Criminal Law

Compounding of Offence

A legal process allowing certain offences to be settled between the complainant and accused, ending the criminal case.

For specified, generally less serious offences, the law allows the victim/complainant to agree to a settlement with the accused, and have the case formally closed — sometimes with the court's permission, sometimes without.

Not every offence can be compounded — serious crimes against the state or society generally cannot be, since criminal cases aren't treated purely as a private dispute between two individuals.

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