Steps on how to deal with bribery Anti-bribery action has produced a mountain of words and hardly a molehill of solid

results in terms of positive change, or, reform, in institutional behaviour. Failure in this regard has much to do with the complexity, dynamism and pervasiveness of the bribery. Where bribery is choking development, a few with access systematically distort political and economic decisions which might be made (systematically) with conflict of interest at play. Development assistance, like reform plans, is more likely to become hostage to bribery than to provide the cure for it. Bribery is certainly one of the greatest obstacles to development and demand for bribery-free nation is very much crucial. Basically, dealing with bribery can be divided into 3 parts, which are actions by individuals, organisations and public. We will look into these 3 groups on how they play a role in reducing bribery. As an engineer, we must acknowledge the presence of a bribe at the work place and able to handle or demolish it. An example of situation is, you are informed that, in order for your company to receive a contract payment due to it, you will need to pay 10% of the due amount to a manager of the paying company as a bribe (there is no any threat to your life). If you pay a bribe in this situation, then it is likely that you and your employer will be liable for bribery. To handle this situation, you may politely refuse the bribe without putting yourself or others in danger. Pay a bribe in this situation, then it is likely that you and your employer will be liable for bribery. If the demand is made by a government official, and there are government procedures in place to report the official, then inform the official that these procedures would require you to report. Remember to make a detailed record of the event and, if possible, obtain witness evidence of the event. Such evidence should, if possible, be in the form of written witness statements that are legally valid as evidence in the relevant jurisdiction. If you believe that your employer has proper reporting procedures, and then report the incident to the relevant officer of your employer. Another situation may occur where the bribe is hidden. For example, an expediting fee is required by a government official to issue a permit in circumstances where the legitimacy of the fee is not clear, or a fee is demanded which the official claims is legitimate but which is higher than the published fee or appears to be disproportionately high given the action required. If you make the payment knowing or suspecting that it includes a bribe and it does include a bribe, then it is likely that you and your employer will be liable for bribery. To avoid this, politely ask for documentary proof that the sum is payable, stating that you must account for all expenses to your employer, and that you will need an official receipt and if documentary proof and receipt are not provided, refuse to pay.

Apart from individuals, organisations also should play a role in demolishing bribery. We will now discuss suggests actions which an organisation could take when confronted with bribery which affects the organisation or its employees. It may also be used by an organisation as part of its anti-bribery training for its employees. It is very crucial for an organisation to take steps to curb bribery because if convicted of bribery, organisations may suffer fines, criminal conviction, debarment, financial loss and reputational damage. Its officers and employees who were involved in the bribery may suffer fines, imprisonment, and loss of employment. Consequently, organisations should avoid involvement in any corrupt situation and, if they have unintentionally become involved in a corrupt situation, they should withdraw from it as soon as they become aware that it is corrupt. Firstly, the organisation should ensure that it has a system in place for employees to report bribery, and to advise and assist employees who are confronted with a corrupt situation. This system should enable employees to make reports of bribery and receive advice confidentially and without fear of adverse discrimination. A proper reporting system is necessary to enable an organisation to prevent and detect bribery or bribery. It will also provide employees with some assurance that the organisation intends to implement its antibribery policy properly. The system may be an internal system, or it may be contracted out to a specialist reporting company. This reporting system should form part of the organisations Anti-Bribery Programme. Furthermore, the organisation should ensure that its employees are made aware, in writing, of the reporting and advice system and all the information acquired in relation to bribery law. It should also provide Anti-bribery training to those officers and employees who may be in situations where they could encounter bribery. This should include specific advice as to how they should deal with corrupt situations. An organisation should increase the reward for whistle-blowers. Whistle-blowers are anonymous people or staffs that report any bribery or bribery, and they get rewarded. By increasing the reward, hopefully more whistle-blowers will come forward to expose the bribery. Organisation must take a great care in protecting whistle-blowers as their life or job might be at stake due to any threat from the briber. The organisation should keep their identity and details of the incident confidential save for the need to make further reports. If the organisation discovers that one or more of its employees is involved in bribery which has or may result in the organisation receiving some illicit benefit, then the organisation should consider how to undo or remedy the situation. This may involve taking legal advice as to how to remedy the bribery without self-incrimination and withdrawing from any procurement process, or resultant contract, where the organisation has been or may be awarded the contract through bribery. The organisation must take disciplinary actions that are range from a warning for a minor offence to dismissal for a serious offence if employees are caught red handed in corrupt activity during the course of their employment. Finally, the organisation should report the bribery to the authorities for serious offence where failure to report is a criminal offence and may affect the organisation itself including its employees and staffs. This action is also important to curb bribery so that anyone will be aware the seriousness of bribery.

Now let us focus on how the public can help to curb bribery. First of all safety comes first. Anyone reporting suspicions of bribery and anyone who is able to provide evidence in relation to bribery is at risk of intimidation or physical harm. In some cases, it may be safest to make anonymous reports and not to disclose sources of information until the suspicions are sufficiently widely known that no one person may be the target of threats etc. Bribery will only be proved and properly addressed if there is evidence to support suspicions. Consequently, collecting and preserving evidence, before there is any opportunity to destroy or tamper with it, is vitally important. The public may publicise the matter to spread the knowledge of the suspicions and so make it less likely that one or a few persons will be intimidated or harmed. This may be best done by press coverage and through the internet. Furthermore, it will help to gain popular and political support to have the bribery investigated. By doing this, it may put some pressure on the authorities to take actions and persons and companies who are concerned about their reputation will want to disassociate themselves from the suspicions and this may help to address the alleged bribery. However, it is important to ensure that any information publicised is accurate and publicised in a measured and rational manner. Otherwise there is a risk of liability for defamation and that the reports will lose credibility. Some projects may have specifically appointed a person to monitor the project for bribery or other failures. These monitors should have an obligation to follow up any report of bribery. So, the public may report the suspected bribery to any independent assessor or monitor appointed to monitor the project. Bribery and fraud are criminal offences. Consequently, any suspicion of these activities should properly be reported to the criminal authorities. If a report has been made to other criminal authorities, then inform the local authorities of this. Caution: Once this type of report is made, those who have made the report should be aware that they may be expected to provide statements and supporting evidence for their reports. Apart from local authorities, the public also may report the suspected bribery to local anti-bribery NGOs: Local NGOs sometimes have knowledge of the procedures that need to be followed in order to pursue a bribery allegation in a particular country. They may also assist in bringing legal action and may be able to call on resources and support from related organisations.

Reference 1) http://www.giaccentre.org/reporting.php 2) http://www.studymode.com/essays/Prevent-Bribery-1172565.html