(1) Where a person, being competent to do so, has not filed a complaint within six months of in respect of an offence where the investigation and prosecution of such is subject to a complaint, no investigation or prosecution shall be instituted.

(2) Provided that the limitation period has not expired, such period shall commence on the date on which the person entitled to file a complaint has knowledge of, or is informed of, the act or knows, or is informed of, the identity of the offender.

(3) If one person, of several, entitled to file a complaint, allows the six month period to expire, the rights of the other persons remain intact.

(4) Unless otherwise provided by law, in the case of offences where an investigation or prosecution is subject to a complaint, the waiver of the victim shall have the effect of discontinuing proceedings, but a waiver given after a judgement becomes final shall not prevent the enforcement of a penalty.

(5) Where several persons are party to an offence, the waiver of the right to complain about one of the accused persons shall also include the others.

(6) Unless otherwise provided by law, a waiver shall not affect an accused person who does not accept it.

(7) If the discontinuation of criminal proceedings has resulted from the victim’s waiver of the right to bring a complaint and the victim has also declared expressly at the time of waiver that he also waived his civil rights, no further proceedings shall be instituted before a civil court.

(8) (Abolished on 6 December 2006 – By Article 45 of the Law no. 5560)