Title Seventh: Imprisonment of the Debtor

Article 997

The creditor may request imprisonment of his debtor who refuses to pay one of the following debts, subject to the provisions of other laws: 1. Indemnity awarded because of a criminal or civil wrong. 2. Food allowance. 3. Wages for the last three months. 4. Alimony. 5. Other debts when permitted by law.

Article 998

It is also permissible to imprison the convicted person for delivering a minor child in the event of refusal to deliver him.

Article 999

The decision to imprison the debtor is issued by the Head of the Execution Department with regard to debts related to alimony, Ba'ina, and deferred Mahr, and the delivery of the minor child. It is issued by the Public Prosecution with regard to all other debts for which imprisonment is permitted under the provisions of this Law or other laws.

Article 1000

The period of imprisonment in respect to all the debts mentioned in the previous article shall be in proportion of one day for every twenty thousand Lebanese pounds of the debt and its accessories, provided that it shall not exceed one year.

Article 1001

1. A request for imprisonment shall be submitted to the competent execution department for the enforcement of the judgment or to the Appeal Public Prosecution. 2. The head of the execution department or the Public Prosecutor shall issue his decision after verifying the debtor's refusal to execute by explicit refusal or by the lapse of a five-day deadline from the notice, and it is permissible to reduce this deadline in cases of maintenance debt or for the delivery of a minor, provided that it is not less than one day.

Article 1002

1. The debtor may object to the decision of his imprisonment before the President of the Chamber in the presence of the creditor if the conditions of imprisonment are not met.

Article 1003

Imprisonment does not apply to: 1. Those under fifteen years of age or over sixty-five years at the time of execution except in case of imprisonment for the delivery of a minor. 2. The insolvent debtor after the declaration of his insolvency. 3. The debtor who is ill with a disease incompatible with imprisonment. 4. Women during their menstrual period.

Article 1004

1. Imprisonment cannot be executed against both spouses together if they have a child whose age is less than fifteen years.

Article 1005

Imprisonment is executed by the Public Prosecution and the debtor is subject to the prison regime imposed on detainees under the misdemeanor article, and the living expenses are borne by the State, provided that it retains the right to reclaim them from the debtor.

Article 1006

1. Detention may be continued after the expiration of its term for a new debt, based on a request by the same creditor or another creditor.

Article 1007

Imprisonment ends: 1. By payment of the debt or at the request of the creditor. 2. By the submission by the debtor of a solvent guarantor who warrants payment of the debt within eight days. 3. By the debtor reaching sixty-five years of age. 4. By the death of the debtor.

Article 1008

1. A general amnesty shall not prevent the imprisonment of the debtor, nor shall the debt be extinguished by the execution of the imprisonment, unless a contrary provision is stipulated.

Article 1009

The provisions of this chapter govern the enforcement procedures and remedies available to creditors.