Coacción y soborno de testigos en procesos judiciales

Explicación Simple

Sobornar a un testigo significa ofrecerle dinero o regalos para que no hable o mienta en un juicio. Si alguien intenta hacer esto, puede meterse en problemas graves con la ley.

Es como si en una competencia de deportes, un jugador le ofreciera dinero a un árbitro para que no sancione una falta. Eso no solo es deshonesto, sino que puede arruinar el juego para todos.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que María es testigo de un accidente de coche. Juan, el responsable del accidente, le ofrece dinero para que no cuente lo que vio en el juicio. Si María acepta ese dinero, ambos podrían enfrentarse a graves consecuencias legales.

Penalidades

Ambas partes involucradas en el soborno pueden enfrentar cargos de delito grave.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

Penal Code - PEN PART 1. OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS [25 - 680.4] ( Part 1 enacted 1872. ) TITLE 7. OF CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC JUSTICE [92 - 186.36] ( Title 7 enacted 1872. ) CHAPTER 6. Falsifying Evidence, and Bribing, Influencing, Intimidating or Threatening Witnesses [132 - 141] ( Heading of Chapter 6 amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 962, Sec. 2. ) 138. (a) Every person who gives or offers or promises to give to any witness or person about to be called as a witness, any bribe upon any understanding or agreement that the person shall not attend upon any trial or other judicial proceeding, or every person who attempts by means of any offer of a bribe to dissuade any person from attending upon any trial or other judicial proceeding, is guilty of a felony. (b) Every person who is a witness, or is about to be called as such, who receives, or offers to receive, any bribe, upon any understanding that his or her testimony shall be influenced thereby, or that he or she will absent himself or herself from the trial or proceeding upon which his or her testimony is required, is guilty of a felony. (Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 828, Sec. 5.)