subornation

Subornation, in a legal context, is the act of procuring or inducing another person to commit an unlawful act, most often to lie under oath or to commit perjury. The term is usually encountered as subornation of perjury, or more generally as suborning a witness. The core idea is that a person with knowledge that testimony will be false seeks to bring that testimony into a judicial proceeding by bribing, pressuring, or otherwise persuading a witness to lie or fabricate evidence. In many jurisdictions, suborning perjury is a criminal offense and a violation of the integrity of the court.

Elements commonly required in legal definitions typically include: an inducement or encouragement offered to another to commit perjury or provide false testimony; knowledge that the testimony is false or an intent to procure false testimony; and a connection to or impact on a judicial proceeding. The exact wording and standards can vary by jurisdiction, but the wrongdoing is generally framed as corrupting the administration of justice.

Penalties for subornation vary by country and region but can include imprisonment, fines, and professional sanctions. Courts may also impose civil or disciplinary consequences depending on the context, such as sanctions in civil proceedings or professional discipline for lawyers or other officers of the court.

Subornation is distinct from perjury itself: perjury is the false testimony, while subornation is the act of inducing someone else to commit that false testimony. Related concepts include witness tampering, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Etymology traces to Latin subornare, meaning to secretly furnish or supply.