PARAGRAPH II: ISSUING BLANK CHEQUES ARTICLE 276: Whoever, in bad faith, issues a blank cheque without a prior, sufficient and available cover, withdraws after the issuance all or part of the cover, or forbids payment by the drawee, shall be punished with imprisonment of between one to three years and a fine of an amount at least equal to the amount of the issued cheque. PARAGRAPH Ill: ABUSE OF A BLANK SIGNATURE ARTICLE 277: Whoever, abusing a blank signature that is given to him/her, fraudulently writes below an obligation or discharge or any other deed that can compromise the person or the fortune of the signatory, shall be punished with the penalties stated in the previous article. In case the blank signature was not given to him/her, he/she shall be prosecuted and punished as a forger. PARAGRAPH IV: ILLEGAL SPECULATION ARTICLE 278: Whoever, to obtain profit that does not come from free competition in trade or from the natural effects of the law of supply and demand, or with any other immoral intention or one contrary to general interest , increases or attempts to increase artificially through any means whatsoever, either directly or through a third party, the price of commodities or goods or public or private property, shall be punished with imprisonment of between two months to three years, and optionally a fine of between 20,000 to 400,000 francs. PARAGRAPHE V: MISLEADING ADVERTISING ARTICLE 279: Any merchant, industrialist, craftsperson or service provider who does misleading advertising shall be punishable with imprisonment of between two months to three years as well as fine of between 20, 000 to 400,000 francs or only one of these two penalties. Furthermore, the court may order the publication of a corrective announcement at the expense of the offender. In any case, the department tasked with economic affairs may, as a precautionary measure, order that the broadcast of the advertisement should stop. Any advertisement shall be considered misleading should it contain: 1° In any form whatsoever, allegations, indications, false presentations likely to mislead when these aspects relate to one or more components of the property or product: - The existence, nature, quality, specie, origin, composition, mode and date of manufacture, essential qualities, price and terms of sale of goods, conditions of use; - The results expected from the use of the product, reason or process for sale; - Compliance with safety standards when the product is subject to them, the identity, qualities or aptitudes of the manufacturer, retailer, service providers, promoters and the nature of the commitments made by the latter. 2° Information on the price reduction or any benefits that are not actually given to a buyer in the conditions stated by the advertisement. 3° Information for consumers regarding items that are not available for sale or services that are not provided during the period that the advert refers to. ARTICLE 280: In the cases referred to in articles 278 and 279, without prejudice to the right to sue of the economic affairs administration, any consumer or aggrieved accredited consumer may refer the matter to the competent authority. PARAGRAPH VI: WITCHCRAFT - MAGIC - CHARLATANISM ARTICLE 281: Whoever practices witchcraft, magic or charlatanism, likely to disrupt public order or harm people or their property, shall be punished with imprisonment of between six months to two years, without prejudice, where appropriate, to the penalties for swindling. 48