Statute of Limitations in Lawsuits Concerning Forgery of Official Documents in Light of Algerian Law and Judicial Precedent

Abstract

The statute of limitations system in all types of crimes holds great importance for judges, defense attorneys, and even legal researchers, as it embodies the achievement of justice by protecting individuals' rights and freedoms. In Algerian legislation, the statute of limitations in criminal cases varies depending on the type of offense. According to Article 8 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, public prosecution is barred after 10 years for felonies from the date the crime was committed, 3 years for misdemeanors, and 2 years for infractions. Regarding forgery crimes, and pursuant to Article 20 of Law No. 24-02 on forgery-related crimes, they are subject to the general rules of limitation, meaning the period starts from the day the crime was committed. However, since forgery crimes are considered concealed crimes and are often difficult to detect on the day they occur, judicial precedent in some decisions has adopted the date of discovery of the forgery as the starting point for calculating the limitation period.