Enacted parts

ARTICLE 224-3
(Act no. 2004-204 of 9 March 2004 article 6 V Official Journal of 10 March 2004)
The offence set out under article 224-1 is punished by thirty years' criminal imprisonment where it is committed
against two or more persons.
The first two paragraphs of article 132-23 governing the safety period are applicable to this offence.
However, where the detained or illegally confined person or persons are freed voluntarily within the period set out
under the third paragraph of article 224-1, the sentence is ten years' imprisonment, except where the victim or one of
victims has sustained one of the attacks against his physical integrity as enumerated under article 224-2.
ARTICLE 224-4
Where the person was arrested, abducted, detained or illegally confined as a hostage either to prepare or facilitate
the commission of a felony or a misdemeanour, or to assist in the escape of or to ensure the impunity of the perpetrator
or the accomplice to a felony or a misdemeanour, or to secure the enforcement of an order or a condition, in particular
the payment of a ransom, the offence set out under article 224-1 is punished by thirty years' criminal imprisonment.
The first two paragraphs of article 132-23 governing the safety period are applicable to this offence.
Except in the cases provided under article 224-2, the sentence is ten years' imprisonment where the person who is
taken hostage in the conditions as defined under the first paragraph is freed voluntarily within seven days of his capture,
without the order or condition being carried out.
Updated 12/10/2005 - Page 47/132

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PENAL CODE
ARTICLE 224-5
Where the victim of one of the felonies set out under articles 224-1 to 224-4 is a minor under fifteen years of age,
the penalty is increased to criminal imprisonment for life where the offence is punished by thirty years' criminal
imprisonment and to thirty years' criminal imprisonment where the offence is punished by twenty years' criminal
imprisonment.
The first two paragraphs of article 132-23 governing the safety period are applicable in the cases set out under the
present article.