongan por la autoridad jurisdiccional competente.

(Así reformado por el artículo 246 de la ley de Tránsito por Vías Públicas Terrestres y Seguridad Vial, N° 9078 del 4 de octubre de 2012) Lesiones consentidas.

No son punibles las lesiones que se produzcan, al lesionado con su consentimiento, cuando la acción tiene por fin beneficiar la salud de otros. Ficha articulo Contagio venéreo.

El que sabiendo que padece una enfermedad venérea, contagiare a otro, será sancionado con prisión de uno a tres años. Este hecho sólo es perseguible a instancia privada. Ficha articulo Descuido con animales

Cuando se causare daño físico a otra persona, como consecuencia de esta conducta, la pena será de seis meses a un año de prisión, siempre que la conducta no constituya los delitos de lesiones ni homicidio.

(Así adicionado por el inciso b) del artículo 3) de la ley N° 8250 de 2 de mayo del 2002).

(Así reformado mediante resolución de la Sala Constitucional N° 13852-08 del 17 de setiembre del 2008.)

DUELO

Duelo regular.

Duelo irregular.

Vilipendio por causa caballeresca.

Provocación con fines inmorales.

Combatiente irregular.

Duelo con alevosía.

Duelo concertado a muerte.

Homicidio o lesiones en riña(*) (*) (Mediante el artículo 2º de la ley Nº 6726 de 10 de marzo de 1982 se modificó el título de esta sección) Riña

(Así reformado por resolución de la Sala Constitucional No.03903-1994 de 03 de agosto de 1994, la cual declaró inconstitucional la modificación realizada por el artículo 1º de la ley Nº 6726 de 10 de marzo de 1982, y ordena que la versión original de este numeral retorne a su redacción anterior, pero señalando también como inconstitucional y eliminando el antiguo párrafo segundo)

AGRESIÓN CON ARMAS (*) (Nota de Sinalevi: Mediante el artículo 2º de la ley Nº 6726 de 10 de marzo de 1982 se modificó la posición de esta sección a la actual.)

Agresión con armas.

Será reprimido con prisión de cuatro meses a dos años, el que agreda a otro con cualquier arma u objeto contundente, aunque no cause herida, o a quien amenace con arma de fuego.

Si concurre alguna de las circunstancias previstas en el homicidio calificado o en estado de emoción violenta, la pena aumentará o disminuirá en un tercio respectivamente, a juicio de la persona juzgadora.

(Así reformado por el artículo único de la Ley para imponer una pena proporcional a la agresión con arma, las amenazas con arma de fuego a civiles y a funcionarios públicos en el ejercicio de sus funciones, N° 10677 del 22 de abril de 2025) Agresión calificada.

Si la agresión consiste en disparar un arma de fuego contra una persona sin manifiesta intención homicida, la pena será de un año a tres años de prisión. Esta pena se aplicará aún en el caso de que cause lesión leve.

Si concurren algunas de las circunstancias previstas en el homicidio calificado o en estado de emoción violenta, la pena respectiva se aumentará o disminuirá a criterio del juez.

La pena se podrá incrementar hasta en un tercio cuando se utilice un arma de fuego prohibida.

(Así reformado por el artículo 2° de la Ley para el fortalecimiento del marco sancionatorio de los delitos cometidos con armas de fuego prohibidas, N° 10610 del 15 de noviembre de 2024)

ABANDONO DE PERSONAS (*) (Nota de Sinalevi: Mediante el artículo 2º de la ley Nº 6726 de 10 de marzo de 1982 se modificó la posición de esta sección a la actual.)

Abandono de incapaces y casos de agravación.

La pena será de prisión de tres a seis años, si a consecuencia del abandono resultare un grave daño en el cuerpo o en la salud de la víctima. Si ocurriere la muerte, la pena será de seis a diez años de prisión.

Abandono de adultos mayores y casos de agravación

Se le aplicará la pena de un año a tres años de prisión, a quien tenga la obligación de cuidar y abandone a una persona adulta mayor en estado de vulnerabilidad.

Si a consecuencia del abandono se pone en peligro la vida, la salud física, mental o social de la persona adulta mayor, la sanción será de un año a cuatro años de prisión, siempre que no esté más severamente penado.

Si a consecuencia del abandono resultara grave daño en el cuerpo o en la salud de la persona adulta mayor, la pena será de tres a seis años de prisión.

Si a consecuencia del abandono ocurriera la muerte de la persona adulta mayor, será sancionado con una pena de prisión de seis a doce años, siempre que la conducta concreta no se enmarque o se ajuste a un tipo penal de mayor gravedad.

(Así adicionado por el artículo único de la Ley que penaliza el abandono de las personas adultas mayores, N° 9857 del 15 de junio de 2020) (Así reformado por el artículo único de la Ley para sancionar el abandono contra las personas adultas mayores, N° 10776 del 29 de octubre de 2025) Abandono por causa de honor.

La madre que abandonare un recién nacido de no más de tres días, para ocultar su deshonra, será reprimida con prisión de un mes a un año. Si a consecuencia del abandono sobreviniere grave daño o la muerte, la pena será de prisión de uno a cuatro años. Ficha articulo Omisión de auxilio.

7337, del 5 de mayo de 1993. El juez podrá aumentar esta sanción hasta en el doble, considerando las condiciones personales del autor, sus posibilidades económicas, los efectos y la gravedad de la acción.

(Así reformado por el artículo 69 (actual 82) de la Ley sobre Igualdad de Oportunidades para las Personas con Discapacidad; Nº 7600 de 2 de mayo de 1996)

DELITOS CONTRA EL HONOR

INJURIA, CALUMNIA, DIFAMACIÓN Injurias.

La pena será de quince a setenta y cinco días multa si la ofensa fuere inferida en público.

Difamación.

Será reprimido con veinte a sesenta días multa en que deshonrare a otro o propalare especies idóneas para afectar su reputación. Ficha articulo Calumnia.

Será sancionado con cincuenta a ciento cincuenta días multa en que atribuya falsamente a una persona la comisión de un hecho delictivo. Ficha articulo Ofensa a la memoria de un difunto.

