ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION
PART I
General Provisions
Preliminary
1. Short title
Interpretation
2. Interpretation
3. Exclusion of common law
Territorial Application of this Code
4. Extent of jurisdiction of courts
5. Offence committed partly within and partly beyond the jurisdiction
General Rules as to Criminal Responsibility
6. Ignorance of law
7. Bona fide claim of right
8. Intention and motive
9. Mistake of fact
10. Presumption of sanity
11. Insanity
12. Intoxication
13. Immature age
14. Judicial officers
15. Compulsion
16. Defence of person or property
17. Use of force in effecting arrest
18. Compulsion by husband
19. Person not to be punished twice for same act or omission
20. Consent of Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute
Parties to Offences
21. Principal offenders
22. Offences committed by joint offenders in prosecution of common purpose
23. Counselling another to commit an offence
24. Offences by corporations, societies, etc.
Punishments
25. Different kinds of punishments
26. Sentence of death
27. Imprisonment
28. Corporal punishment
29. Fines
30. Forfeiture
31. Security for keeping the peace or to come up for judgment
32. Discharge of offender without punishment
33. General punishment for offences
PART II
Crimes
DIVISION I
OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER
Treason and other Offences against the State's Authority
34. Treason
35. Instigating invasion
36. Concealment of treason
37. Treasonable offences
38. Promoting war or warlike undertaking
39. Certain persons deemed to threaten security or sovereignty of Botswana
40. Extenuating circumstances in treason and similar offences
41. Limitations as to trial for treason, etc.
42. Inciting to mutiny
43. Aiding members of the Forces in acts of mutiny
44. Inducing desertion
45. Aiding prisoners of war to escape
46. Definition of overt act
47. Prohibited publications
48. Penalty for prohibited publications
49. Seizure and disposal of prohibited publications
50. Seditious intention
51. Seditious offences
52. Prosecutions under section 51
53. Unlawful oaths to commit capital offences
54. Other unlawful oaths to commit offences
55. Compelling another person to take an oath
56. Compulsion, how far a defence
57. Person present deemed to consent to administering of oath unless he reports to authorities
58. Unlawful drilling
59. Alarming publications
Offences Affecting Relations with Foreign States and External Tranquillity
60. Defamation of foreign princes
61. Conspiracies, etc., in Botswana relating to the commission of acts of violence abroad
62. Piracy
63. Punishment of piracy
64. Jurisdiction over piracy
65. Hijacking and related offences
Unlawful Societies, Unlawful Assemblies, Riots and Other Offences
against Public Tranquillity
66. Unlawful society
67. Managing unlawful society
68. Being member of unlawful society
69. Prosecutions under sections 67 and 68
70. Powers of entry, arrest and search
71. Declaration by the President
72. Forfeiture of insignia, etc.
73. Subversive activities
74. Definition of unlawful assembly and riot
75. Punishment of unlawful assembly
76. Punishment of riot
77. Making proclamation for rioters to disperse
78. Dispersion of rioters after proclamation made
79. Rioting after proclamation
80. Preventing or obstructing the making of proclamation
81. Rioters demolishing buildings, etc.
82. Rioters injuring buildings, machinery, etc.
83. Riotously interfering with railway, etc.
84. Going armed in public
85. Possession of firearms, etc.
86. Forcible entry
87. Forcible detainer
88. Affray
89. Challenge to a duel
90. Offensive conduct conducive to breaches of the peace
91. Insults relating to Botswana
92. Expressions of hatred, etc. of persons because of race, etc.
93. Abusive, obscene or insulting language re: President and others
94. Discrimination
95. Threatening breach of the peace or violence
96. Incitement to violence and disobedience of the law
97. Assembling for smuggling
98. Wrongfully inducing a boycott
DIVISION II
OFFENCES AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION OF LAWFUL AUTHORITY
Corruption and the Abuse of Office
99. Official corruption
100. Corruption
101. Public officers receiving property to show favour
102. Officers charged with administration of property of a special character or with special duties
103. False claims by officials
104. Abuse of office
105. False certificates by public officers, etc.
106. Unauthorised administration of oaths
107. False assumption of authority
108. Personating persons employed in the public service
109. Threat of injury to persons employed in public service
110. Tampering with public officers, etc.
Offences relating to the Administration of Justice
111. Perjury and subornation of perjury
112. False statements by interpreters
113. Punishment of perjury and subornation
114. Evidence on charge of perjury
115. Contradictory statements
116. Fabricating evidence
117. False swearing
118. Deceiving witnesses
119. Destroying evidence
120. Conspiracy to defeat justice and interference with witnesses
121. Compounding certain serious offences
122. Advertisements for stolen property
123. Offences relating to judicial proceedings
Rescues, Escapes and Obstructing Officers of Court of Law
124. Rescue
125. Escape
126. Aiding prisoners to escape
127. Removal, etc. of property under lawful seizure
128. Obstructing court officers
Miscellaneous Offences Against Public Authority
129. Frauds and breaches of trust by public officers
130. Neglect of official duty
131. False information to person employed in the public service
132. Disobedience of statutory duty
133. Disobedience of lawful orders
134. Undermining authority of public officers
135. Destruction, etc. of statutory documents
DIVISION III
OFFENCES INJURIES TO THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL
Offences relating to Religion
136. Insult to religion of any class
137. Disturbing religious assemblies
138. Trespassing on burial places
139. Hindering burial of dead body, etc.
140. Writing or uttering words with intent to wound religious feelings
Offences against Morality
141. Definition of rape
142. Punishment of rape
143. Attempted rape
144. Abduction of a person for immoral purposes
145. Abduction of person under 18 years
146. Indecent assaults
147. Defilement of persons under 18 years
148. Defilement of mentaly disabled persons
149. Procuration
150. Procuring defilement of person by threats, fraud or administering drugs
151. Householder, etc., permitting defilement of person under 18 years of age on his or her premises
152. Householder, etc. permitting defilement of person under 18 years of age on his or her premises
153. Detention of persons for immoral purposes
154. Power of search for detained person
155. Person living on earnings of prostitution or persistently soliciting
156. Person aiding, etc. for gain, prostitution
157. Premises used for prostitution
158. Brothels
159. Conspiracy to defile
160. Attempts to procure abortion
161. Woman with child procuring abortion
162. Supplying drugs or instruments to procure abortion
163. Knowledge of age of person immaterial
164. Unnatural offences
165. Attempt to commit unnatural offences
166. [Repealed.]
