Any person who gives or offers or promises to give to any witness or person about to be called as a witness in any matter whatever, including contests before United States land officers or townsite commissioners, any bribe upon any understanding or agreement that the testimony of such witness shall be influenced, or who attempts by any other means fraudulently to induce any witness to give false testimony shall be guilty of a Class D1 felony offense and shall be punished by imprisonment as provided for in subsections B through F of Section 20N of this title, but if the offer, promise, or bribe is in any way to induce the witness to swear falsely, then it shall be held to be subornation of perjury.

R.L. 1910, § 2231; Amended by Laws 1997, HB 1213, c. 133, § 200 (effective date changed to July 1, 1999 by Laws 1998, 1st Extr. Sess., HB 1002, c. 2, §§ 23-26, emerg. eff. June 19, 1998) (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2025, HB 2104, c. 486, § 374, eff. January 1, 2026 (superseded document available).