Kuala Lampur, Oct. 23 -- The Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) is the general law on criminal procedure which is to be followed to bring offenders to justice. The procedure starts from reporting a crime to the police, the investigation and the trial in court, to sentencing upon conviction and appeals therefrom.

Now, Section 260 of the CPC provides for the power to compound offences, which is also referred to as "composition of offences". The section tabulates the offences that are compoundable.

A total of 23 out of 500 odd offences under the Penal Code are compoundable, which includes abetment of the said offences or attempt to commit them.

Examples of such offences are causing hurt (Section 323), wrongful restraint (Section 341), use of c...