Section 425
Mischief
of Penal Code
Whoever, with intent to cause, or knowing that he is likely to cause, wrongful loss or damage to the public, or to any person, causes -
(a)
the destruction of any property;
(b)
any such change in any property, or in the situation thereof.
as destroys or diminishes its value or utility; or
(c)
affects it injuriously, commits "mischief '.
184 CAP. 22
Penal Code
Explanation 1 -
It is not essential to the offence of mischief that the offender should intend to cause loss or damage to the owner of the property injured or destroyed. It is sufficient if he intends to cause, or knows that he is likely to cause, wronghl loss or damage to any person by injuring any property, whether it belongs to that person or not.
Explanation 2 -
Mischief may be committed by an act affecting property belonging to the person who commits the act. or to that person and others jointly.
Illustrations
(a)
A voluntarily bums a valuable security belonging to Z. intending to cause wrongful loss to Z. A has committed mischief.
(b)
A introduces water into an ice-house belonging to Z and thus causes the ice to melt, intending wrongful loss to Z. A has committed mischief.
(c)
A voluntarily throws into a river a ring belonging to Z, with the intention of thereby causing wrongful loss to Z. A has committed mischief.
(d)
A. knowing that his effects are about to be taken in execution in order to satisfy a debt from him to Z, destroys those effects, with the intention of thereby preventing Z from obtaining satisfaction of the debt, and thus causing damage to Z. A has committed mischief,
(e)
A, having insured a ship, voluntarily causes the ship to be cast away, with the intention of causing damage to the under writers. A has committed mischief.
&I A causes a ship to be cast away, intending thereby to cause damage to Z, who has lent money on bottomry on the ship. A has committed mischief.
(g)
A, having joint property with Z in a horse, shoots the horse, intending thereby to cause wrongful loss to Z. A has committed mischief.
(h)
A causes cattle to enter upon a field belonging to Z, intending to cause, and knowing that he is likely to cause. damage to Z's crop. A has committed mischief.