malum prohibitum

noun

malum pro·hib·i·tum | \ -prō-ˈhi-bə-təm\

plural mala prohibita\ -ˈhi-bə-tə \

Legal Definition of malum prohibitum

: 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

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