Definition

Noun: - Principal author of a crime; principal offender; main perpetrator: The individual who is primarily responsible for planning, initiating, or executing a criminal act, as opposed to an accomplice or accessory.

Usage

This is a formal and legal term used in judicial and official contexts to designate the key individual in a crime. It is often found in legal documents, court verdicts, and police reports.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Tòa án đã tuyên án nặng nhất cho chánh phạm. (The court handed down the most severe sentence to the principal offender.)
  • Cảnh sát xác định nghi phạm này là chánh phạm trong vụ án. (The police identified this suspect as the main perpetrator of the case.)

Advanced Usage

• In legal classification, a is distinguished from a (accomplice) or (co-perpetrator/complice), with the former bearing the greatest degree of criminal liability.

Variants and Related Words

• Tòng phạm (noun): Accomplice; accessory.
• Đồng phạm (noun): Co-perpetrator; accomplice (often used more broadly for those involved in the crime).
• Thủ phạm (noun): Culprit; perpetrator (a more common, general term for the person who committed the crime, not strictly limited to the legal "principal" role).

Synonyms

• Thủ phạm chính: Main culprit.
• Kẻ cầm đầu: Leader/ringleader (emphasizing a leadership role in the crime).
• Kẻ chủ mưu: Mastermind (emphasizing the planning role).

Related Phrases/Idioms

noun

1. principal author of a crime