253Liability of people other than corporations

253 Liability of people other than corporations (1) This section does not apply to a proceeding for an offence against section 21 (Requirement for licence). (2) If, in a proceeding under this Act in relation to conduct engaged in by a person other than a corporation, it is necessary to establish the state of mind of the person, it is sufficient to show that— (a) the conduct was engaged in by an employee or agent of the person within the scope of his or her actual or apparent authority; and (b) the employee or agent had that state of mind.

Vicarious liability Part 15 (3) If— (a) conduct is engaged in on behalf of a person other than a corporation by an employee or agent of the person; and (b) the conduct is within the employee’s or agent’s actual or apparent authority; the conduct is taken, for the purposes of a proceeding under this Act, to have been engaged in by the person unless the person establishes that he or she took reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence to avoid the conduct. (4) Despite any other provision of this Act, if— (a) a person is convicted of an offence; and (b) the person would not have been convicted of the offence if subsections (2) and (3) had not been in force; the person is not liable to be punished by imprisonment for that offence. (5) A reference in this section to the state of mind of a person includes a reference to— (a) the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose of the person; and (b) the person’s reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or purpose. (6) A reference in this section to engaging in conduct includes a reference to failing or refusing to engage in conduct.