167. Indecent practices between persons
168. Incest
168A. Compensation for the victims of sexual offences
168B. False allegations
169. [Repealed.]
170. Test of relationship
171. Sanction of Director of Public Prosecutions
Offences Relating to Marriage and the Possession of Children
172. Fraudulent pretence of marriage
173. Bigamy
174. Marriage with dishonest or fraudulent intent
175. Child stealing
Nuisances and Offences Against Health and Convenience
176. Common nuisance
177. Chain letters
178. Traffic in obscene publications
179. Idle and disorderly persons
180. Use of insulting language
181. Nuisances by drunken persons, etc.
182. Rogues and vagabonds
183. Wearing uniforms declared to be for exclusive use
184. Spreading infection
185. Adulteration of food or drink for sale
186. Sale of noxious food or drink
187. Adulteration of drugs
188. Sale of adulterated drugs
189. Fouling water
190. Fouling air
191. Offensive trades
191A. Hostage-taking
Defamation
192. Definition of criminal defamation
193. Definition of defamatory matter
194. Definition of publication
195. Definition of unlawful publication
196. Cases in which publication of defamatory matter is absolutely privileged
197. Cases in which publication of defamatory matter is conditionally privileged
198. Explanation as to good faith
199. Presumption as to good faith
DIVISION IV
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
Murder and Manslaughter
200. Manslaughter
201. Punishment of manslaughter
201A. Possession of human flesh, body parts or human remains
201B. Cannibalism
202. Murder
203. Punishment of murder
204. Malice aforethought
205. Killing on provocation
206. Provocation defined
207. Suicide pacts
208. Infanticide
209. Causing death defined
210. When child deemed to be a person capable of being killed
211. Limitation as to time of death
Duties relating to the Preservation of Life and Health
212. Responsibility of person who has charge of another
213. Duty of person having custody of child
214. Duty of employer of child
215. Duty of persons doing dangerous acts
216. Duty of persons in charge of dangerous things
Offences connected with Murder and Suicide
217. Attempt to murder
218. Attempt to murder by convict
219. Accessory after the fact to murder
220. Threat to kill
221. Conspiracy to murder
222. Aiding suicide
223. Concealing birth
224. Killing unborn child
Offences Endangering Life and Health
225. Disabling in order to commit offence
226. Stupefying in order to commit offence
227. Acts intended to cause grievous harm or prevent arrest
228. Preventing escape from wreck
229. Intentionally endangering safety of persons travelling by railway
230. Grievous harm
231. Attempting to injure by explosives
232. Maliciously administering poison with intent to harm
233. Unlawful wounding and poisoning
234. Intimidation and molestation
235. Failure to supply necessaries
236. Surgical operation
237. Excess of force
238. Consent
Criminal Recklessness and Negligence
239. Reckless and negligent acts
240. Other negligent acts causing harm
241. Dealing in poisonous substances in negligent manner
242. Endangering safety of persons travelling by railway
243. Exhibition of false light, mark or buoy
244. Conveying person by water for hire in unsafe or overloaded vessel
245. Danger or obstruction in public way or river
Assaults
246. Common assault
247. Assaults occasioning actual bodily harm
248. Assaults on persons protecting wreck
249. Other assaults
Offences Against Liberty
250. Definition of kidnapping
251. Definition of kidnapping from lawful guardianship
252. Definition of abduction
253. Punishment for kidnapping
254. Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder
255. Kidnapping or abducting with intent to confine
256. Kidnapping or abducting in order to subject person to grievous harm, slavery, etc.
257. Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement kidnapped or abducted person
258. Kidnapping or abducting child under 14 years with intent to steal from its person
259. Punishment for wrongful confinement
260. Detaining person as slave
261. Dealing in slaves
262. Unlawful compulsory labour
DIVISION V
OFFENCES RELATING TO PROPERTY
Theft
263. Things capable of being stolen
264. Definition of stealing
265. Special case of factor
266. Funds etc. held under direction
267. Funds, etc. received by agents for sale
268. Money received for another
269. Theft by persons having an interest in the thing stolen
270. Husband and wife
271. General punishment for theft
272. Stealing wills
273. Stealing postal matter, etc.
274. [Repealed.]
