Section 333: Embezzlement

333. Embezzlement (1) Any person who embezzles, squanders away or destroys or attempts to embezzle, squander away or destroy to the prejudice of the owner, possessor or holder, any goods, money, valuables, security, bill, acquittance or other document containing or creating an obligation or discharge, which has been delivered to such person merely in pursuance of any lease or hiring (louage), deposit (dépôt), agency (mandat), pledge (nantissement), loan for use (prêt à usage), or for any work with or without a promise of remuneration with the condition that the same be returned or produced or be used or employed for a specific purpose, shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine not exceeding 100,000 rupees. (2) Where the offence has been committed by a public or a ministerial officer, or by a servant or a person in service receiving wages, or a pupil, clerk, workman, journeyman or apprentice, to the prejudice of his master, the punishment shall be penal servitude for a term not exceeding 20 years, without prejudice to sections 178, 179 and 180 in respect of the embezzlement, abstraction or destruction of money, goods, or papers when committed in places of public deposit. [S. 333 reprinted by Reprint 2 of 1983; amended by Act 5 of 1999; s. 8 of Act 36 of 2008 w.e.f. 6 December 2008.] [Issue 2] C57 – 96 Revised Laws of Mauritius