Section 12. Penalty for subsequent offence

(1) Whoever, having been previously detained in a Certified Institution under this Act, is found begging, shall on conviction be punished as hereinafter provided. (2) When a person is convicted for the first time under sub-section (1), the Court shall order him to be detained in a Certified Institution for a period which shall not be less than one year and may extend up to three years. (3) When a person is convicted for the second or subsequent time under sub-section (1) the Court shall order him to be detained in a Certified Institution for a period of five years and may convert any period of such detention (not exceeding two years) into a sentence of imprisonment extending to a like period.