12Prohibited language and behaviour

12 Prohibited language and behaviour

[Section 12 Subsection (1) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 ][Section 12 Subsection (1) amended by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 ][Section 12 Subsection (1) amended by No. 44 of 1990, s. 225 and Sched. 3 ]

(1)  *[Section 12 Subsection (1) amended by No. 32 of 1963, s. 5 ]*A person shall not, in any public place, or within the hearing of any person in that place –

(a) curse or swear;

(b) sing any profane or obscene song;

(c) [Section 12 Subsection (1) amended by No. 27 of 2024, s. 17, Applied:13 Dec 2024] use any profane, indecent, obscene or offensive language; or

(d) [Section 12 Subsection (1) amended by No. 15 of 2014, s. 10, Applied:19 Dec 2014] use any threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour calculated to provoke a breach of the peace or whereby a breach of the peace may be occasioned.

(1A)  *[Section 12 Subsection (1A) inserted by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 ]*A person who contravenes a provision of subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding 3 penalty units or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months.

(2)  *[Section 12 Subsection (2) added by No. 32 of 1963, s. 5 ]*A person convicted in respect of an offence under this section committed within 6 months after he has been convicted of that or any other offence thereunder is liable to double the penalty prescribed in subsection (1) in respect of the offence in respect of which he is so convicted.