275. Stealing from the person: stealing goods in transit, etc.
276. Stealing by persons in public service
277. Stealing by clerks and servants
278. Stealing by directors or officers of companies
279. Stealing by agents, etc.
280. Stealing by tenants or lodgers
281. Stealing after previous conviction
Offences Allied to Stealing
282. Concealing registers
283. Concealing wills
284. Concealing deeds
285. Killing animals with intent to steal
286. Severing with intent to steal
287. Fraudulent disposal of mortgaged goods
288. Fraudulently dealing with minerals in mines
289. Fraudulent appropriation of power
290. Unlawful use of vehicles, animals, etc.
Robbery and Extortion
291. Definition of robbery
292. Punishment of robbery
293. Attempted robbery
294. Assault with intent to steal
295. Demanding property by written threats
296. Extortion
297. Procuring execution of deeds, etc. by threats
298. Demanding property with menaces
Burglary, Housebreaking and Similar Offences
299. Definition of breaking and entering
300. Housebreaking and burglary
301. Entering dwelling-house with intent to commit certain serious offences
302. Breaking into building and committing certain serious offences
303. Breaking into building with intent to commit certain serious offences
304. Being armed, etc. with intent to commit certain serious offences
305. Criminal trespass
306. Forfeiture
False Pretences
307. Definition of false pretence
308. Obtaining by false pretences
309. Obtaining execution of a deed or security by false pretences
310. Cheating
311. Obtaining credit, etc. by false pretences
312. Conspiracy to defraud
313. Pretending to tell fortunes
314. Obtaining registration, etc. by false pretence
315. False declaration
316. Travelling on train without free pass or a ticket prohibited
Receiving Property Stolen or Unlawfully Obtained and Like Offences
317. Receiving stolen property, etc.
318. Person suspected of carrying or conveying stolen property
319. Marking and possession of public stores
320. Receiving goods stolen outside Botswana
Frauds by Trustees and Persons in a Position of Trust, and False Accounting
321. Trustees fraudulently disposing of trust property
322. Fraudulent appropriation or accounting by directors or officers
323. False statements by officials of companies
324. Fraudulent false accounting by clerk or servant
325. False accounting by public officer
DIVISION VI
MALICIOUS INJURIES TO PROPERTY
Offences Causing Injury to Property
326. Arson
327. Attempts to commit arson
328. Setting fire to crops and growing plants
329. Attempting to set fire to crops, etc.
330. Casting away vessels
331. Attempts to cast away vessels
332. Injuring animals
333. Malicious injuries to property
334. Attempts to destroy property by explosives
335. Communicating infectious diseases to animals
336. Penalties for damage, etc. to railway works
337. Sabotage
338. Threats to burn, etc.
DIVISION VII
FORGERY, COINING AND COUNTERFEITING
Definitions
339. Definition of forgery
340. Document
341. Making a false document
342. Intent to defraud
342A. Fraud
Punishments for Forgery
343. Definition of currency note
344. General punishment for forgery
345. Forgery of wills, etc.
346. Forgery of judicial or official documents
347. Forgery, etc. of stamps
348. Uttering false document
349. Uttering cancelled or exhausted documents
350. Procuring execution of documents by false pretences
351. Altering crossings on cheques
352. Making documents without authority
353. Demanding property upon forged testamentary instruments
354. Purchasing forged notes
355. Falsifying warrants for money payable under public authority
356. Falsification of register
357. Sending false certificate of marriage to registrar
358. False statements for registers of births, deaths and marriages
Offences relating to Coins and to Bank and Currency Notes
359. Definitions
360. Counterfeiting coin
361. Preparations for coining
362. Making or having in possession paper or implements for forgery
363. Clipping
364. Melting down of currency
365. Impounding and destruction of counterfeit coin
366. Possession of clippings
367. Uttering counterfeit coin
368. Repeated uttering
369. Uttering metal or coin not current as coin
370. Exporting counterfeit coin
371. Selling articles bearing designs in imitation of currency
372. Forfeiture
Counterfeit Stamps
373. Possession of die used for purpose of making stamps
374. Paper and dies for postage stamps
Counterfeiting Trade Marks
375. [Repealed.]
376. [Repealed.]
Personation
377. Personation in general
378. Falsely acknowledging deeds, recognizances, etc.
379. Personation of a person named in a certificate
380. Lending, etc. certificate for personation
381. Personation of person named in a testimonial
382. Lending, etc. testimonial for personation
DIVISION VIII
OFFENCES RELATING TO CORRUPT PRACTICES
Secret Commissions and Corrupt Practices
383. Interpretation
384. Corrupt practices
385. Secret commission on Government contracts
386. Presumption as to corrupt practices
387. Consent of Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecution
DIVISION IX
ATTEMPTS AND CONSPIRACIES TO COMMIT CRIMES,
AND ACCESSORIES AFTER THE FACT
Attempts
388. Attempt defined
389. Attempts to commit offences
390. Punishment of attempts to commit certain offences
391. Soliciting or inciting others to commit offence
Conspiracies
392. Conspiracy to commit offence
393. Other conspiracies
Accessories After the Fact
394. Definition of accessories after the fact
395. Punishment of accessories after the fact
DIVISION X
INDECENT ADVERTISEMENTS
Prohibited Advertisements
396. Interpretation
397. Offence to publish prohibited advertisement
398. Offence to publish advertisement relating to abortion
399. Penalties
Law 2, 1964,
Law 14, 1965,
L.N. 23, 1965,
L.N. 55, 1965,
Act 4, 1966,
L.N. 84, 1966,
L.N. 94, 1966,
Act 42, 1967,
Act 26, 1968,
Act 53, 1969,
Act 11, 1970,
Act 27, 1972,
Act 16, 1975,
S.I. 71, 1975,
S.I. 10, 1976,
Act 21, 1977,
Act 15, 1979,
Act 44, 1980,
Act 20, 1982,
Act 19, 1986,
Act 14, 1989,
Act 15, 1991,
Act 13, 1993,
Act 5, 1998,
Act 39, 2004,
Act 14, 2005,
Act 21, 2018,
S.I. 86, 2018
Act 27, 2021,
S.I. 93, 2023.
An Act to establish a code of criminal law.
[Date of Commencement: 10th June, 1964]
PART I
General Provisions (ss 1-33)
Preliminary (s 1)
This Act may be cited as the Penal Code (hereinafter referred to as "this Code").
