Australia
In Australia, there is no specific crime of “private corruption.” The offering, giving, or receiving of a bribe to or by a Commonwealth public official, if the benefit is intended to influence the public official in the performance of his or her duties as a public official, is illegal under the Criminal Code. There are a number of fraud and corruption-related offenses in New South Wales, including corrupting behavior, that apply regardless of whether the people implicated are public officials.
Belgium
A direct or indirect offer, giving, receipt, or solicitation of an advantage to or by a person who is a director or manager, proxy holder or employee of an undertaking or of a physical person, in order for that person to perform or omit to perform an act that falls within the scope of his or her function, or that is facilitated by his or her function, is referred to as private corruption. The board of directors or shareholders’ meeting, as well as the employer, must be unaware of the corruption and have not authorized it. The board’s authorization can take any form. The prosecution bears the burden of establishing the lack of authorization.
France
Private bribery is characterized broadly in the same way as public bribery, with the exception that private bribery involves individuals who are not public authorities.
Germany
A Section 299 of the Penal Code prohibits passive corruption and bribery in economic dealings. As a result, it is illegal for an employee or representative of a business to demand, be promised, or accept benefits in an unfair manner in business transactions. The offering, promising, or granting of such a benefit, on the other hand, is punishable. The phrase “in an unfair manner” emphasizes that injustice is once again a major feature of commercial corruption. As a result, providing a benefit is not illegal in and of itself. What matters is that both the grantor and the benefit recipient agree that the benefit should not be used to make an incorrect decision.
Ireland
The Corruption Statute does not define “private corruption” or “bribery in the private sector,” although the charges listed in Part 2 of the act apply equally to bribery in the private and public sectors.
Switzerland
In the case of private corruption, the offender offers, promises, or provides an undue advantage to a third-party employee, partner, agent, or other auxiliary in the private sector in order to cause that person to perform or fail to perform an act in connection with his or her private company activities that is contrary to his or her duty or dependent on his or her discretion. Article 322octies (active private bribery) and Article 322novies (passive private bribery) of the SCC make private corruption illegal.
UK
The Bribery Act does not define the terms “private corruption” or “bribery in the private sector.” The act makes no distinction between government officials and private citizens. The role that the person is executing, regardless of the sector in which that function is done, is the focus of wrongdoing. The act’s Section 3 outlines the scope of a function or activity, as well as what is “relevant” for the purposes of Sections 1 and 2. There are four possible functions or activities that are relevant: any public function; any business activity; any action undertaken in the course of a person’s employment; and any action undertaken for or for the benefit of a group of people (corporate or unincorporated). However, in order to qualify, the person performing the function or activity must have acted in good faith and impartially, or have been in a position of trust as a result of executing it.
United Arab Emirates
Accepting a bribe in the private sector is punishable under Article 236 bis (2) of the Federal Penal Code, which states: Any person who promises another person in charge of a private sector entity or establishment, or who is employed by him in any capacity, a gift, benefit, or grant that is not due, or who offers or grants the same, either directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the person himself or for the benefit of another person, in order for that person to perform or omit an act that is included in his d
United States of America
Bribery of a foreign public official is prohibited by the FCPA, but it does not apply to bribery of a private person unless the private person is acting on behalf of a foreign official (15 USC 78dd-1). Using a “facility in interstate or foreign commerce” with the aim to promote “any illicit activity” and then performing “any criminal action” is illegal under the Travel Act (18 USC 1952(a). “Extortion [or] bribery…in violation of the laws of the State in which they are committed or of the United States,” according to the Act (id. 1952(b)).