Article 448 — Refusal to Aid Justice.

(1) Any person who had been lawfully summoned to appear in judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings as an accused person, witness, expert, interpreter, assessor or juror; or ordered to produce or send an accused person or evidence: (a) fails or refuses to appear without sufficient cause; or (b) fails to produce or send the accused person or evidence; or (c) having appeared, refuses, contrary to law, to answer questions or to obey orders, is punishable with simple imprisonment not exceeding two months, or fine not exceeding one thousand Birr. (2) Where the criminal pleads a false excuse for the crime committed under sub-article (1), he shall be punished with simple imprisonment not exceeding three months and fine. (3) Where such person has fraudulently obtained exemption from the obligation placed upon him, simple imprisonment may be increased up to the general maximum prescribed by law, subject to the application of more severe specific provisions under which the fraud may fall, especially those concerning the use of false certificate or forgery. (4) Where the crime is committed before a Court or a quasi-judicial organ, the punishment prescribed above may be imposed summarily.