Será sancionado con diez a cincuenta días multa, el que ofendiere la memoria de una persona muerta con expresiones injuriosas o difamatorias. El derecho de acusar por este delito comprende al cónyuge, hijos, padres, nietos y hermanos consanguíneos del muerto. Ficha articulo Prueba de la verdad.

Sin embargo, el acusado sólo podrá probar la verdad de la imputación:

• 1)Si la imputación se hallare vinculada con la defensa de un interés público actual; y 2) Si el querellante pidiere la prueba de la imputación contra él dirigida, siempre que tal prueba no afecte derechos o secretos de terceras personas.

El autor de calumnia y de difamación calumniosa podrá probar la verdad del hecho imputado, salvo que se trate de delitos de acción o de instancia privada y que éstas no hayan sido promovidas por su titular.

(Nota de Sinalevi: Con respecto a la incompatibilidad de este artículo con el párrafo primero del artículo 13 de la Convención Americana de Derechos Humanos, ver Sentencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos de 2 de julio de 2004. H.U. vs. C.R.)

Prejudicialidad.

Si el hecho imputado es objeto de un proceso pendiente, el juicio por calumnia o difamación calumniosa, quedará suspendido hasta que en aquél se dicte sentencia, la cual hará cosa juzgada acerca de la existencia o inexistencia del hecho. Ficha articulo Exclusión de delito.

No son punibles como ofensas al honor los juicios desfavorables de la crítica literaria, artística, histórica, científica o profesional; el concepto desfavorable expresado en cumplimiento de un deber o ejerciendo un derecho siempre que el modo de preceder o la falta de reserva cuando debió haberla, no demuestren un propósito ofensivo. Ficha articulo Publicación de ofensas.

(Nota de Sinalevi: Con respecto a la incompatibilidad de este artículo con el párrafo primero del artículo 13 de la Convención Americana de Derechos Humanos, ver Sentencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos de 2 de julio de 2004. H.U. vs. C.R.)

Difamación de una persona jurídica.

Será reprimido con treinta a cien días multa, el que propalare hechos falsos concernientes a una persona jurídica o a sus personeros por razón del ejercicio de sus cargos que puedan dañar gravemente la confianza del público o el crédito de que gozan. Ficha articulo Ofensas en juicio.

Las ofensas contenidas en los escritos presentados o en las manifestaciones o discursos hechos por los litigantes, apoderados o defensores ante los Tribunales, y concernientes al objeto del juicio, quedarán sujetas únicamente a las correcciones disciplinarias correspondientes. Ficha articulo Publicación reparatoria.

La sentencia condenatoria por ofensas al honor cometidas públicamente deberá ordenar, si el ofendido lo pidiere, la publicación del pronunciamiento a cargo del condenado. Esta disposición es también aplicable en caso de retractación. Ficha articulo

DELITOS SEXUALES

Violación, Estupro, y Abuso Deshonesto Violación

Será sancionado con pena de prisión de diez a dieciséis años, a quien se haga acceder o tenga acceso carnal por vía oral, anal, vaginal o mediante orificios creados en cualquier parte del cuerpo, con una persona de uno u otro sexo, en los siguientes casos:

1- Cuando la víctima sea menor de trece años.

2- Cuando se aproveche de la vulnerabilidad de la víctima o esta se encuentre incapacitada para resistir.

3- Cuando se use la violencia corporal o la intimidación.

La misma pena se impondrá si la acción consiste en introducirle a la víctima objetos, animales o cualquier parte del cuerpo, por vía oral, anal o vaginal, o mediante orificios creados en cualquier parte del cuerpo, o en obligarla a que se los introduzca ella misma por dichas vías.

(Así reformado por el artículo único de la ley N° 10557 del 23 de octubre de 2024) Violación calificada

• 1)El autor sea cónyuge de la víctima o una persona ligada a ella en relación análoga de convivencia.
• 2)El autor sea ascendiente, descendiente, hermana o hermano de la víctima, hasta el tercer grado por consanguinidad o afinidad.
• 3)El autor sea tío, tía, sobrina, sobrino, prima o primo de la víctima, hasta el tercer grado por consanguinidad o afinidad.
• 4)El autor sea tutor o el encargado de la educación, guarda o custodia de la víctima.
• 5)Se produzca un grave daño en la salud de la víctima.
• 6)Se produzca un embarazo.
• 7)La conducta se cometa con el concurso de una o más personas.
• 8)El autor realice la conducta prevaleciéndose de una relación de poder resultante del ejercicio de su cargo, y esta sea realizada por ministros religiosos, guías espirituales, miembros de la Fuerza Pública o miembros de los Supremos Poderes.

(Así reformado mediante el artículo 1° de la Ley "Fortalecimiento de la Lucha Contra La Explotación Sexual de las Personas Menores de Edad mediante la reforma y adición de varios artículos al Código Penal, Ley Nº 4573, y reforma de varios artículos del Código Procesal Penal, Ley Nº 7594"; ley N° 8590 del 18 de julio del 2007).

Violación Agravada.

al Código Penal, Ley Nº 4573, y reforma de varios artículos del Código Procesal Penal, Ley Nº 7594"; ley N° 8590 del 18 de julio del 2007).

Relaciones sexuales con personas menores de edad

Será sancionado con pena de prisión, quien se haga acceder o tenga acceso carnal por vía oral, anal o vaginal, con una persona menor de edad, siempre que no constituya delito de violación, en los siguientes supuestos:

• 1)Con pena de prisión de tres a seis años, cuando la víctima sea mayor de trece y menor de quince años de edad, y el autor sea cinco o más años mayor que está en edad.
• 2)Con pena de prisión de dos a tres años, cuando la víctima sea mayor de quince y menor de dieciocho años, y el autor sea siete o más años mayor que está en edad.
• 3)Con pena de prisión de cuatro a diez años, siempre que el autor tenga, respecto de la víctima, la condición de ascendiente, tío, tía, hermano o hermana, primo o prima por consanguinidad o afinidad, sea tutor o guardador, o se encuentre en una posición de confianza o autoridad con respecto de la víctima o su familia, medie o no relación de parentesco.

