Publisiteitsbevele as Vonnisopsie Vir Regspersone (Publicity Orders as Sentencing Option for Juristic Persons)

Abstract

Afrikaans Abstract: Hierdie bydrae ondersoek die kwessie van publisiteitsbevele as 'n moontlike aanvullende vonnisopsie vir korporatiewe oortreders. In Suid-Afrika is boetes die primêre vonnisopleggingsopsie beskikbaar vir howe wanneer regspersone gevonnis moet word. Boetes dien egter nie die oogmerke van korporatiewe vonnisoplegging ten volle nie. Publisiteitsbevele vereis die publikasie van 'n oortreder se skuldigbevinding, vonnis én die besonderhede van die misdryf aan individue of 'n groep persone (soos aandeelhouers en die publiek). Negatiewe publisiteit skend die korporatiewe oortreder se reputasie - 'n waardevolle bate van 'n korporatiewe entiteit. Dit dien dus die doel van korporatiewe afskrikking. In hierdie bydrae word kritiek op die boete as primêre vonnisopsie vir regspersone gelewer; die begrip korporatiewe reputasie word vanuit 'n sosiale en regsperspektief beskou; ’n funksionele vergelykende studie van publisiteitsbevele word aangebied en aanbevelings word gemaak oor die inhoud van moontlike doeltreffende publisiteitsbevele.

English Abstract: This contribution addresses the issue of adverse publicity orders as a possible supplementary sentencing option for corporate offenders. In South Africa fines are the primary sentencing option available to courts when imposing sentences on juristic persons. Fines, however, do not adequately serve the purposes of corporate sentencing. Publicity orders require the publication of an offender’s conviction, sentence and the details of the offence to individuals or a group of persons (such as shareholders). An adverse publication damages the corporate offender’s reputation – a valuable asset to a corporate entity. It therefore serves the purpose of corporate deterrence. In this contribution criticism is levelled against the fine as primary sentencing option for juristic persons; the notion of corporate reputation is considered from a social and legal perspective; a functional comparative study of adverse publication orders is presented and recommendations are made regarding the content of effective publication orders.

Keywords: Corporations, juristic persons, publicity orders, corporate sentencing