Article 729 — Misappropriation or Destruction of Property Subject to

Pledge or Lien. (1) Any debtor who, with intent to obtain for himself or to procure for a third person a benefit, or, to cause damage to his creditor, removes, assigns, damages, depreciates or renders useless his property, whether movable or immovable, and which was held by the creditor by way of pledge, usufruct or lien, is punishable with simple imprisonment for not less than one year. (2) Any third person who so acts with the same intent to the prejudice of the creditors is punishable with simple imprisonment not exceeding three years, or fine not exceeding fifty thousand Birr.