Receiving gifts and thank you gestures are not rare in our society. They seem like generous acts that are relatively harmless; however, when completed in certain settings or between or among certain individuals, this can be viewed as a problematic situation. In some cases, giving someone else something of value could be viewed at as a bribe. And those accused of bribery could face serious criminal consequences.
The basic definition of bribery is the crime of accepting gratuity. In order to be charged with this crime, there must be proof of the basic elements of this crime. This means that the situation must include a public official and a thing of value. There must be a request or receipt by the official or an offer or promise to the official something of value.
This request, receipt, offer or promise of a thing of value must be for the benefit of the official, or in some cases, another person or entity. Finally, there needs to be a connection to an official act and there must be intent.
Being accused of bribery is a serious situation. This allegation is not one that just carries with it serious penalties, but it is also a crime that can tarnish a person’s reputation. Because of this, it is important to consider criminal defense options. One could attack the elements of the crime, taking there time to disprove them.
When anyone is accused of a white-collar crime, it is important to fully understand the charges at hand. This can help a defendant understand the potential criminal consequences as well as the criminal defense options. This could help with the reduction and even dismissal of the allegations against them.
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