Legal Definitions - perpetrator

A perpetrator is the individual who directly commits or carries out a harmful, unlawful, or criminal act. This term specifically refers to the person responsible for performing the act itself, rather than someone who might have merely assisted, planned, or encouraged it without direct involvement in its execution.

Here are some examples illustrating the term:

• Example 1: Retail Theft
  A person walks into a department store, selects a watch, and then intentionally conceals it in their bag before exiting the store without paying. In this scenario, the individual who physically took the watch and left without purchasing it is the perpetrator of the theft.

• Example 2: Online Fraud
  An individual creates a fake online profile and uses it to trick someone into sending them money, falsely promising a service or product that never materializes. The person who directly created the fraudulent profile and manipulated the victim into transferring funds is the perpetrator of the online fraud.

• Example 3: Property Damage
  During a public demonstration, someone intentionally throws a rock through the window of a government building. The person who physically threw the rock and caused the damage is the perpetrator of the property damage.