Article 254 — Indirect Aid and Encouragement.

(1) Whoever, being aware that a crime under Articles 241-246, 252- 258 has been committed, or attempted or is being prepared, fails to inform the authorities thereof, or does not to the best of his ability try to prevent the crime from being carried out and to bring the criminal to justice, save in cases of force majeure or manifest impossibility, is punishable with rigorous imprisonment not exceeding five years. (2) When the crime is committed in time of internal or external emergency, the punishment shall be rigorous imprisonment not exceeding ten years. (3) Official or professional secrecy cannot be invoked to evade the obligation to inform the authorities. (4) Kinship or dose ties of affection with the perpetrator of the crime cannot be invoked as an excuse in the above-mentioned cases (Art. 83).