Article 170 — Special Period of Limitation.

(1) When half the ordinary or the special period of limitation (Arts. 217, 218) has expired since the day on which the crime was committed, the Court may, if circumstances seem to justify such a decision, renounce imposing any measure or penalty except in the cases of serious crimes mentioned in Article 168 (2) In the case of serious crimes mentioned under Article 168, the general rules governing the limitation of the prosecution and the sentence shall apply.