Article 385 — Forged Certificates.

(1) Whoever, for the purpose of obtaining for himself or procuring for another an advantage or betterment: (a) falsifies or counterfeits documents evidencing legitimate rights, personal papers, certificates or testimonials, no matter what their object, or knowingly hands such a paper to another to make unlawful use of it; or (b) knowingly makes use of paper thus falsified or counterfeited, or of a genuine paper not intended for his use or not relating to himself, is punishable with simple imprisonment or fine. Simple imprisonment shall not exceed one year in cases involving private certificates or testimonials, and shall not be less than three months in the case of official papers, such as identity cards or birth certificates, certificates of destitution, of good conduct or of fitness or unfitness, or of extracts from public registers or rolls. (2) Where the crime is committed by a public servant entrusted with the drawing up, filing, keeping or delivery of such papers, but without the intent of injuring the rights of another (Art. 375), the punishment shall be simple imprisonment from six months to five years or fine or both. (3) Where the crime is committed negligently, the punishment shall be fine not exceeding one thousand Birr.