Section 6: Taking gratification to screen offender from punishment

6. Taking gratification to screen offender from punishment (1) Subject to section (2), any person who accepts or obtains, or agrees to accept or attempts to obtain, a gratification for himself or for any other person, in consideration of his concealing an offence, or his screening any other P24 – 7 [Issue 1] Prevention of Corruption Act person from legal proceedings for an offence, or his not proceeding against any other person in relation to an alleged offence, or his abandoning or withdrawing, or his obtaining or endeavouring to obtain the withdrawal of, a prosecution against any other person, shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction— (a) where the offence is a crime, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years; (b) where the offence is a misdemeanour, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year; (c) where the offence is a contravention, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months. (2) This section shall not extend to any lawful compromise as to the civil interests resulting from the offence, but any such compromise shall not be a bar to any criminal proceedings which may be instituted by the State in respect of the offence.