Interpretation (ss 2-3)
(1) Subject to subsection (2), in this Code, unless the context otherwise requires—
"Act" includes any orders or rules or regulations made under the authority of any Act;
"assault" means—
(a) the intentional application of force to the person of another, directly or indirectly; or
(b) the making of any gesture towards another in such a manner as to give him reasonable grounds to believe that the person making the gesture is about to apply such force to his person;
"court" means a court of competent jurisdiction;
"dangerous harm" means harm endangering life;
"dwelling-house" includes any building or structure or part of a building or structure which is for the time being kept by the owner or occupier for the residence therein of himself, his family or servants or any of them, and it is immaterial that it is from time to time uninhabited; a building or structure adjacent to or occupied with a dwelling-house is deemed to be part of the dwelling-house if there is a communication between such building or structure and the dwelling-house, either immediate or by means of a covered and enclosed passage leading from the one to the other, but not otherwise;
"explosive" has the meaning assigned to it in the Explosives Act (Cap. 24:02);
"funds" means assets of any kind, whether corporeal or incorporeal, tangible or intangible, movable or immovable, however acquired, and legal documents or instruments in any form, including electronic or digital, evidencing title to, or interest in, such assets;
[21 of 2018, s. 2(b).]
"goods" means corporeal or incorporeal movable or immovable property of any kind;
[21 of 2018, s. 2(a).]
"grievous harm" means any harm which amounts to a maim or dangerous harm, or seriously or permanently injures health, or which is likely to injure health, or which extends to permanent disfigurement or to any permanent or serious injury to any external or internal organ, membrane or sense;
"harm" means any bodily hurt, disease or disorder whether permanent or temporary;
"judicial officer" means a judge, magistrate or member of a customary court;
"judicial proceeding" includes any proceeding had or taken in or before any court, tribunal, commission of inquiry, or person, in which evidence may be taken on oath, or in or before a customary court, whether such court takes evidence on oath or not;
"knowingly", used in connection with any term denoting uttering or using, implies knowledge of the character of the thing uttered or used;
"law enforcement agency" means the—
(i) Botswana Police Service,
(ii) Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime;
[21 of 2018, s. 2(b).]
"local authority" includes a tribal administration;
"magistrate" includes an administrative officer appointed as a magistrate under the Magistrates' Courts Act (Cap. 04:04);
"maim" means the destruction or permanent disabling of any external or internal organ, membrane or sense;
"member of the Services" means any member of the Botswana Police Service or any other law enforcement agency;
[21 of 2018, s. 2(a).]
"money" includes bank notes, currency notes, bank drafts, cheques and any other orders, warrants or requests for the payment of money;
"navigation" means navigation by air or water; and "navigator" shall be construed accordingly;
"night" or "night time" means the interval between half-past six o'clock in the evening and half-past six o'clock in the morning;
"offence" is an act, attempt or omission punishable by law;
"offensive weapon" means any article made or adapted for use for causing injury to the person or intended by any person having it with him for such use by him and includes a spear, axe, hatchet and club and knife with a blade exceeding four inches in length;
"peace officer" has the meaning assigned thereto in the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (Cap. 08:02);
"periodical publication" includes every publication issued periodically or in parts or numbers at intervals whether regular or irregular;
"person" and "owner" and other like terms when used with reference to property include corporations of all kinds and any other association of persons capable of owning property, and also when so used include the State and any local authority;
"person employed in the public service" means any person holding any of the following offices or performing the duty thereof, whether as a deputy or otherwise, namely—
(a) any public office;
(b) any office to which a person is appointed or nominated by or under any written law;
(c) any civil office, the power of appointing to which or removing from which is vested in any person or persons holding an office of any kind included in paragraph (a) or (b) of this definition; or
(d) any office of arbitrator or umpire in any proceedings or matter submitted to arbitration by order or with the sanction of any court, or in pursuance of any written law;
and the said term further includes—
(i) any member of a commission of inquiry appointed under or in pursuance of any written law;
(ii) any person employed to execute any process of a court;
(iii) any member of the Services;
(iv) any person in the employment of the Government;
(v) any person acting as a minister of religion of whatsoever denomination in so far as he performs functions in respect of the notification of intended marriage or in respect of the solemnisation of marriage, or in respect of the making or keeping of any register or certificate of marriage, birth, baptism, death or burial, but not in any other respect;
(vi) any person in the employment of a local authority;
(vii) any person in the employment of the government of a country other than Botswana, or of the United Nations or any agency thereof, who exercises functions of his office in Botswana;
"petroleum" includes the liquids commonly known as rock oil, Rangoon oil, Burma oil, kerosene, paraffin oil, petrol, gasolene, benzoline, benzine, naphtha or any like inflammable liquid, whether a natural product or one that is made from petroleum, coal, schist, shale, or any other bituminous substances, or from any products thereof;
"police force" includes the Services defined in section 2 of the Police Act (Cap. 21:01) and any tribal police force in Botswana, and "police officer" shall be construed accordingly;
"possession"—
(a) "be in possession of" or "have in possession" includes not only having in one's own personal possession, but also knowingly having anything in the actual possession or custody of any other person, or having anything in any place (whether belonging to, or occupied by oneself or not) for the use or benefit of oneself or of any other person;
(b) if there are two or more persons and any one or more of them with the knowledge and consent of the rest has or have anything in his or their custody or possession, it shall be deemed and taken to be in the custody and possession of each and all of them;
"premises" includes any land, any building or any other place, and any vehicle, conveyance or vessel;
"print" means to produce or reproduce words or pictures in visible form by printing, writing, typewriting, duplicating, cyclostyling, lithography, photography or any other means of representing the same in visible form;
"private enterprise" means a voluntary organisation, non-governmental organisation, political party, charitable institution, society, association, company, partnership, club, trust or any other person or organisation which is not a public body;
[21 of 2018, s. 2(b).]
