Section 30Part 2 — Punishments
Imprisonment in lieu of payment of costs, compensation, or fines, etc.
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30. (1) In the absence of express provisions in any law relating thereto, the term of imprisonment ordered by a court in respect of the non-payment of any sum adjudged to be paid —
for costs under section 34;
for compensation under section 33;
in respect of the non-payment of a fine; or
in respect of any sum adjudged to be paid under the provisions of any law, shall be such term as in the opinion of the court will satisfy the justice of the case, but shall not exceed in any case, the maximum fixed by the following scale — Amount Maximum term $100 or less 1 month More than $100 but no more than $500 2 months More than $500 but no more than $1000 4 months More than $1,000 but no more than $15,000 6 months More than $15,000 but no more than $650,000 5 years More than $650,000 but no more than $1.3 million 7 years More than $1.3 million 14 years
Subsection (1) shall be subject to the following —
the term of imprisonment imposed in respect of the non-payment of a fine shall not exceed — Section 31 Penal Code (2026 Revision) Page 28 Revised as at 31st December, 2025 c
the term of imprisonment that could have been imposed at the time of conviction; or
in the case of an offence punishable with a fine only, six months; and
where the fine or other sum has been partly paid, the term of imprisonment imposed shall abate and be reduced by the ratio that the amount of the part payment bears to the amount of such fine or other sum.
The imprisonment which is imposed in default of payment of a fine shall terminate whenever the fine is paid or levied by process of law.
Subsections (2)(a)(i) and (ii) shall not apply in relation to any imprisonment ordered for default payment of a confiscation order made under section 15 of the Proceeds of Crime Act (2025 Revision).