Los mismos supuestos operarán si la acción consiste en la introducción de uno o varios dedos, objetos o animales por la vía vaginal o anal.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1° de la ley N° 9406 del 30 de noviembre de 2016, "Fortalecimiento de la protección legal de las niñas y las adolescentes mujeres ante situaciones de violencia de género asociadas a relaciones abusivas.") Actos sexuales remunerados con personas menores de edad

• 1)Prisión de cuatro a diez años, si la persona ofendida es menor de trece años.
• 2)Prisión de tres a ocho años, si la persona ofendida es mayor de trece años pero menor de quince años.
• 3)Prisión de dos a seis años, si la persona ofendida es mayor de quince años pero menor de dieciocho años.

(Así reformado mediante el artículo 1° de la Ley "Fortalecimiento de la Lucha Contra La Explotación Sexual de las Personas Menores de Edad mediante la reforma y adición de varios artículos al Código Penal, Ley Nº 4573, y reforma de varios artículos del Código Procesal Penal, Ley Nº 7594"; ley N° 8590 del 18 de julio del 2007).

Abusos sexuales contra personas menores de edad e incapaces

Será sancionado con pena de prisión de tres a ocho años, quien de manera abusiva realice actos con fines sexuales contra una persona menor de edad o incapaz o la obligue a realizarlos al agente, a sí misma o a otra persona, siempre que no constituya delito de violación.

La pena será de cuatro a diez años de prisión cuando:

• 1)La persona ofendida sea menor de quince años.

(Así reformado el inciso anterior por el artículo 1° de la ley N° 9406 del 30 de noviembre de 2016, "Fortalecimiento de la protección legal de las niñas y las adolescentes mujeres ante situaciones de violencia de género asociadas a relaciones abusivas.") 2) El autor se aproveche de la vulnerabilidad de la persona ofendida, o esta se encuentre incapacitada para resistir o se utilice violencia corporal o intimidación.

• 3)El autor sea ascendiente, descendiente, hermana o hermano de la víctima.
• 4)El autor sea tío, tía, sobrina, sobrino, prima o primo de la víctima.
• 5)El autor sea madrastra, padrastro, hermanastra o hermanastro de la víctima.
• 6)El autor sea tutor o encargado de la educación, guarda o custodia de la víctima.
• 7)El autor realice la conducta contra alguno de los parientes de su cónyuge o conviviente, indicados en los incisos 3) y 4) anteriores.
• 8)El autor se prevalezca de su relación de confianza o autoridad con la víctima o su familia, medie o no relación de parentesco.

(Así reformado el inciso anterior por el artículo 1° de la ley N° 9406 del 30 de noviembre de 2016, "Fortalecimiento de la protección legal de las niñas y las adolescentes mujeres ante situaciones de violencia de género asociadas a relaciones abusivas.") (Así reformado mediante el artículo 1° de la Ley "Fortalecimiento de la Lucha Contra La Explotación Sexual de las Personas Menores de Edad mediante la reforma y adición de varios artículos al Código Penal, Ley Nº 4573, y reforma de varios artículos del Código Procesal Penal, Ley Nº 7594"; ley N° 8590 del 18 de julio del 2007).

Cuando se cometa un delito sexual cuya víctima sea una persona menor de edad, los jueces quedan facultados para imponer, además de las penas consignadas en cada caso, las de inhabilitación absoluta en el tanto que estimen pertinente, de acuerdo con la gravedad del hecho y dentro de los límites fijados para esta pena.

La inhabilitación regirá por todo el plazo establecido en la sentencia condenatoria, sin posibilidad de que sea disminuida por los beneficios que, de conformidad con la legislación procesal penal, puedan otorgársele al condenado.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 2° de la ley "Reforma el Código Penal, ley N° 4573, para promover la Protección de la Integridad Sexual y de los Derechos y las Libertades fundamentales de las personas menores de edad"; ley N° 8874 del 24 de setiembre de 2010) Abusos sexuales contra las personas mayores de edad

Quien de manera abusiva realice actos con fines sexuales contra una persona mayor de edad, o la obligue a realizarlos al agente, a sí misma o a otra persona, siempre que no constituya delito de violación, será sancionado con pena de prisión de dos a cuatro años.

La pena será de tres a seis años de prisión cuando:

• 1)El autor se aproveche de la vulnerabilidad de la persona ofendida, o esta se encuentre incapacitada para resistir, o se utilice violencia corporal o intimidación.
• 2)El autor sea ascendiente, descendiente, hermana o hermano de la víctima.
• 3)El autor sea tío, tía, sobrina, sobrino, prima o primo de la víctima.
• 4)El autor sea madrastra, padrastro, hermanastra o hermanastro de la víctima.
• 5)El autor sea el tutor o el encargado de la educación, guarda o custodia de la víctima.
• 6)El autor realice la conducta contra alguno de los parientes de su cónyuge o conviviente, indicados en los incisos 3) y 4) anteriores.
• 7)El autor se prevalezca de su relación de confianza con la víctima o su familia, medie o no relación de parentesco.

(Así reformado por el artículo único de la ley para Restituir la pena por abusos sexuales contra las personas mayores de edad, N° 9584 del 4 de julio de 2018)

Será sancionado con pena de prisión de cuatro a ocho años, quien promueva o realice programas, campañas o anuncios publicitarios, haciendo uso de cualquier medio para proyectar al país a nivel nacional e internacional como un destino turístico accesible para la explotación sexual comercial o la prostitución de personas de cualquier sexo o edad.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 79 de la Ley contra la Trata de Personas y Creación de la Coalición Nacional contra el Tráfico Ilícito de Migrantes y la Trata de Personas (CONATT), N° 9095 del 26 de octubre de 2012)

RAPTO Rapto propio.

Rapto impropio.

Rapto con fin de matrimonio.

El rapto como delito de acción pública.

Corrupción, Proxenetismo, Rufianería Corrupción

Será sancionado con pena de prisión de cuatro a nueve años, quien mantenga o promueva la corrupción de una persona menor de edad o incapaz, con fines eróticos, pornográficos u obscenos, en exhibiciones o espectáculos públicos o privados, aunque la persona menor de edad o incapaz lo consienta.

La pena será de seis a doce años de prisión, si el actor, utilizando las redes sociales o cualquier otro medio informático o telemático, u otro medio de comunicación, busca encuentros de carácter sexual para sí, para otro o para grupos, con una persona menor de edad o incapaz; utiliza a estas personas para promover la corrupción o las obliga o instiga a realizar actos sexuales, prematuros, aunque la victima consienta participar en ellos o verlos ejecutar.