"prohibited publication" means any publication in respect of which an order has been made under section 47, and any part, copy or reproduction of any such publication;
"property" means money or any other movable, immovable, corporeal or incorporeal thing, whether located in Botswana or elsewhere, and includes any rights, securities and any interest in privileges and claims over that thing, as well as—
(a) any currency, whether or not the currency is legal tender in Botswana, and any bill, security, bond, negotiable instrument or any instrument capable of being negotiated which is payable to the bearer or endorsed "payable to the bearer", whether expressed in Botswana currency or otherwise;
(b) any balance held in Botswana currency or in any other currency in accounts with any bank which carries on business in Botswana or elsewhere;
(c) any balance held in any currency with a bank outside Botswana;
(d) any motor vehicle, ship, aircraft, boat, work of art, jewellery, precious metals or any other item of value;
(e) any right or interest in property; and
(f) any funds or other assets, including all property and any interest, dividend or income on or value accruing to or generated by such funds or assets;
[21 of 2018, s. 2(a).]
"public" refers not only to all persons within Botswana, but also to the persons inhabiting or using any particular place, or any number of such persons, and also to such indeterminate persons, as may happen to be affected by the conduct in respect to which such expression is used;
"public body" has the meaning assigned to it under the Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (Cap. 8:05);
[21 of 2018, s. 2(b).]
"public officer" means any person in the service of, or holding office under the State whether such service be permanent or temporary, or paid or unpaid;
"public way" includes any highway, market place, square, street, bridge or other way which is lawfully used by the public;
"publication" includes all written and printed matter, and any gramophone or other record, perforated roll, recording tape or wire, cinematograph film or other contrivance by means of which any words or ideas may be mechanically produced, represented or conveyed, and everything, whether of a nature similar to the foregoing or not, containing any visible representation or by its form, shape or other characteristics, or in any manner capable of producing, representing or conveying words or ideas, and every copy or reproduction or any publication;
"publicly" when applied to acts done means either—
(a) that they are so done in any public place as to be seen by any person whether such person be or be not in a public place; or
(b) that they are so done in any place not being a public place as to be likely to be seen by any person in a public place;
"seditious intention" has the meaning assigned to it in section 50;
"seditious publication" means a publication containing any word, sign or visible presentation expressive of a seditious intention;
"statute" has the same meaning as a "written law";
"utter" includes using or dealing with and attempting to use or deal with and attempting to induce any person to use, deal with or act upon the thing in question;
"valuable security" includes any document which is the property or in the lawful possession of any person and which is evidence of the ownership of any property or of the right to recover or receive any property;
"vessel" means—
(a) a ship, boat or similar craft; or
(b) an aircraft;
"wound" means any incision or puncture which divides or pierces any exterior membrane of the body, and any membrane is exterior for the purposes of this definition which can be touched without dividing or piercing any other membrane.
(2) Except where the context otherwise requires, expressions used in this Code shall be presumed to be used with the meaning attaching to them in English criminal law and shall be construed in accordance therewith.
Subject to the proviso to section 10(8) of the Constitution, no person shall be liable to punishment by the common law for any act.
Territorial Application of this Code (ss 4-5)
4. Extent of jurisdiction of courts
The jurisdiction of the courts of Botswana for the purposes of this Code extends to every place within Botswana.
5. Offence committed partly within and partly beyond the jurisdiction
When an act which, if wholly done within the jurisdiction of the court, would be an offence against this Code, is done partly within and partly beyond the jurisdiction, every person who within the jurisdiction does or makes any part of such act may be tried and punished under this Code in the same manner as if such act had been done wholly within the jurisdiction.
General Rules as to Criminal Responsibility (ss 6-20)
Ignorance of the law does not afford any excuse for any act or omission which would otherwise constitute an offence unless knowledge of the law by the offender is expressly declared to be an element of the offence.
A person is not criminally responsible in respect of an offence relating to property, if the act done or omitted to be done by him with respect to the property was done in the exercise of an honest claim of right and without intention to defraud.
(1) Subject to the express provisions of this Code relating to negligent acts and omissions, a person is not criminally responsible for an act or omission which occurs independently of the exercise of his will, or for an event which occurs by accident.
(2) Unless the intention to cause a particular result is expressly declared to be an element of the offence constituted, in whole or in part, by an act or omission, the result intended to be caused by an act or omission is immaterial.
(3) Unless otherwise expressly declared, the motive by which a person is induced to do or omit to do an act, or to form an intention, is immaterial so far as regards criminal responsibility.
(1) A person who does or omits to do an act under an honest and reasonable, but mistaken, belief in the existence of any state of things is not criminally responsible for the act or omission to any greater extent than if the real state of things had been such as he believed to exist.
(2) The operation of this rule may be excluded by the express or implied provisions of the law relating to the subject.
Every person is presumed to be of sound mind, and to have been of sound mind at any time which comes in question, until the contrary is proved.
A person is not criminally responsible for an act or omission if at the time of doing the act or making the omission he is through any disease affecting his mind incapable of understanding what he is doing, or of knowing that he ought not to do the act or make the omission; but a person may be criminally responsible for an act or omission, although his mind is affected by disease, if such disease does not in fact produce upon his mind one or other of the effects mentioned above in reference to that act or omission.
(1) Except as provided in this section, intoxication shall not constitute a defence to any criminal charge.
(2) Intoxication shall be a defence to any criminal charge if by reason thereof the person charged at the time of the act or omission complained of did not know that such act or omission was wrong or did not know what he was doing and—
(a) the state of intoxication was caused without his consent by the malicious or negligent act of another person; or
(b) the person charged was by reason of intoxication insane, temporarily or otherwise, at the time of such act or omission.
