How to Defend Against Bribery Charges

The act of bribery encompasses the receipt and delivery of funds to influence public servants. Frequent contacts with police officers, politicians and other public figures may lead to an accusation of bribery, depending on the nature of these contacts. You need to prove that your ethics are above reproach to defend against bribery charges.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Criminal lawyer
• Phone and email records
• Portfolio of bank statements, stock purchases and investments
• Employer reviews

1. Procure the services of a legal firm with experience dealing in major criminal cases. Your defense against bribery charges requires the comprehensive legal and investigatory services that are often used in kidnapping and murder cases.
2. Prove your lack of contact with the official claiming bribery to begin your defense. You should utilize phone and email records to demonstrate that you have no personal contact with an individual to defend against bribery charges.
3. Compile a portfolio of bank statements, stock purchases and investments as you prepare to defend against bribery charges. This portfolio allows you to demonstrate a lack of benefits obtained for services by the prosecuting party. Create sufficient copies of these documents for the court, the prosecutor and your attorney for equal access to information.
4. Discredit the claims of an official that you attempted to provide a bribe by investigating his public background. You should utilize past legal cases, grievances and administrative actions within his organization to cast doubt over the legitimacy of his claims.
5. Establish your credibility and character in court by supplying copies of employer reviews as part of your defense. You can use exemplary actions in the workplace as highlighted by supervisors to show your level of integrity. These documents should only be used as part of a larger defense as most judges find personnel reviews complementary information.
6. Prepare a two-fold defense against criminal and civil charges of bribery to deal with extensive time in court. Criminal bribery cases involve high-level public officials and allow prison time to be assigned. Civil cases cover the majority of bribery cases and allow financial damages to be enforced upon convicted parties.
7. Advocate for dismissal in court based on federal provisions protecting retired uniformed officers from prosecution in civilian court. You can invoke US Code 18 Section 206 to shift jurisdiction to the appropriate military body in an effort to defend yourself in front of the correct audience.

Tips & Warnings

• Recount every interaction with public officials involved in a bribery case to your attorney. Your attorney will need to know any conversations and actions that may be mistaken for bribery in an effort to build a good defense. You should speak with others involved in these meetings to avoid conjecture and missed quotes.