Article 17 — Impersonation of State Officials or Organs

1. 1.

   Any person who falsely represents themselves as a Kaharagian official, judge, agent, or organ of State, or as a person acting under the authority of the State, commits an offence.

   1. This includes impersonation through digital means, including the use of false digital credentials, fabricated official communications, or falsified authorisation tokens.
2. 2.

   Any person who creates, operates, or maintains a fake State website, platform, communication channel, or digital service, or any facility that purports to be an official instrumentality of the State of the Kaharagians, commits an offence.

3. 3.

   Any person who, without being entitled to do so, uses or displays an official title, rank, or designation of the State in a manner calculated to deceive another person into believing that the offender holds that title, rank, or designation commits an offence.

4. 4.

   Classification.

   1. An offence under this Article is a serious offence.
   2. Where the impersonation is committed for the purpose of, or in the course of, committing another offence, the offence under this Article is a grave offence.
5. 5.

   Sanctions.

   1. For a serious offence under this Article, the offender is liable to the following sanctions:
      1. A fine of $5,000 to $50,000, in accordance with Article 12.
      2. Public censure in accordance with Article 10.
      3. Exclusion from State services for a period determined by the tribunal.
   2. For a grave offence under this Article, the offender is liable to the following sanctions:
      1. A fine of $50,000 to $500,000, in accordance with Article 12.
      2. Public censure in accordance with Article 10.
      3. Exclusion from State services for a period determined by the tribunal.