(3) Where the defence under subsection (2) is established, then in a case falling under paragraph (a) thereof the accused person shall be discharged, and in a case falling under paragraph (b) the provisions of section 11 of this Code and of Part XII of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act shall apply.
(4) Intoxication shall be taken into account for the purpose of determining whether the person charged had formed any intention, specific or otherwise, in the absence of which he would not be guilty of the offence.
(5) For the purposes of this section, "intoxication" shall be deemed to include a state produced by narcotics or drugs.
(1) A person under the age of eight years is not criminally responsible for any act or omission.
(2) A person under the age of 14 years is not criminally responsible for an act or omission unless it is proved that at the time of doing the act or making the omission he had capacity to know that he ought not to do the act or make the omission.
(3) Any person under the age of 12 years is presumed to be incapable of having carnal knowledge.
[21 of 2018, s. 2A.]
Except as expressly provided by this Code, a judicial officer is not criminally responsible for anything done or omitted to be done by him in good faith in the exercise of his judicial functions, although the act done is in excess of his judicial authority or although he is bound to do the act omitted to be done.
A person is not criminally responsible for an offence if it is committed by two or more offenders, and if the act is done or omitted only because during the whole of the time in which it is being done or omitted the person is compelled to do or omit to do the act by threats on the part of the other offender or offenders instantly to kill him or do him grievous bodily harm if he refuses; but threats of future injury do not excuse the causing of, or the attempt to cause, death.
16. Defence of person or property
Subject to the express provisions of this Code or any other law for the time being in force, a person shall not be criminally responsible for the use of force in repelling an unlawful attack upon his person or property or the person or property of anyone whom it is his moral or legal duty to protect if the means he uses and the degree of force he employs in so doing are no more than is reasonably necessary in the circumstances.
17. Use of force in effecting arrest
Where any person is charged with a criminal offence arising out of the lawful arrest, or attempted arrest, by him of a person who forcibly resists such arrest or attempts to evade being arrested, the court shall, in considering whether the means used were necessary, or the degree of force used was reasonable, for the apprehension of such person, have regard to the gravity of the offence which had been or was being committed by such person and the circumstances in which such offence had been or was being committed by such person.
A married woman is not free from criminal responsibility for doing or omitting to do an act merely because the act or omission takes place in the presence of her husband; but on a charge against a wife for any offence other than treason or murder it shall be a good defence to prove that the offence was committed in the presence of, and under the coercion of, the husband.
19. Person not to be punished twice for same act or omission
A person cannot be punished twice either under the provisions of this Code or under the provisions of any other law for the same act or omission, except in the case where the act or omission is such that by means thereof he causes the death of another person, in which case he may be convicted of the offence of which he is guilty by reason of causing such death, notwithstanding that he has already been convicted of some other offence constituted by the act or omission.
20. Consent of Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute
Notwithstanding that in respect of any offence it is provided that no prosecution shall be instituted without the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions a person may be arrested and charged for such offence and any such person may be remanded in custody or bail notwithstanding that the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions to the institution of prosecution for the offence has not been obtained, but no further or other proceedings shall be taken until that consent has been obtained.
Parties to Offences (ss 21-24)
(1) When an offence is committed, each of the following persons is deemed to have taken part in committing the offence and to be guilty of the offence, and may be charged with actually committing it, that is to say—
(a) every person who actually does the act or makes the omission which constitutes the offence;
(b) every person who does or omits to do any act for the purpose of enabling or aiding another person to commit the offence;
(c) every person who aids or abets another person in committing the offence;
(d) any person who counsels or procures any other person to commit the offence,
and in the last-mentioned case he may be charged either with committing the offence or with counselling or procuring its commission.
(2) A conviction of counselling or procuring the commission of an offence entails the same consequences in all respects as a conviction of committing the offence.
(3) Any person who procures another to do or omit to do any act of such a nature that, if he had himself done the act or made the omission, the act or omission would have constituted an offence on his part, is guilty of an offence of the same kind, and is liable to the same punishment, as if he had himself done the act or made the omission; and he may be charged with himself doing the act or making the omission.
22. Offences committed by joint offenders in prosecution of common purpose
When two or more persons form a common intention to execute an unlawful purpose in conjunction with one another, and in the execution of such purpose an offence is committed of such a nature that its commission was a probable consequence of the prosecution of such purpose, each of them is deemed to have committed the offence.
23. Counselling another to commit an offence
(1) When a person counsels another to commit an offence, and an offence is actually committed after such counsel by the person to whom it is given, it is immaterial whether the offence actually committed is the same as that counselled or a different one, or whether the offence is committed in the way counselled or in a different way, provided in either case that the facts constituting the offence actually committed are a probable consequence of carrying out the counsel.
(2) In either case the person who gave counsel is deemed to have counselled the other person to commit the offence actually committed by him.
24. Offences by corporations, societies, etc.
Where an offence is committed by any company or other body corporate, or by any society, association or body of persons, every person charged with, or concerned or acting in the control or management of the affairs or activities of such company, body corporate, society, association or body of persons shall be guilty of that offence and liable to be punished accordingly, unless it is proved by such person that, through no act or omission on his part, he was not aware that the offence was being or was intended or was about to be committed, or that he took all reasonable steps to prevent its commission.
Punishments (ss 25-33)
25. Different kinds of punishments
The following punishments may be inflicted by a court—
(a) death;
(b) imprisonment;
(c) corporal punishment;
(d) fine;
(e) forfeiture;
(f) finding security to keep the peace and be of good behaviour or to come up for judgment;
(g) any other punishment provided by this Code or by any other law.
(1) When any person is sentenced to death, the sentence shall direct that he shall be hanged by the neck until he is dead.
