15. “Coercion”

“Coercion” is the committing, or threatening to commit any act forbidden by the Penal Code, or the unlawful detaining or threatening to detain, any property, to the prejudice of any person whatever, with the intention of causing any person to enter into an agreement.

Explanation—It is immaterial whether the Penal Code is or is not in force in the place where the coercion is employed.

A, on board an English ship on the high seas, causes B to enter into an agreement by an act amounting to criminal intimidation under the Penal Code.

A afterwards sues B for breach of contract at Taiping.

A has employed coercion, although his act is not an offence by the law of

England, and although section 506 of the Penal Code was not in force at the time when or place where the act was done.