1. Any public official or authority who, outside the cases permitted by law and without cause for a crime, commits any of the acts described in this Chapter shall be punished with the penalties respectively provided therein, increased by half, and may be increased to the next higher degree.
2. The following shall be punished with the same penalties:
a) Any public official or authority who, whether or not there is cause for a crime, orders, carries out, or prolongs the deprivation of liberty of any person and who fails to acknowledge said deprivation of liberty or, in any other way, conceals the situation or whereabouts of that person, thereby depriving them of their constitutional or legal rights.
b) Any private individual who has carried out the acts with the authorization, support, or acquiescence of the State or its authorities.
3. In all cases in which the acts referred to in this article have been committed by a public official or authority, they shall also be subject to the penalty of absolute disqualification from holding public office for a period of eight to twelve years.