(2) Sentence of death shall not be pronounced on or recorded against any person convicted of an offence if it appears to the court that at the time when the offence was committed he was under the age of 18 years, but in lieu thereof the court shall sentence such person to be detained during the President's pleasure, and if so sentenced he shall be liable to be detained in such place and under such conditions as the President may direct, and whilst so detained shall be deemed to be in legal custody.
(3) Where a woman convicted of an offence punishable with death is found in accordance with the provisions of section 298 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (Cap. 08:02) to be pregnant, she shall be liable to imprisonment for life and not to sentence of death.
(1) Sentence of imprisonment shall not be passed on any person under the age of 14 years.
(2) A person convicted of an offence punishable with imprisonment for life or any other period may be sentenced for any shorter term.
(3) A person convicted of an offence punishable with imprisonment may be sentenced to pay a fine in addition to or instead of imprisonment.
(4) Notwithstanding any provision in any enactment which provides for the imposition of a statutory minimum period of imprisonment upon a person convicted of an offence, a court may, where there are exceptional extenuating circumstances which would render the imposition of the statutory minimum period of imprisonment totally inappropriate, impose a lesser and appropriate penalty.
[39 of 2004, s. 2.]
(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (4), no person shall be sentenced to undergo corporal punishment for any offence unless such punishment is specifically authorised by this Code or any other law.
(2) A sentence of corporal punishment shall be inflicted once only. The sentence shall specify the number of strokes, which shall not exceed 12, nor, in the case of a person under the age of 18 years, six.
(3) No sentence of corporal punishment shall be passed upon any of the following persons—
(a) females;
(b) males sentenced to death;
(c) males whom the court considers to be more than 40 years of age.
(4) Where any male person under the age of 40 is convicted of any offence punishable with imprisonment, other than an offence listed in the Second Schedule to the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (Cap. 08:02), a court may, in its discretion but subject to the provisions of section 27(1), order him to undergo corporal punishment in addition to or in substitution for such imprisonment.
[39 of 2004, s. 3.]
(5) Where it is provided that any person shall be liable to undergo corporal punishment such punishment shall, if awarded, be inflicted in accordance with the provisions of section 305 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.
(1) Where a fine is imposed under any law, then in the absence of express provisions relating to such fine in such law the following provisions shall apply—
(a) where no sum is expressed to which the fine may extend, the amount of the fine which may be imposed is unlimited, but shall not be excessive;
(b) in the case of an offence punishable with a fine or a term of imprisonment, the imposition of a fine or imprisonment shall be a matter for the discretion of the court;
(c) in the case of an offence punishable with imprisonment as well as a fine in which the offender is sentenced to a fine with or without imprisonment, and in every case of an offence punishable with a fine only in which the offender is sentenced to a fine, the court passing sentence may, in its discretion—
(i) direct by its sentence that in default of payment of the fine the offender shall suffer imprisonment for a certain term, which imprisonment shall be in addition to any other imprisonment to which he may have been sentenced or to which he may be liable under a commutation of sentence; and also
(ii) issue a warrant for the levy of the amount in accordance with the provisions of section 303 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.
(2) In the absence of express provisions in any law relating thereto, the term of imprisonment or corporal punishment ordered by a court in respect of the non-payment of any sum—
[39 of 2004, s. 4(a).]
(a) imposed as a fine;
(b) ordered to be forfeited to the State;
(c) ordered to be paid under the provisions of any other law,
shall be such as in the opinion of the court will satisfy the justice of the case, but shall not exceed in any such case the maximum fixed by the following scale—
[39 of 2004, s. 4(b).]
|
Amount of fine |
Maximum |
|
Not exceeding P200 |
14 days or six strokes |
|
P200-P1,000 |
One month or nine strokes |
|
P1,001-P10,000 |
Six months or 12 strokes |
|
Exceeding P10,000 |
Two years imprisonment. |
[39 of 2004, s. 4(c).]
The provisions of this Code with respect to the forfeiture of property to the State shall be in addition to and not in derogation from the provisions of sections 58 and 319 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.
31. Security for keeping the peace or to come up for judgment
(1) A person convicted of an offence not punishable with death may, instead of, or in addition to, any punishment to which he is liable, be ordered to enter into his own recognizance, with or without sureties, in such amount as the court thinks fit, on condition that he shall keep the peace and be of good behaviour for a time to be fixed by the court, and may be ordered to be imprisoned until such recognizance, with sureties, if so directed, is entered into; but so that the imprisonment for not entering into the recognizance shall not extend for longer than one year, and shall not, together with the fixed term of imprisonment, if any, extend for a term longer than the longest term for which he might be sentenced to be imprisoned without fine.
(2) When a person is convicted of any offence not punishable with death the court may, instead of passing sentence, discharge the offender upon his entering into his own recognizance, with or without sureties, in such sum as the court may think fit, on condition that he shall appear to receive judgment at some future sitting of the court or when called upon.
32. Discharge of offender without punishment
(1) Where, in any trial before a magistrate's court, the court thinks that the charge is proved but is of the opinion that, having regard to the character, antecedents, age, health or mental condition of the accused, or to the trivial nature of the offence, or to the extenuating circumstances in which the offence was committed, it is inexpedient to inflict any punishment, the court may, without proceeding to conviction, make an order dismissing the charge.
(2) An order made under this section shall, for the purpose of revesting or restoring stolen property, and enabling the court to make any order under the provisions of sections 318 and 319 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act have the like effect as a conviction.
33. General punishment for offences
When in this Code no punishment is specially provided for any offence, it shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or with a fine, or with both.
