Cap. 9 Art. 222Aggravating circumstances.

(1) The punishments established in articles 216, 217, 218

and 220, and in sub-articles (1) and (2) of the last preceding article shall be increased by one degree when the harm is committed -

(a) on the person of any one of the parents or any other legitimate and natural ascendant, or on the person of a legitimate and natural brother or sister, or on the person of any one of the spouses, or on the person of any one of the natural parents, or on any person mentioned in article 202(h);

(b) on the person of any witness or referee who shall have given evidence or an opinion in any suit, and on account of such evidence or opinion, or on the person of a child under nine years of age;

(c) on the person of whosoever was a public officer or was lawfully charged with a public duty or is or was an officer or employee of a body corporate established by law and the offence was committed because of that person having exercised his functions;

(d) on the person of whosoever was exercising his lawful duties as a private guard, a specialised private guard or community officer in accordance with the provisions of the Private Guards and Community Officers Act.

(2) Nevertheless, no increase of punishment shall take place where the offender, without intent to cause harm to any particular person, or with intent to cause harm to some other person, shall, by mistake or accident, cause harm to any of the persons referred to in sub-article (1)(a) and (b).