(Así reformado por el artículo 8° de la Ley para la prevención del acoso a personas menores de edad por medios electrónicos o virtuales (GROOMING), N° 10020 del 9 de setiembre de 2021)

Será reprimido con prisión de dos a cuatro años quien, por cualquier medio, establezca comunicaciones de contenido sexual o erótico, ya sea que incluyan o no imágenes, videos, textos o audios, con una persona menor de edad o incapaz.

La misma pena se impondrá a quien suplantando la identidad de un tercero o mediante el uso de una identidad falsa, por cualquier medio, procure establecer comunicaciones de contenido sexual o erótico, ya sea que se incluyan o no imágenes, videos, textos o audios, con una persona menor de edad o incapaz.

La pena será de tres a cinco años, en las conductas descritas en los dos párrafos anteriores, cuando el actor procure un encuentro personal en algún lugar físico con una persona menor de edad o incapaz.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 2° de la ley N° 9135 del 24 de abril de 2013) (Así reformado por el artículo 8° de la Ley para la prevención del acoso a personas menores de edad por medios electrónicos o virtuales (GROOMING), N° 10020 del 9 de setiembre de 2021) Corrupción agravada

En el caso del delito de corrupción, contenido en el artículo 167 de la presente ley, la pena será de seis a doce años de prisión cuando:

• 1)La víctima sea menor de trece años.
• 2)El hecho se ejecute con propósitos de lucro.
• 3)El hecho se ejecute con engaño, violencia, abuso de autoridad o cualquier otro medio de intimidación o coacción.
• 4)El autor sea ascendiente, descendiente, hermana o hermano de la víctima.
• 5)El autor sea tío, tía, sobrina, sobrino, prima o primo de la víctima.
• 6)El autor sea madrastra, padrastro, hermanastra o hermanastro de la víctima.
• 7)El autor sea tutor o encargado de la educación, guarda o custodia de la víctima.
• 8)El autor realice la conducta contra alguno de los parientes de su cónyuge o conviviente, indicados en los incisos 4), 5) y 6) anteriores.
• 9)El autor se prevalezca de su relación de confianza con la víctima o con su familia, medie o no relación de parentesco.

(Así reformado por el artículo 8° de la Ley para la prevención del acoso a personas menores de edad por medios electrónicos o virtuales (GROOMING), N° 10020 del 9 de setiembre de 2021)

(Así adicionado por el artículo 21 de le ley Incentivo de la Responsabilidad ocial Corporativa Turística, Nº 8811 del 12 de mayo de 2010) Proxenetismo.

La misma pena se impondrá a quien mantenga en servidumbre sexual a otra persona.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1º de la "Ley contra la Explotación Sexual de Personas Menores de Edad"; ley No.7899 de 3 de agosto de 1999) Proxenetismo agravado

La pena será de cuatro a diez años de prisión, cuando se realice una de las acciones previstas en el artículo anterior y concurra, además, alguna de las siguientes circunstancias:

• 1)La víctima sea menor de dieciocho años.
• 2)Medie engaño, violencia, abuso de autoridad, una situación de necesidad de la víctima o cualquier medio de intimidación o coacción.
• 3)El autor sea ascendiente, descendiente, hermana o hermano de la víctima.
• 4)El autor sea tío, tía, sobrina, sobrino, prima o primo de la víctima.
• 5)El autor sea madrastra, padrastro, hermanastra o hermanastro de la víctima.
• 6)El autor sea tutor, o encargado de la educación, guarda o custodia de la víctima.
• 7)El autor realice la conducta contra alguno de los parientes de su cónyuge o conviviente, indicados en los incisos 3) y 4) anteriores.
• 8)El autor se prevalezca de su relación de confianza con la víctima o su familia, medie o no relación de parentesco.

(Así reformado mediante el artículo 1° de la ley N° 8590 del 18 de julio del 2007).

Rufianería

Será sancionado con pena de prisión de dos a ocho años, quien, coactivamente, se haga mantener, aunque sea en forma parcial, por una persona que ejerza la prostitución, explotando las ganancias provenientes de esa actividad.

La pena será:

• 1)Prisión de cuatro a diez años, si la persona ofendida es menor de trece años.
• 2)Prisión de tres a nueve años, si la persona ofendida es mayor de trece años, pero menor de dieciocho años.

(Así reformado mediante el artículo 1° de la ley N° 8590 del 18 de julio del 2007).

Será sancionado con pena de prisión de seis a diez años, quien mediante el uso de las tecnologías o cualquier otro medio, recurriendo a la amenaza, al uso de la fuerza u otras formas de coacción, al rapto, al fraude, al engaño, al abuso de poder, a una situación de vulnerabilidad, o a la concesión o recepción de pagos o beneficios para obtener el consentimiento de una persona que tenga autoridad sobre otra, promueva, facilite, favorezca o ejecute la captación, el traslado, el transporte, el alojamiento, el ocultamiento, la retención, la entrega o la recepción de una o más personas dentro o fuera del país, para someterlas a trabajos o servicios forzados y otras formas de explotación laboral, la servidumbre, la esclavitud o las prácticas análogas a la esclavitud, el matrimonio servil o forzado, la adopción irregular, la intermediación ilegal en procesos de acogimiento prenatal, la mendicidad forzada, el embarazo forzado y el aborto forzado, y la ejecución de cualquier forma de explotación sexual.

(Así reformado el párrafo anterior por el artículo 10 de la Ley de Acogimiento Prenatal, N° 10506 del 6 de setiembre del 2024) La pena de prisión será de ocho a dieciséis años, si media, además, alguna de las siguientes circunstancias:

(Así reformado el párrafo anterior por el artículo 10 de la Ley de Acogimiento Prenatal, N° 10506 del 6 de setiembre del 2024) a) La víctima sea menor de dieciocho años de edad, persona adulta mayor o con discapacidad.

