P.R. Laws tit. 24, § 1316

2019-02-20 00:00:00+00
§ 1316. Establishment of death—Penalties for false information or malicious silence

Any person who knows, either directly or indirectly, that the person or persons believed to be missing, or whose bodies cannot be identified as a result of a catastrophic event, are indeed alive, and in spite of that goes to the Office of the Prosecutor or to the court to give false information with the purpose of certifying the death of one or several persons, or who knowing that the person has not died and knowing that a procedure was taking place for the certification of death pursuant to this chapter does not inform it, and derives benefits from the certification of death pursuant to this chapter, or keeps silent when the case involves him, or does not inform the appearance of the person declared dead because it will benefit him shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall suffer a penalty of imprisonment for a fixed sentence of six (6) years. If there were aggravating circumstances the established fixed sentence shall be increased up to a maximum of ten (10) years; if there were extenuating circumstances it may be reduced to a minimum of four (4) years.

History —Dec. 12, 1985, No. 1, p. 895, § 6.