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Simple English definitions for legal terms
peculation
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A quick definition of peculation:
Peculation is when someone takes something that doesn't belong to them, but it's not just any old thing - it's something that was supposed to be taken care of by someone else, like a public official. This could be money, property, or other things that belong to the public. It's like stealing, but it's worse because the person doing it was supposed to be looking after the thing they took. Sometimes people use the word "embezzlement" to mean the same thing, but peculation is a little different because it usually involves taking something that belongs to the public, not just one person.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Peculation is when someone who is responsible for taking care of public property, money, or goods takes them for their own personal use instead of using them for their intended purpose. This is usually done by public officials who have been entrusted with these items. Depeculation is a similar term that specifically refers to taking money from a public treasury.
For example, if a government official is in charge of a budget for a public project and they take some of that money to buy themselves a new car, that would be an act of peculation. Another example would be if a police officer takes drugs that were seized during a raid and uses them for their own personal use instead of turning them in as evidence.
These examples illustrate how someone who is supposed to be taking care of public property or money can use it for their own personal gain instead of using it for its intended purpose. This is illegal and can result in serious consequences for the person who committed the act of peculation.