The Pakistan Penal Code, 1860

[1](XLV OF 1860)

[6th October, 1860]

Of Criminal Breach of Trust

405.   Criminal breach of trust. Whoever, being in any manner entrusted with property, or with any dominion over property, dishonestly misappropriates or converts to his own use that property, or dishonestly use or disposes of that property, in violation of any direction of law prescribing the mode in which such trust is to be discharged, or of any legal contract, express or implied, which he has made touching the discharge of such trust, or wilfuly suffers any other person so to do, commits “criminal breach of trust”.

Illustrations

(a)        A, being executor to the will of a deceased person, dishonestly disobeys the law which directs him to divide the effects according to the will, and appropriates them to his own use. A has committed criminal breach of trust.

(b)        A is a warehouse-keeper, Z, going on a journey entrusts his furniture to A, under a contract that it shall be returned on payment of a stipulated sum for warehouse-room. A dishonestly sells the goods. A has committed criminal breach of trust.

(c)        A, residing in Dacca, is agent for Z, residing at Lahore. There is an express or implied contract between A and Z, that all sums remitted by Z to A shall be invested by A, according to Z’s direction. Z remits a lakh of rupees to A, with directions to A to invest the same in Company’s paper. A dishonestly disobeys the directions and employs the money in his own business. A has committed criminal breach of trust.

(d)        But if A, in the last illustration, not dishonestly but in good faith, believing that it will be more for Z’s advantage, to hold shares in the Bank of Bengal disobeys Z’s directions and buys shares in the Bank of Bengal for Z, instead of buying Company’s paper, here, though Z should suffer loss, and should be entitled to bring a civil action against A, on account of that loss, yet A, not having acted dishonestly, has not committed criminal breach of trust.

(e)        A, a revenue-officer, is entrusted with public money and is either directed by law, or bound by a contract, express or implied, with the Government, to pay into a certain treasury all the public money which he holds. A dishonestly appropriates the money. A has committed criminal breach of trust.

(f)         A, a carrier, is entrusted by Z with property to be carried by land or by water. A dishonestly misappropriates the property. A has committed criminal breach of trust.

 


[1].       The Pakistan Penal Code has been declared in force in--

          It has been applied to Phulera in the Excluded Area of Upper Tanawal to the extent the Act is applicable in the N.W.F.P., subject to certain modifications; see N.W.F.P. (Upper Tanawal) (Excluded Area) Laws Regulation, 1950 and also extended to the Excluded Area of Upper Tanawal other than Phulera by the N.W.F.P. (Upper Tanawal) (Excluded Area) Laws Regulation, 1950 and declared to be in force in that area. w.e.f. 1st June, 1951, see N.W.F.P Gazette, Ext., dated 1-6-1951.

          It has been amended in its application to the N.W.F.P., see N.W.F.P Acts 3 of 1941 and 26 of 1950.

          It has also been extended to the Leased Areas of Baluchistan by the Leased Areas (Laws) Order, 1950 (G.G.O. 3 of 1950); and applied in the Federated Areas of Baluchistan, see Gazette of India, 1937, Pt. I, P. 1499.

          It has also been extended by notification under Article 7(1)(a) of the N.W.F.P. (Enlargement of the Area and Alteration of Boundary) Order, 1952 (G. G. O. 1 of 1952), to the added area described in the First Schedule to that Order, w.e.f. 7th February, 1952, see N.W.F.P. Government Gazette, 1952, Pt. I, P. 70.

          It has also been amended in its application to the Province of West Pakistan by the Pakistan Penal Code (West Pakistan (Amdt.) ) Act, 1963 (W.P. Act 6 of 1963), S. 2 (w.e.f. the 18th April, 1963).

          It has also been amended in its application to the Province of West Pakistan by the Pakistan Penal Code (West Pakistan (Amdt.) ) Act, 1964 (W.P. Act 32 of 1964), S. 2 (w.e.f. 27-4-1964).