Accessory liability

Accessory liability is a comparative term for secondary responsibility in crime. It usually requires a principal offence, an act of assistance or encouragement, and knowledge or intent regarding the criminal venture. In Swiss terminology, the closest categories are aiding and, depending on the facts, instigation or co-perpetration. The distinction matters because it affects punishment, proof, and the relationship between the accessory’s liability and the principal act. Modern issues include remote assistance, digital services, and professional conduct that may facilitate offences.