• b)El autor sea cónyuge, conviviente o pariente de la víctima hasta el tercer grado de consanguinidad o afinidad.
• c)El autor se prevalezca de su relación de autoridad o confianza con la víctima o su familia, medie o no relación de parentesco.
• d)El autor se aproveche del ejercicio de su profesión o de la función que desempeña.
• e)La víctima sufra grave daño en su salud, la muerte, o deceso por suicidio como consecuencia de la acción de trata de personas antes descrita.
• f)El hecho punible haya sido cometido por un grupo delictivo integrado por dos o más miembros.
• g)El autor actué realizando intermediación en solicitudes de acogimiento prenatal. La intermediación consiste en cualquier acercamiento o acuerdo, sea que medie o no una retribución económica o promesa de retribución económica y que tenga como propósito o resultado que, el ser en gestación, sea colocado en acogimiento prenatal con una persona o pareja específica.

(Así adicionado el inciso anterior por el artículo 10 de la Ley de Acogimiento Prenatal, N° 10506 del 6 de setiembre del 2024) Será sancionado con la pena señalada en el primer párrafo de este numeral, quien promueva, facilite, favorezca o ejecute, la captación, el traslado, el transporte, el alojamiento, el ocultamiento, la retención, la entrega o la recepción de una o más personas dentro o fuera del país, para la extracción ilícita o el trasplante ilícito de órganos, tejidos, células o fluidos humanos.

Tratándose de personas menores de edad, para la configuración del delito no será necesario que se recurra a los modos de ejecución descritos en el primer párrafo de este artículo.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1° de la ley N° 9545 del 24 de abril de 2018)

Será sancionado con pena de prisión de cinco a nueve años, quien fabrique, produzca o reproduzca, divulgue o utilice imágenes, la voz o los datos personales, por cualquier medio, de material pornográfico infantil.

Igual pena se le impondrá a quien inste u obligue a una persona menor de edad o incapaz a enviar material pornográfico de cualquier tipo, por cualquier medio electrónico.

Será sancionado con pena de prisión de cuatro a siete años, quien transporte o ingrese en el país, por cualquier medio, este tipo de material.

Para los efectos de este Código, se entenderá por material pornográfico infantil toda representación escrita, visual o auditiva producida por cualquier medio, de una persona menor de edad, su imagen o su voz, alteradas o modificadas, dedicada a actividades sexuales explícitas, reales o simuladas, o toda representación de las partes genitales de una persona menor de edad con fines sexuales.

(Así reformado por el artículo 8° de la Ley para la prevención del acoso a personas menores de edad por medios electrónicos o virtuales (GROOMING), N° 10020 del 9 de setiembre de 2021)

Será sancionado con pena de prisión de dos a cinco años, quien posea material pornográfico en el que aparezca una persona menor de edad o incapaz.

Igual pena se impondrá a quien posea material pornográfico infantil en un almacenamiento local o remoto de cualquier dispositivo electrónico.

(Así adicionado mediante el artículo 1° de la ley N° 8590 del 18 de julio del 2007) (Así reformado por el artículo 8° de la Ley para la prevención del acoso a personas menores de edad por medios electrónicos o virtuales (GROOMING), N° 10020 del 9 de setiembre de 2021)

Quien entregue, comercie, difunda, distribuya o exhiba material pornográfico a personas menores de edad o incapaces, será sancionado con pena de prisión de cuatro a ocho años.

Se impondrá pena de cinco a nueve años, a quien exhiba, difunda, distribuya, financie o comercialice, por cualquier medio y cualquier título, material pornográfico en el que aparezca una persona menor de edad o incapaz, o Io posea para estos fines.

(Así reformado por el artículo 8° de la Ley para la prevención del acoso a personas menores de edad por medios electrónicos o virtuales (GROOMING), N° 10020 del 9 de setiembre de 2021)

Se impondrá pena de prisión de seis meses a dos años al que posea, produzca, venda, distribuya, exhiba o facilite, por cualquier medio, material pornográfico en el que no habiendo utilizado personas menores de edad:

• a)Emplee a una persona adulta que simule ser una persona menor de edad realizando actividades sexuales.
• b)Emplee imagen, caricatura, dibujo o representación, de cualquier clase, que aparente o simule a una persona menor de edad realizando actividades sexuales.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 3° de la ley N° 9177 del 1 de noviembre de 2013) Participación de terceros relacionados con la víctima por parentesco o que abusen de su autoridad o cargo.

Los ascendientes o descendientes por consanguinidad o afinidad, el cónyuge, los hermanos y cualesquiera personas que abusando de su autoridad o de su cargo, cooperaren por cualquier acto directo a la perpetración de los delitos correspondientes a esta Sección y cuya participación no haya sido tipificada expresamente, serán reprimidos con la pena de las autores. Ficha articulo

Será sancionado con pena de prisión de tres a cinco años, el propietario, arrendador, poseedor o administrador de un establecimiento o lugar que lo destine o se beneficie de la trata de personas, el tráfico ilícito de migrantes o sus actividades conexas.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 78° de la Ley contra la Trata de Personas y Creación de la Coalición Nacional contra el tráfico ilícito de migrantes y la trata de personas (CONATT), N° 9095 del 26 de octubre de 2012)

(Así adicionada la sección anterior por el artículo 5° de la Ley contra el acoso sexual callejero, N° 9877 del 10 de agosto del 2020)

Quien, en un espacio público, de acceso público o en un medio de transporte remunerado de personas, se masturbe a sí mismo, exhiba o muestre sus genitales con connotación sexual a otra persona, sin su consentimiento, será reprimido con una pena de prisión de seis meses a un año o de treinta a cuarenta y cinco días multa, siempre que la conducta no constituya un delito con una pena mayor.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 5° de la Ley contra el acoso sexual callejero, N° 9877 del 10 de agosto del 2020)

Quien, en un espacio público, de acceso público o en un medio de transporte remunerado de personas, persiga o acorrale con connotación sexual a otra persona, sin su consentimiento, será reprimido con una pena de prisión de ocho meses a un año o de treinta a cuarenta y cinco días multa, siempre que la conducta no constituya un delito con una pena mayor.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 5° de la Ley contra el acoso sexual callejero, N° 9877 del 10 de agosto del 2020)

Quien, en un espacio público, de acceso público o en un medio de transporte remunerado de personas, grabe, capte o produzca material de audio, visual o audiovisual con connotación sexual de otra persona, sin su consentimiento, será reprimido con una pena de prisión de diez meses a dieciocho meses o de treinta a cuarenta y cinco días multa, siempre que la conducta no constituya un delito con mayor pena de prisión.

