innocent agent

Criminal law. A person whose action on behalf of a principal is unlawful but does not merit prosecution because the agent had no knowledge of the principal’s illegal purpose; a person who lacks the mens rea for an offense but who is tricked or coerced by the principal into committing a crime.

• Although the agent’s conduct was unlawful, the agent might not be prosecuted if the agent had no knowledge of the principal’s illegal purpose. The principal is legally accountable for the innocent agent’s actions. See Model Penal Code § 2.06(2)(a).

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词条贡献者

双语律师Jenna，国际知名法学院环境法专业，擅长翻译各类与环境、社会及管治 (ESG)相关的法律文件。