Perjury
Perjury is a criminal act that occurs when a person lies or makes statements that are not truthful while under oath. For example, if a person is asked to testify in a criminal proceeding and they lie during their testimony, they can be charged with perjury if it is discovered that they have lied.
Definition[edit | edit source]
Perjury is considered a crime against justice, as it can undermine the integrity of the legal system and lead to miscarriages of justice. In most jurisdictions, for a person to be considered guilty of perjury, it must be proven that they knowingly made a false statement that was material to the case at hand. That is, the false statement could potentially affect the outcome of the case. It is not considered perjury, for example, to lie about one's age, unless age is a key factor in proving the case.
Legal aspects[edit | edit source]
Perjury law varies by country. In some jurisdictions, for example, it is necessary to prove not only that the statement was false, but also that the person knew it was false at the time they made it, and that they made it with the intention of misleading the court. In other jurisdictions, it is only necessary to prove that the statement was false, regardless of whether the person knew it was false or intended to mislead the court.
Penalties[edit | edit source]
The penalties for perjury also vary by jurisdiction. In some countries, perjury is punishable by a fine, while in others it can lead to a prison sentence. In some cases, a person found guilty of perjury can be barred from holding public office or practicing law.
Notable cases[edit | edit source]
There have been many notable cases of perjury throughout history, some of which have led to significant legal and political scandals. For example, in the United States, former President Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice related to his testimony about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.
See also[edit | edit source]
| Perjury Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