La pena será de dieciocho meses a tres años de prisión o de cuarenta y cinco a sesenta días multa, en caso de que dicho material fuera enviado, mostrado o transmitido a una tercera persona, con fines de lucro o no, siempre que la conducta no constituya un delito con mayor pena de prisión.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 5° de la Ley contra el acoso sexual callejero, N° 9877 del 10 de agosto del 2020)

Los extremos de las sanciones privativas de libertad y de días multa previstas en los artículos 175 ter, 175 quater y 175 quinquies de la presente sección, se incrementarán en un tercio cuando concurra una de las siguientes circunstancias:

• a)La conducta sea cometida por dos o más personas.
• b)En perjuicio de una persona menor de edad.
• c)En perjuicio de una persona mayor de sesenta y cinco años.
• d)En perjuicio de una persona con discapacidad.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 5° de la Ley contra el acoso sexual callejero, N° 9877 del 10 de agosto del 2020) (Nota de Sinalevi: De conformidad con el transitorio único de la Ley contra el acoso sexual callejero, N° 9877 del 10 de agosto del 2020, lo dispuesto en este numeral, mismo que fue adicionado por el artículo 5° de la ley antes referida entrará en vigencia en un plazo de un año a partir de su publicación, es decir el 27 de agosto del 2021. Dentro de ese plazo improrrogable, el Ministerio de Justicia y Paz, en coordinación con el Instituto Nacional de las Mujeres (lnamu), deberá diseñar y poner en funcionamiento un programa especializado para la ejecución de las penas accesorias aplicables a los delitos previstos en los artículos 175 ter Exhibicionismo o masturbación en espacios públicos o de acceso público o en un medio de transporte remunerado de personas; 175 quater Persecución o acorralamiento y 175 quinquies Producción de material audiovisual, de la sección IV del título 111 de la Ley 4573, Código Penal, de 4 de mayo de 1970.)

Los delitos previstos en esta sección serán sancionados, además, con penas accesorias que se aplicarán junto con la pena de prisión o de multa, y consistirán en:

• a)Someter a la persona a un programa de tratamiento de adicciones para el control del consumo de alcohol, sustancias estupefacientes, psicotrópicas o drogas enervantes, cuando dicha adicción esté relacionada con la conducta sancionada o sus circunstancias.
• b)Someter a la persona a un programa especializado para ofensores, orientado al control de conductas violentas, la reeducación y sensibilización sobre las masculinidades tóxicas, equidad de género y respeto por los derechos humanos de las mujeres.

Para los efectos de ejecutar estas penas, el Instituto Nacional de las Mujeres (lnamu) y el Ministerio de Justicia y Paz enviarán cada año, a la Corte Suprema de Justicia, la lista de instituciones acreditadas, públicas y privadas, a las cuales la autoridad judicial competente podrá remitir para el cumplimiento de estas penas.

Los gastos en que se incurra por este tratamiento correrán a cargo del Estado, salvo si la persona condenada cuenta con recursos suficientes para sufragarlos.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 5° de la Ley contra el acoso sexual callejero, N° 9877 del 10 de agosto del 2020)

DELITOS CONTRA LA FAMILIA

Matrimonios Ilegales Matrimonio ilegal.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1º de la ley Nº 6726 de 10 de marzo de 1982) Ocultación del impedimento.

Serán reprimido con prisión de dos a seis años el que contrajere matrimonio cuando, sabiendo que existe impedimento que cause nulidad absoluta, ocultare esta circunstancia al otro contrayente.

Simulación de matrimonio.

Sufrirá prisión de dos a cinco años, el que mediante engaño simulare matrimonio con una persona.

Responsabilidad del funcionario.

El funcionario público que a sabiendas autorizare un matrimonio de los comprendidos en los artículos anteriores, será reprimido con la pena que en ellos se determina aumentada en un tercio a juicio del Juez. Si obrare por culpa, la pena será de quince a sesenta días multa. Ficha articulo Inobservancia de formalidades.

Se impondrá de quince a sesenta días multa y además pérdida del cargo que tuviere e imposibilidad para obtener otro igual, de seis meses a dos años, al funcionario público, que fuera de los casos previstos en el artículo anterior, procediera a la celebración de un matrimonio sin haber observado todas las formalidades exigidas por la ley, aunque el matrimonio no fuere anulado. Ficha articulo Responsabilidad del tutor

(Así reformado por el artículo 3° de la Ley "Reforma artículos 14 y 64 Código Familia, el artículo 38 Código Civil, el artículo 181 Código Penal y derogación del inciso 3) del artículo 15, el artículo 19 y el inciso c) del artículo 65 Código Familia para impedir el Matrimonio de Menores de 15 años" N° 8571 del 8 de febrero de 2007)

Serán sancionadas con prisión de dos a cinco años, las personas que den su consentimiento para casarse, a sabiendas de que el matrimonio no tiene como propósito el cumplimiento de los fines previstos en el Código de Familia, o cuando alguno de los contrayentes otorgue al otro, por sí o por interpósita persona, un beneficio patrimonial con el fin de que brinde su consentimiento para casarse. Igual pena se impondrá a los testigos y notarios públicos que participen dolosamente, en su condición de tales, en la celebración de matrimonios simulados.

Cuando el matrimonio se celebre para obtener beneficios migratorios de cualquier tipo, a favor de uno de los contrayentes, la pena de prisión para ambos contrayentes, notarios públicos y testigos, que participen dolosamente en la celebración de matrimonios simulados, será de tres a seis años.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 2° de la ley N° 8781 del 11 de noviembre de 2009)

Atentados contra la filiación y el estado civil Suposición, supresión y alteración de la filiación o del estado(*) (*) (Modificada su denominación por el artículo 7 de ley "Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas"; ley Nº 7538 de 22 de agosto de 1995)

Infractores del proceso de inscripción.

Será reprimido, con prisión de tres a ocho años, quien:

• a)Haga inscribir, en el Registro Civil, a una persona inexistente.
• b)Haga insertar, en un acta de nacimiento, hechos falsos que alteren los datos civiles o la filiación de una persona recién nacida.
• c)Mediante ocultación, sustitución o exposición deje a una persona recién nacida sin datos civiles, o sin filiación o tome incierta o altere la que le corresponde.

