Section 44: Offence by agent or body corporate

44. Offence by agent or body corporate (1) Where an offence is committed by— (a) an agent, the person for whom the agent is acting; I20 – 17 [Issue 4] Interpretation and General Clauses Act (b) a body corporate, every person who, at the time of the commission of the offence, was concerned in the management of the body corporate or was purporting to act in that capacity, shall also commit the like offence, unless he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or consent and that he took all reasonable steps to prevent the commission of the offence. (2) (a) Where a company, société or other corporate body is charged with an offence, a representative may appear before the appropriate Court and enter a plea of guilty or not guilty on behalf of the company, société or other corporate body. (b) For the purposes of paragraph (a), “representative” means a director, or the secretary, of the corporate body or a person duly authorised by the corporate body to represent it.