PART II
Crimes (ss 34-399)
DIVISION I
OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER (ss 34-98)
Treason and other Offences against the State's Authority (ss 34-59)
(1) A person is guilty of treason and shall, subject to section 40, be sentenced to death who—
(a) prepares or endeavours to overthrow by unlawful means the Government as established by law;
(b) prepares or endeavours to procure by force any alteration of the law or the policies of the Government;
(c) prepares or endeavours to carry out by force any enterprise which usurps the executive power of the State in any matter of both a public and a general nature;
(d) in time of war and with intent to give assistance to the enemy, does any act which is likely to give such assistance; or
(e) gives assistance to any person who threatens the security or sovereignty of Botswana.
(2) In paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) "by force" means either—
(a) by force used in such a manner as, whether by reason of the number of persons involved or the means used or both, to imperil or be likely to imperil the safety of the State or to cause or be likely to cause death or grievous harm or serious damage to property; or
(b) by a show of force to arouse reasonable apprehension that force will be used in such a manner as is described in paragraph (a).
(3) A person who is not a citizen of Botswana shall not be punishable under this section for anything done outside Botswana, but a citizen of Botswana may be tried and punished for an offence under this section as if it had been committed within the jurisdiction of the court.
Any person who instigates any foreigner to invade Botswana with an armed force is guilty of treason and shall, subject to section 40, be sentenced to death.
Any person who—
(a) becomes an accessory after the fact to treason; or
(b) knowing that any person intends to commit treason, does not give information thereof with all reasonable despatch to the President or a police officer, or use other reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence,
is guilty of the offence termed misprision of treason and is liable to imprisonment for not less than 15 years nor more than 25 years.
Any person who forms an intention to effect any of the following purposes, that is to say—
(a) prepares or endeavours to procure by unlawful means any alteration of the law or the policies of the Government;
(b) prepares or endeavours to carry out by unlawful means any enterprise which usurps the executive powers of the State in any matter of both a public and general nature;
(c) threatens the security of Botswana; or
(d) prepares or endeavours to give assistance to any person who threatens the security of Botswana,
and manifests such intention by an overt act, or by publishing any printing or writing, is guilty of an offence and is liable to imprisonment for not less than 15 years nor more than 25 years.
38. Promoting war or warlike undertaking
Any person who, without lawful authority, carries on, or makes preparation for carrying on, or aids in or advises the carrying on of, or preparation for, any war or warlike undertaking with, for, by, or against any person or group of persons within Botswana, is guilty of an offence and is liable to imprisonment for not less than 15 years nor more than 25 years.
39. Certain persons deemed to threaten security or sovereignty of Botswana
(1) For the purposes of sections 34 and 37 a person shall be deemed to threaten the security or sovereignty of Botswana if—
(a) without lawful authority he is found in possession of or wearing the uniform of the armed forces of any foreign country;
(b) without lawful authority, he is found in possession of any arms or ammunition prohibited under section 23 of the Arms and Ammunition Act (Cap. 24:01), or of any explosive or bomb;
(c) without lawful authority, he is found in company with any person specified in paragraph (a) or (b).
(2) A person shall not be prosecuted for an offence under this section without the written consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
40. Extenuating circumstances in treason and similar offences
Where a court in convicting a person of an offence contrary to section 34 or 35 is of the opinion that there are extenuating circumstances, the court may, instead of imposing the death sentence, impose a sentence of imprisonment of not less than 15 years nor more than 25 years.
41. Limitations as to trial for treason, etc.
(1) A person shall not be tried for treason, or for any of the offences defined in sections 36, 37 and 38, unless the prosecution is commenced within two years after the offence is committed.
(2) No person charged with treason, or with any of such offences, may be convicted, except on his own plea of guilty, or on the evidence in open court of two witnesses at the least to one overt act of the kind of treason or offence alleged, or the evidence of one witness to one overt act and one other witness to another overt act of the same kind of treason or offence.
Any person who advisedly attempts to effect any of the following purposes, that is to say—
(a) to seduce any member of the Services from his duty and allegiance to the President;
(b) to incite any such persons to commit an act of mutiny or any traitorous or mutinous act; or
(c) to incite any such persons to make or endeavour to make a mutinous assembly,
is guilty of an offence and is liable to imprisonment for life.
43. Aiding members of the Forces in acts of mutiny
Any person who—
(a) aids, abets, or is accessory to, any act of mutiny by; or
(b) incites to sedition or to disobedience to any lawful order given by a superior officer,
any member of the Services is guilty of an offence.
Any person who, by any means whatever, directly or indirectly—
(a) procures or persuades or attempts to procure or persuade to desert;
(b) aids or abets, or is accessory to, the desertion of; or
(c) having reason to believe he is a deserter, harbours or aids in concealing,
any member of the Services, is guilty of an offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.
45. Aiding prisoners of war to escape
Any person who—
(a) knowingly and advisedly aids an alien enemy of Botswana, being a prisoner of war in Botswana whether such prisoner is confined in a prison or elsewhere or is suffered to be at large on his parole, to escape from his prison or place of confinement, or, if he is at large on his parole, to escape from Botswana, is guilty of an offence and is liable to imprisonment for life;
(b) negligently and unlawfully permits the escape of any such person as is mentioned in paragraph (a), is guilty of an offence.
In the case of any of the offences defined in this Division, when the manifestation by an overt act of an intention to effect any purpose is an element of the offence, every act of conspiring with any person to effect that purpose and every act done in furtherance of the purpose by any of the persons conspiring, is deemed to be an overt act manifesting the intention.
(1) If the President is of the opinion that there is in any publication or series of publications published within or without Botswana by any person or association of persons matter which is contrary to the public interest, he may, in his absolute discretion, by order published in the Gazette and in such local newspapers as he may consider necessary, declare that that particular publication or series of publications, or all publications of any class of publication specified in the order published by that person or association of persons, shall be a prohibited publication or prohibited publications, as the case may be.
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