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Britain to introduce ‘stiff’ bribery Act - Carter

Britain to introduce ‘stiff’ bribery Act - Carter
By Joan Chirwa
Sat 31 July 2010, 04:50 CAT

THE British government has announced that it will reinforce its reputation as one of the least corrupt countries in the world when a new bribery Act comes into force in April next year.

British High Commissioner to Zambia Tom Carter stated that the new bribery Act would ensure that the UK was in the forefront of the battle against bribery and pave way for fairer practice by encouraging businesses to adopt anti-bribery safeguards.

He stated that the Act would introduce a new offence of a UK national or a UK company bribing a foreign public official. The bribery Act received Royal Assent on April 8, 2010.

“It will also introduce a new corporate offence of failure to prevent bribery by persons working on behalf of a UK business. A business can avoid conviction if it can show that it has adequate procedures in place to prevent bribery...It would also make it a criminal offence to give, promise or offer a bribe, and also a criminal offence to request, agree to receive, or accept a bribe either in the UK or abroad,” High Commissioner Carter stated.

“Bribery has long been a crime in the UK. Since 2002 it has also been an offence for British citizens and British businesses to bribe abroad, even if none of that activity takes place in the UK. The new Act includes a modern definition of bribery based on the intention to induce improper conduct.”

High Commissioner Carter also urged British businesses operating in Zambia to familiarise themselves with the new bribery Act and maintain their good reputation in business by abiding by the laws of the host country.

“By upholding our own law, we support growing international efforts to stamp out corruption and achieve a level playing field for global trade,” he stated.
High Commissioner Carter further stated that the bribery Act would also increase the maximum penalty for bribery from seven to ten years imprisonment, with an unlimited fine.

In Zambia, the UK has since 2000 provided seven million pounds to the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and 1.4 million pounds to the Task Force on Corruption. The UK and other donors are also supporting the development of the National Anti Corruption Policy.

Labels: BRIBERY

posted by MrK @ 3:21 PM