Govt nod to changes in bill to tackle bribery by foreigners

Government today approved changes in a proposed legislation that makes accepting or giving bribe by foreign public officials a criminal offence entailing imprisonment of up to seven years among others penal provisions.
The additional official amendments to the 'The Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organisations Bill, 2011' were approved by Union Cabinet here, official sources said.
The legislation, if passed by Parliament, will be a stand alone law to deal with bribery by foreign public officials.
Bribery by foreign nationals is not covered under any domestic anti-corruption laws at present.
The Bill is likely to be placed before Parliament during the ongoing budget session.

As per the proposed Bill, the government can attach, seize and confiscate property of offenders. Besides it has provision for extradition of an accused official.

The Bill, which has provision to punish both bribe taker and giver, also empowers the government to enter into agreements with other countries or contracting states for enforcing this law and for exchange of investigative information.
The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 25, 2011 and referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee in April the same year.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice gave its report on March 29 last year.