Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46)

Marginal note:Obstructing justice

• 139 (1) Every one who wilfully attempts in any manner to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice in a judicial proceeding,

  • (a) by indemnifying or agreeing to indemnify a surety, in any way and either in whole or in part, or

  • (b) where he is a surety, by accepting or agreeing to accept a fee or any form of indemnity whether in whole or in part from or in respect of a person who is released or is to be released from custody,

  is guilty of

  • (c) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or

  • (d) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

• Marginal note:Idem

  (2) Every person who intentionally attempts in any manner other than a manner described in subsection (1) to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice is guilty of

  • (a) an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years; or

  • (b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

• Marginal note:Idem

  (3) Without restricting the generality of subsection (2), every one shall be deemed wilfully to attempt to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice who in a judicial proceeding, existing or proposed,

  • (a) dissuades or attempts to dissuade a person by threats, bribes or other corrupt means from giving evidence;

  • (b) influences or attempts to influence by threats, bribes or other corrupt means a person in his conduct as a juror; or

  • (c) accepts or obtains, agrees to accept or attempts to obtain a bribe or other corrupt consideration to abstain from giving evidence, or to do or to refrain from doing anything as a juror.