Section 16: Impairing coin

16. Impairing coin (1) Any person who impairs, diminishes or lightens any silver or cupronickel coin lawfully current in Mauritius with intent that the coin so impaired, C58 – 3 [Issue 2] Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act diminished or lightened may pass for the silver coin lawfully current in Mauritius shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to penal servitude for a term not exceeding 28 years. (2) Any person who defaces any of the silver, cupro-nickel, bronze or copper coins lawfully current in Mauritius by stamping on it any name or word, whether or not the coin is thereby diminished or lightened, shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years. (3) (a) No tender of payment made in any silver, cupro-nickel, bronze or copper coin defaced by stamping as mentioned in subsection (2) shall be legal tender, and any person who tenders, utters, or passes off any coin so defaced shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 100,000 rupees. (b) No prosecution shall be commenced in respect of an offence under this section without the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions. [S. 16 reprinted by Reprint 2 of 1983; amended by Act 29 of 1990; Act 5 of 1999; s. 8 of Act 36 of 2008 w.e.f. 6 December 2008.] 17. – 25. —