Malum Prohibitum - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition malum-prohibitum

malum prohibitum

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pl: mala pro·hib·i·ta [-hi-bə-tə]
[New Latin, prohibited offense]
: an offense prohibited by statute but not inherently evil or wrong [is malum prohibitum and, therefore, does not demand mens rea "Commonwealth v. Guthrie, 616 A.2d 1019 (1992)"] often used with a preceding noun (as crime or act) [acts malum prohibitum] compare malum in se