WHAT IS PERJURY?
In February of this year two-star witnesses (coincidentally brothers) were charged with multiple counts of perjury or giving contradictory statements in a corruption trial involving a political secretary. The statements made at trial were reportedly not in line with previous statements given to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Perjury is the act of lying under oath or making false statements in court proceedings which is an offense punishable under Section 191 of the Malaysian Penal Code. This includes statements made in affidavits, witness statements, oral evidence given during court proceedings.
Key Legal Repercussions:
1. Imprisonment:
Section 193 specifies that anyone found guilty of perjury can be punished with imprisonment of up to 7 years.
2. Fines:
In addition to imprisonment, the court may impose a fine on individuals convicted of perjury.
3. Aggravated Perjury:
If the false statement leads to a wrongful conviction and the innocent party is sentenced to death or life imprisonment, the perjurer can face a much harsher punishment.
Section 194 provides that if the false testimony causes an innocent person to be convicted and sentenced to death, the person committing perjury could be sentenced to death or the same punishment as the innocent person.
4. Accessory to Perjury:
Under Section 195, individuals who fabricate false evidence or assist in committing perjury can also be held accountable and face similar punishments as those directly committing perjury.
This is important information because any statements you make in an affidavit or statutory declaration or as a witness can be used against you at any given time thereafter. So please make sure your statements are the truth and always consistent.