(Así reformado por el artículo 7 de ley "Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas" Nº 7538 de 22 de agosto de 1995) Atenuaciones específicas.

En los casos de los incisos 2) y 3) del artículo anterior, si el hecho ha sido cometido para ocultar la deshonra de la madre, la pena será de un mes a tres años de prisión. En el caso del inciso 2) si el hecho ha sido cometido exclusivamente con el fin de amparar al menor, la pena será de un mes a dos años de prisión. Ficha articulo Evasión de trámites para adopción

Se impondrá prisión de tres a ocho años:

• a)A quien promueva o facilite la salida del país de personas menores de edad, contraviniendo las disposiciones migratorias que la regulan e infringiendo las disposiciones costarricenses sobre adopción.
• b)A la mujer en estado de gravidez que dé a luz en el extranjero, infringiendo las disposiciones costarricenses sobre adopción.

En los casos de los incisos a) y b) anteriores, si las faltas han sido cometidas por un funcionario público en el ejercicio de su función, la pena será de cinco a diez años de prisión, sin perjuicio de las sanciones administrativas que procedan.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 7 de la ley "Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas"; ley Nº 7538 de 22 de agosto de 1995)

SUSTRACCIÓN DE MENOR O INCAPAZ

Será reprimido con prisión de cinco a diez años, quien sustraiga a una persona menor de edad o sin capacidad volitiva o cognoscitiva, del poder de sus padres, guardadores, curadores, tutores o personas encargadas; igual pena se aplicará contra quien retenga a una de estas personas contra la voluntad de estos.

Cuando sean los padres, guardadores, curadores, tutores o personas encargadas quienes sustraigan o retengan a una persona menor de edad o sin capacidad volitiva o cognoscitiva, serán sancionados con pena de prisión de seis meses a dos años.

(Así reformado por el artículo 2° de la ley "Reforma Código Penal para Endurecer las Penas por Sustracción y Homicidio de Niños, Niñas, Adolescentes y Personas con Discapacidad". ley N°. 8387 de 8 de octubre de 2003).

Será reprimido, con prisión de tres a seis años, quien ilegítimamente tenga a su cargo a personas menores de edad sujetas a adopción.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 8 de la Ley" Reforma Código Familia, Ley Orgánica del Patronato Nacional Infancia, Ley General Migración y Extranjería, Ley Orgánica del TSE y Registro Civil y Código Penal, para regular la adopción de personas"; ley Nº 7538 de 22 de agosto de 1995)

Las penas del delito tipificado en el artículo184 de esta Ley, serán de doce a veinte años de prisión, en cualquiera de las siguientes circunstancias: 1. Si la sustracción dura más de tres días. 2. Si el hecho es cometido por dos o más personas. 3. Si el hecho es cometido con ánimo de lucro.

(Así adicionado por el inciso b) del artículo 1° de la ley “Reforma Código Penal para Endurecer las Penas por Sustracción y Homicidio de Niños, Niñas, Adolescentes y Personas con Discapacidad”; ley N° 8387 de 8 de octubre de 2003).

INCUMPLIMIENTO DE DEBERES FAMILIARES Incumplimiento del deber alimentario.

El juez podrá aumentar esa pena hasta en el doble, considerando las condiciones personales del autor, sus posibilidades económicas, los efectos y gravedad de la acción.

La misma pena se les impondrá a los obligados a brindar alimentos.

La responsabilidad del autor no queda excluida por el hecho de que otras personas hayan proveído medios de subsistencia.

Igual pena se impondrá al hijo respecto de los padres desvalidos y al cónyuge respecto del otro cónyuge, separado o no, o divorciado cuando esté obligado, y al hermano respecto del hermano incapaz.

(Así reformado por el artículo 69 (actual 82) de la Ley sobre Igualdad de Oportunidades para las Personas con Discapacidad; ley Nº 7600 de 2 de mayo de 1996) Incumplimiento agravado.

el máximo de la pena prescrita en el artículo anterior se elevará un tercio cuando el autor, para eludir el cumplimiento de la obligación alimentaria, traspasare sus bienes a terceras personas, renunciare a su trabajo o empleare cualquier otro medio fraudulento. Ficha articulo Incumplimiento de deberes de asistencia.

El que incumpliera o descuidara los deberes de protección, de cuidado y educación que le incumbieran con respecto a un menor de dieciocho años, de manera que este se encuentre en situación de abandono material o moral, será reprimido con prisión de seis meses a un año o de veinte a sesenta días multa y, además, con incapacidad para ejercer los atributos de la responsabilidad parental de seis meses a dos años.

A igual pena estará sujeto el cónyuge que no proteja y tenga en estado de abandono material a su otro cónyuge. En este caso y en los previstos por los artículos 185 y 186, quedará exento de pena el que pagara los alimentos debidos y diera seguridad razonable, a juicio del juez, del ulterior cumplimiento de sus obligaciones.

(Así reformado por el artículo 2° punto VI) de la ley que aprobó el Código Procesal de Familia, N° 9747 del 23 de octubre de 2019) Incumplimiento o abuso de la Patria Potestad.

Será penado con prisión de seis meses a dos años y, además, pérdida e incapacidad para ejercer los respectivos derechos o cargos, de seis meses a dos años, el que incumpliera o abusara de los derechos que le otorgue el ejercicio de los atributos de la responsabilidad parental, la tutela o salvaguarda en su caso, con perjuicio evidente para el hijo pupilo o incapaz.

(Así reformado por el artículo 2° punto VI) de la ley que aprobó el Código Procesal de Familia, N° 9747 del 23 de octubre de 2019)

• 1)Quien como dueño, gerente, empresario o autoridad de policía, deba evitar la entrada de personas menores o incapaces en lugares no autorizados para ellos, tolerare o permitiere que entren. Venta de objetos peligrosos a menores o incapaces 2) El que vendiere a un menor o incapaz armas, material explosivo o sustancia venenosa. Procuración de armas o sustancias peligrosas 3) A quien entregare, confiare, permitiere llevar o colocare armas, materias explosivas o sustancias venenosas al alcance de un menor o incapaz o de otra persona que no supiere o no pudiere manejarlas ni usarlas.
• 4)Se impondrá una pena de seis meses a tres años de prisión al dueño o encargado de un establecimiento comercial que sirva o expenda bebidas alcohólicas o tabaco a menores o incapaces.

