French Code of Criminal Procedure
In forceThe persons mentioned in Article 132-78 of the Penal Code shall, where necessary, be subject to protection designed to ensure their safety. They may also benefit from measures designed to ensure their reintegration.
If necessary, these persons may be authorised, by reasoned order issued by the president of the judicial court, to use an assumed identity.
The fact of revealing that a person is using an assumed identity in application of this article or revealing any element enabling his or her identification or whereabouts is punishable by five years' imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros. If the direct or indirect consequence of this disclosure is violence against this person or their spouse, children or direct ascendants, the penalties are increased to seven years' imprisonment and a fine of €100,000. The penalties are increased to ten years' imprisonment and a fine of €150,000 if the direct or indirect consequence of this revelation is the death of this person or their spouse, children or direct ascendants.
The protection and reintegration measures are defined, at the request of the public prosecutor, by a national commission whose composition and operating procedures are defined by decree in the Conseil d'Etat. This commission sets the obligations that the person must fulfil and monitors the protection and reintegration measures, which it may modify or terminate at any time. In an emergency, the relevant departments take the necessary measures and inform the national commission without delay.
The provisions of this article also apply to the family members and close friends of the persons mentioned in article 132-78 of the Penal Code.
