Article 797 — Misuse of the Right of Constraint

Any public servant lawfully empowered to effect a house search, a seizure or a sequestration, the application or removal of seals, or to effect a personal search or inspection, an arrest, a detention or placing under supervision, an interrogatory or any other similar act who, apart from the cases punishable under the Criminal Code (Arts. 422-424), misuses his authority, in particular by having recourse to vexatious, offensive, indiscreet or incorrect methods, is punishable with fine or arrest.