PENAL CODE of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste DECREE LAW No. 19/2009 APPROVES THE PENAL CODE Addressing the need to construct its legal system, the preparation and approval of the Penal Code of Timor-Leste was raised by its elected politicians as one of the legislative priorities to ensure fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. This present legal document is the result of work conducted by a commission of Timorese and international experts who acted under government guidance and in compliance to the limits and content established in the law of legislative authorization on criminal matters approved in the National Parliament. The rules adopted and enshrined herein, in addition to respecting the specific social and cultural realities of Timorese society, likewise have embraced suggestions put forth by national and international organizations, contributions from diverse legal entities active in Timor-Leste as well as teachings gleaned from comparative law. We wish to highlight that this approved Penal Code, more than an end in itself, is primarily a fundamental step in the construction of the Timorese legal system, and is thus open to future enhancements that advances in international law, judicial practice and lessons from law may recommend. Therefore, In the use of the legislative authorization granted within the scope of articles 1 and 2 of Law no. 13/2008, of 13 October and under the terms of article 96 of the Constitution, the Government does hereby decree that the following shall be valid as law: Article 1 Approval of the Penal Code The Penal Code published and attached and that is an integral part of this present law is hereby approved. Article 2 Act of repeal 1. The Indonesian Penal Code, in force within the legal system under the terms of provisions in article 1 of Law 10/2003 is hereby repealed. 2. All isolated legal provisions present in legislation are hereby repealed that: a) Provide for and establish penalties for acts defined as crimes in the Penal Code herein approved; b) Enshrine provisions contrary to those adopted in the General Part of the Penal Code. 1