(Así reformado el inciso anterior por el artículo 28 de la ley N° 9047 del 25 de junio del 2012,"Ley de Regulación y Comercialización de bebidas con contenido alcohólico") (Así adicionado por el inciso c) del artículo 3) de la ley N° 8250 de 2 de mayo del 2002).

DELITOS CONTRA LA LIBERTAD

Delitos Contra la Libertad Individual Plagio.

Será reprimido con prisión de cuatro a doce años, quien reduzca a una persona a servidumbre o a otra condición análoga o la mantuviere en ella. Ficha articulo

Será sancionado con pena de prisión de seis a diez años, quien induzca, mantenga o someta a una o más personas a realizar trabajos o servicios bajo fuerza, engaño, coacción o amenaza.

La pena de prisión será de ocho a dieciséis años si la víctima es una persona menor de dieciocho años de edad o se encuentra en una situación de vulnerabilidad o discapacidad.

En ningún caso, el consentimiento otorgado por la víctima eximirá de la responsabilidad penal.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 80° de la Ley contra la Trata de Personas y Creación de la Coalición Nacional contra el tráfico ilícito de migrantes y la trata de personas (CONATT), N° 9095 del 26 de octubre de 2012) (Así reformado por el artículo 2° de la ley N° 9545 del 24 de abril de 2018) Ocultamiento de detenidos por autoridades.

En la misma pena y además en la pérdida del empleo, cargo, comisión que tuviere o incapacidad para obtenerlo de seis meses a dos años, incurrirán las autoridades que ordenaren y los agentes que ejecutaren el ocultamiento de un detenido, se negaren a presentarlo al Tribunal respectivo o en cualquiera otra forma burlaren la garantía del artículo 37 de la Constitución Política. Ficha articulo Privación de libertad sin ánimo de lucro.

Será penado con prisión de seis meses a tres años al que sin ánimo de lucro, privare a otro de su libertad personal. Ficha articulo Formas agravadas.

La pena de prisión será de cuatro a diez años cuando se prive a otro de su libertad personal, si media alguna de las siguientes circunstancias:

• 1)Cuando la víctima sea una persona menor de dieciocho años de edad o se encuentre en una situación de vulnerabilidad o discapacidad.
• 2)Por medio de coacción, engaño o violencia.
• 3)Contra el cónyuge, conviviente o pariente hasta el tercer grado de consanguinidad o afinidad, o un funcionario público.
• 4)Cuando dure más de veinticuatro horas.
• 5)Cuando el autor se prevalezca de su relación de autoridad o confianza con la víctima o su familia, medie o no relación de parentesco.
• 6)Cuando el autor se aproveche del ejercicio de su profesión o de la función que desempeña.
• 7)Con grave daño en la salud de la víctima.

(Así reformado por el artículo 74° de la Ley contra la Trata de Personas y Creación de la Coalición Nacional contra el tráfico ilícito de migrantes y la trata de personas (CONATT), N° 9095 del 26 de octubre de 2012) (Nota de Sinalevi: Mediante el artículo 1º de la ley N° 5061 de 23 de agosto de 1972, se interpretó el presente artículo en el sentido de que la pena señalada es la de prisión).

Será reprimido con prisión de diez a quince años, quien sustraiga a una persona menor de edad o con discapacidad cognitiva o física, del poder de sus padres, guardadores, curadores, tutores o personas encargadas. La pena será de veinte a veinticinco años de prisión, si se le infligen a la víctima lesiones graves o gravísimas, y de treinta y cinco a cincuenta años de prisión, si muere.

Cuando sean los padres, los guardadores, los curadores, los tutores o las personas encargadas quienes sustraigan o retengan a una persona menor de edad, con discapacidad o sin capacidad para resistir, serán sancionados con pena de prisión de veinte a veinticinco años.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 75° de la Ley contra la Trata de Personas y Creación de la Coalición Nacional contra el tráfico ilícito de migrantes y la trata de personas (CONATT), N° 9095 del 26 de octubre de 2012)

Delitos Contra la Libertad de Determinación Coacción.

Será sancionado con pena de prisión de tres a cinco años, quien mediante amenaza grave o violencia física o moral compela a una persona a hacer, no hacer o tolerar algo a lo que no está obligado.

(Así reformado por el artículo 74° de la Ley contra la Trata de Personas y Creación de la Coalición Nacional contra el tráfico ilícito de migrantes y la trata de personas (CONATT), N° 9095 del 26 de octubre de 2012) Acoso predatorio

Será reprimido con pena de prisión de tres a dieciocho meses o de cien a doscientos días multa, quien hostigue o acose a una persona, de forma reiterada e insistente, sin consentimiento de la víctima y afecte su intimidad, integridad, vida privada o sus actividades cotidianas, llevando a cabo alguna o varias de las siguientes conductas:

1- Vigile, merodeé, persiga o procure la cercanía física con la persona.

2- Establezca o intente establecer el contacto con la víctima, por medio físico, cibernético o a través de terceras personas.

3- Jaquee, interfiera, intercepte o controle un dispositivo o datos personales de la persona.

Este delito es de acción pública perseguible a instancia privada.

(Así adicionado por el artículo único de la Ley contra el acoso predatorio, N° 10487 del 16 de mayo de 2024) Circunstancias agravantes

1- Cuando la víctima sea una persona menor de dieciocho años de edad o se encuentre en una situación de vulnerabilidad o discapacidad.

2- Cuando medie engaño o violencia.

3- Cuando el contacto sea establecido por medios de comunicación que incluya contenido sexual manifiesto.

4- Cuando la conducta sea cometida por dos o más personas.

5- Cuando la persona autora ejecute la conducta contra la persona con quien mantenga o haya mantenido una relación o vínculo de pareja, sea matrimonial, unión de hecho, noviazgo, convivencia, de no convivencia, casual u otra análoga, aun cuando medie divorcio, separación o ruptura.

6- Cuando la persona autora se prevalezca de una relación o vínculo de confianza, amistad, de autoridad o de una relación de poder que tuviera con la víctima, medie o no relación de parentesco, u ocurra dentro de las relaciones familiares de consanguinidad o afinidad hasta el tercer grado.