If you have been accused of bribery and corruption offences, or are facing investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), it is vital that you seek advice from experienced defence solicitors as soon as possible. The punishment for the company, or even the individual owners of the company, if found guilty of bribery offences can be very severe, and include unlimited fines or even imprisonment.
The Fraud and Business Crime solicitors at Farleys have a national reputation in the criminal defence of fraud and serious crime matters, including defence of bribery and corruption accusations from the most minor level to the gravest of allegations. To speak to a solicitor specialising in bribery defence, call 01254606008 or alternatively you can email us.
The Bribery Act – Offences
Whilst bribery has always been a criminal offence, the Bribery Act (2010), which came into force on 1st July 2011 was brought in to tackle bribery and corruption in corporate organisations and businesses. Businesses and business owners can be charged for the following offences:
- Accepting a bribe
- Giving a bribe
- Failing to prevent bribery
- Bribing a public foreign official
In a business context, the types of actions that could lead to prosecution under the Bribery Act include:
- Disproportionate levels of corporate entertainment
- Payments or gifts to secure contracts
- Gifts or payments to clients that could be deemed ‘disproportionate’
- An offence of bribery conducted by an employee of the business
