Whoever, being a public servant, intending to facilitate, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby facilitate, the commission of an offence, the commission of which it is his duty as such public servant to prevent, voluntarily conceals, by any act or illegal omission, the existence of a design to commit such offence, or makes any representation which he knows to be false respecting such design, shall, if the offence is committed, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one-half of the longest term provided for that offence, or with such fine as is provided for that offence, or with both; or, if the offence is punishable with death or imprisonment for life, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years; or if the offence is not committed, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one-fourth part of the longest term provided for that offence, or with such fine as is provided for the offence, or with both.
Section history
Section 119 — A public servant concealing a design to commit an offence which it is his duty to prevent. If the offence is committed. If the offence is punishable with death, etc. If not committed
As in force on 12 November 1993.
Timeline 4 versions
- 30 March 1987 Enacted
- 12 November 1993 You are here
- 1 February 2008 Act 51 of 2007
- 30 November 2008 Revised edition
- 17 August 2026 Latest
Illustration
A, an officer of police, being legally bound to give information of all designs to commit robbery which may come to his knowledge, and knowing that B designs to commit robbery, omits to give such information, with intent to facilitate the commission of that offence. Here A has by an illegal omission concealed the existence of B’s design, and is liable to punishment according to this section.