Australians warned: Don't bribe foreign officials

Announcing the details of the initiative, Australia's Minister for Justice, Senator David Johnston, said that the Australian government was committed to maintaining a strong and effective system to combat foreign bribery.

"This new awareness pack is a useful guide for all Australians who encounter foreign public officials, whether it is through business or simply as a result of travelling overseas. Bribing foreign public officials is a serious criminal offence that carries heavy penalties, whether you are overseas or in Australia." Senator Johnston said in the statement issued by the Australian Embassy in Bangkok.

A foreign public official includes employees, officials or contractors of a foreign government.

The minister gave an example of foreign bribery - citing an Australian businessman who visited country X and, wanting to enter into a contract with the local provincial authority, the businessman offers the provincial planning officer a payment in a bid to have his tender considered favourably.

 "Although all the activity took place in country X, this businessman can be prosecuted in Australia and could be imprisoned for up to 10 years, regardless of whether he secured the contract," Senator Johnston said.

 The information and awareness pack contains fact sheets with information on:

-        The offence

-       How to report suspected foreign bribery offences

-        What constitutes a facilitation payment

-        The taxation implications of foreign bribery, and

-       Information targeting specific sectors, such as cash dealers.

The information and awareness pack also contains a PowerPoint presentation for training purposes, digital copies of the information on CD ROM, a poster and a pamphlet entitled Bribing a foreign public official is a crime.

The information and awareness pack can also be accessed on the Internet at www.ag.gov.au/foreignbribery.

- The Nation