Combating Forgery and the Use of Forged Documents
- Ounissa MOHDEB, Juriste généraliste
- Apr 4
- 2 min read
The Algerian state has significantly tightened its legislation on combating forgery and the use of forged documents by strengthening its legal framework with the entry into force of Law No. 24-02 of 16 Chaâbane 1445, corresponding to 26 February 2024.
Under this law and in accordance with Article 3, forgery is defined as: "Any fraudulent alteration of the truth, likely to cause harm, carried out by any means whatsoever, in an act or document or any other medium provided for in this law, which aims to establish or may have the effect of establishing a right, a status, or a fact with legal consequences. Forgery includes counterfeiting and alteration as mentioned in this law..."
This law has several objectives, including contributing to the moralization of public life and strengthening public trust, the elimination of all forms of fraud for access to services and benefits of all kinds, the preservation of the integrity of acts and documents and the stability of transactions, or even the determination of offenses related to forgery and the use of forged documents as well as the determination of the penalties applicable to them (see Article 1).
Criminal Sanctions under the Present Law
In response to the increasing prevalence of these offenses in recent years, this new law provides for severe penalties, including life imprisonment for perpetrators of these crimes who engage in:
The falsification of documents and acts;
Forgery for obtaining subsidies, public aid, and tax exemptions;
Counterfeiting of currency and falsification of financial securities;
Forgery of State seals, stamps, official marks, and hallmarks;
False testimony and perjury;
The usurpation or unlawful use of functions, titles, or names.
Regarding the Chapter on Sanctions, Article 22 states that: "Anyone who counterfeits, falsifies, or alters permits, certificates, booklets, cards, bulletins, receipts, mission orders, titles and travel documents, identity documents, passes, residence documents, or other documents issued by public administrations or institutions for the purpose of establishing a right, an identity, or a status, or granting an authorization, shall be punished with imprisonment of five (5) to seven (7) years and a fine ranging from 500,000 DA to 700,000 DA."
Furthermore, any person who unlawfully obtains any of the documents listed in Article 22, whether by making false declarations, assuming a false name or status, or providing false information, certificates, or attestations, shall be punished with imprisonment of three (3) to five (5) years and a fine ranging from 300,000 DA to 500,000 DA.
Preventive Measures Implemented by the State in the Fight Against Forgery and the Use of Forged Documents
The State, through various law enforcement agencies, public administrations, institutions, and local authorities, takes the necessary measures to prevent forgery and the use of forged documents. These measures notably include the adoption of vigilance mechanisms, alert systems, and early detection methods, as well as the implementation of control mechanisms for official acts and documents.
