Criminal responsibility of legal persons

Cabo Verde

Cape Verde - Criminal Code 2003 (2004) EN

Cape Verde Legislative Decree 4/2003 of 18 November 2003 - PENAL CODE

VOLUME I - GENERAL PROVISIONS

TITLE II - PUNISHABLE DEEDS

CHAPTER I - DEFINING CRITERIA OF PUNISHMENT

Article 9
(Responsibility of legal entities)

1. Companies and other legal entities under private law shall be responsible for criminal offences committed by their organs or representatives in their name and in pursuance of their interests, unless the perpetrator is acting contrary to orders or instructions received from the legal entity in question.

2.In the case of an entity which has not been incorporated and does not possess its own independent legal status, any monetary penalties shall be imposed against the entity's net worth or, should it have no net worth or have insufficient net worth, against the net worth of each partner in it.

Rome Statute

Article 25 Individual criminal responsibility

1. The Court shall have jurisdiction over natural persons pursuant to this Statute.

2. A person who commits a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court shall be individually responsible and liable for punishment in accordance with this Statute.

3. In accordance with this Statute, a person shall be criminally responsible and liable for punishment for a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court if that person:

(a) Commits such a crime, whether as an individual, jointly with another or through another person, regardless of whether that other person is criminally responsible;

(b) Orders, solicits or induces the commission of such a crime which in fact occurs or is attempted;

(c) For the purpose of facilitating the commission of such a crime, aids, abets or otherwise assists in its commission or its attempted commission, including providing the means for its commission;

(d) In any other way contributes to the commission or attempted commission of such a crime by a group of persons acting with a common purpose. Such contribution shall be intentional and shall either:

(i) Be made with the aim of furthering the criminal activity or criminal purpose of the group, where such activity or purpose involves the commission of a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court; or

(ii) Be made in the knowledge of the intention of the group to commit the crime;

(e) In respect of the crime of genocide, directly and publicly incites others to commit genocide;

(f) Attempts to commit such a crime by taking action that commences its execution by means of a substantial step, but the crime does not occur because of circumstances independent of the person's intentions. However, a person who abandons the effort to commit the crime or otherwise prevents the completion of the crime shall not be liable for punishment under this Statute for the attempt to commit that crime if that person completely and voluntarily gave up the criminal purpose.

3 bis. In respect of the crime of aggression, the provisions of this article shall apply only to persons in a position effectively to exercise control over or to direct the political or military action of a State.

4. No provision in this Statute relating to individual criminal responsibility shall affect the responsibility of States under international law.