PENAL CODE of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste CHAPTER III CRIMES AGAINST PERSONAL LIBERTY SECTION I PERSONAL AGGRESSIONS Article 157. Threats 1. Any person who, by any means, threatens another person with commission of a crime in order to cause fear or unrest or to undermine that person's freedom of decision-making is punishable with up to 1 year imprisonment or a fine. 2. Prosecution depends on the filing of a complaint. Article 158. Coercion 1. Any person who, by means of violence or threat of serious harm, compels another person to commit an act or omission, or to accept an activity under duress is punishable with up to 2 years imprisonment or a fine. 2. Prosecution depends on the filing of a complaint. Article 159. Serious coercion If the coercion is exercised: a) Through the threat of a crime punishable with penalty of imprisonment exceeding 3 years; b) By an official seriously abusing his or her office; c) Against a person who is particularly defenseless, by virtue of age, deficiency, illness or pregnancy; d) Against any of the people referred to in subparagraph i) of article 139, the perpetrator is punishable with up to 3 years imprisonment or a fine. Article 160. Kidnapping 1. Any person who, apart from cases provided in criminal procedural law, detains, arrests, maintains in detention or confinement another person, or otherwise deprives said person of liberty, is punishable with up to 3 years imprisonment or a fine. 2. The penalty is 2 to 8 years imprisonment if the deprivation of liberty: a) lasts for more than seventy-two hours; b) is committed by means of an offence against physical integrity, torture or any other cruel, degrading or inhumane treatment; c) causes, by negligence of the perpetrator, the death of the victim or leads the latter to commit suicide; d) is imposed upon a victim who exercises public, religious or political authority; e) Is promoted, authorized or endorsed by a public perpetrator or member of a political organization. Article 161. Abduction 1. Any person who, by means of violence, threat or deceit, transfers another person from one place to another with the intention to: a) Subject the victim to extortion; b) Commit crime of sexual exploitation, assault or abuse; c) Obtain ransom or reward; or 46