Lying under oath is recognized as a serious and punishable crime and a felony. The most common sentence for someone who was found guilty of lying while being under oath would be five years in prison. However, the sentence can be even more severe which can cost the person to lose his/her life. For example, it would be a capital offense when a false testimony given by a witness in court who was under oath, led to the execution of the defendant. In such case, most likely the individual’s sentence who lied, would be to be executed as well in many parts and districts. One of the main reasons as to why the act of perjury weights so much as a crime is because a testimony given under oath is one of the only things that can balance and even surpass the high power of the courts to deprive a person’s freedom or to take someone’s life or to set somebody free officially.