Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
FOR
PORTUGAL
a. General Policy
Portugal in 1974 had a complete change in the political situation, deteriorated by a dictatorship of
more than 30 years with a corporative system, a neutral position in W.W. II following a economic
policy of restriction on public expenses, mostly affected to education, agriculture and public
buildings construction e.g. schools, courts, roads.
In the sixties there was a deep distance between Portuguese economy - poor - and European
development.
Then, the colonies Angola, with its potential production of oil and diamonds and Mozambique,
with a strategic position in Africa, started looking for their own independence, assuming a
guerrilla war against Portugal that last for more than 15 years.
After a take-over of the military the democratic regime was implanted with a new National.
Constitution, followed by a period of provisional governments with communist, socialist,social
democratic and christian democratic political parties.
In the 80,s Portugal was compromised to assume a position on the E.E.C. starting governmental
international negotiations. The economic status was slowly improving, many nationalised
companies were predicted to become private, the stock market was reborning and stability was
establish. The standard individual income was improving and democratic process completed with
elections.
It was necessary to reform not only and economic development policy but also a new legal
system in order to face the new social realities but also to start modernisation of public
administration.
The Parliament in 06.10.83 created the High Authority Against Corruption considering:
" - the need of an independent organism, to affect experimented human resources in a
commission work, to start getting computer access and organise databases of files and to get a
quick reaction to the demands. - the competence of the High Authority is to prevent, to
investigate, to present in the competent organisms the petition in order to proceed the criminal
and disciplinary cases of corruption and fraud acts in the central, regional, local public servants,
Government, Armed Forces, public companies or where public money was invested."
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There was books and conferences promoted by this High Authority e.g.
After nine years of work 1983/92 there was more than 3.000 cases which:
In ill July 1992 the Parliament with the unanimous vote of all political parties decided to finish
with this High Authority and to seal and keep secret the cases for 20 years kept in the National
Documentation Archive.
The reasons :
during this nine years to social and economical conditions of Portuguese society changed
,there was various legislation meanwhile , new departments of Public Attorney , Police ,
Courts, Inspections and others organisms of Control.
Portugal becoming a member of E.U. had a major reductions of risk and dangerous areas
connected with free circulation of persons and goods.
A political good will to start a Transparent , Impartial State of Democracy in Public
Administration.
In 1999 the President of Parliament said "Corruption is not a problem. Is a fact of history that has
no place in modem societies like Portugal".
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Today's Portuguese general policy is not to worry about corruption, more, is bad to talk about
corruption because politically Portugal is a Transparent Society and the Nation does not admit
corruption in this "Status". Corruption brings unsafety to people, to companies, and Police takes
care of this unhappy cases and let the Court to decide.
Also the media does not notice corruption as the journalists are prosecuted to be injourious. Is not
a good deal for TV and newspapers.
At the end to study and deal with this phenomena is only competence of the Public Inspections
or Justice Departments.
The Law
Law 4/83 -Control of wealth of political occupations with an annual income declaration;
Law 34/87 - Punish with prison from 2 to 8 years corruption made by politicians;
Law9/90 - Become incompatible political occupations with private businesses;
Dec-Law 390190 - clarifies corruption on sports, mainly football.
Law 72193 - About financing political parties;
Law 23/94 - Creates a anti - corruption department on the Police;
Law 24/95 - About members of Parliament share holders of companies;
Law 25/95 - new measures to control of wealth of politics;
Law 27/95 - About financing Elections campaigns;
Law 28/95 - Transparency pack - makes a record of private interest of members of
Parliament ruled by an Ethic Commission;
Dec-Law 23/96 - Creates the General Inspection of City councils, and public servants;
Law 12/96 - Transparency - about politicians having several jobs.
Courts
b. Statistics
There are no official records or private studies that allows a complete study of data and make
precision and credible statistics.
The only sources are court condemnations and disciplinary punishment in public servants. This
means that very slow justice and frequent amnesties - medium every two years - makes a
completely wrong perception of the extend of corruption in Portugal.
Very important is that the favour exchanges are not considered by law a crime.
There are ways to get a clear perception on degree of corruption in the following areas:
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European funds - the reports of inspectors are denied or not exist. There are a strong help from
private Banks that cover the co-financing project. Sectorial activity Associations manages the
governmental inspection, provide the plans, materials for the investment.
Public construction - the opponents to the advertised work have to pay for the rules. Usually
make a new company - consortium - or deal eachother to pay to leave. The final price is always
updated with unexpected budgets. The materials are not accordingly the standard of quality and
labour is provided illegally by underpaid emigrants without workpermit. Actually in Portugal
works more than 100.000 illegal Africans, with political and governmental tolerance.
Private Investment
Banks through credit and lease operations become annually in a negative result of recovered
payments , underneath bank managers favour approvals of credit, and hundreds of bankrupted
companIes.
Bureaucratic Administration
In Health, Taxes inspections and Courts we can find public servants showing evidences of
unexpected wealth mainly new houses and cars.
Police
Dealing in drugs, criminals are arrested. The quantity of drugs and money captured are delivered
in court in small amounts. Due to low salary they use to do extra jobs like personal security or
private investigations on private demand.
Politics
Owners of companies do not present the income declaration. They have jobs in public companies
in order to get benefits and party funds raising.
Education
Final evaluations of students do not fit their regular work. Private teaching having benefits of
official inspections.
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Health
Expenses not clearly justified. Few Audits. Agreements between Social Security, Insurance
companies, Doctors and medical drugs suppliers.
Justice
Due to the existence of many lawyers there is 1200 applicants for a vacancy of 90 students by
year to go to a 18 month course for Judge. Frequent cases of Judges drugs or alcohol dependents.
Public attorneys placed in every ministry by nomination of the General Prosecutor. Show off
unexpected wealth. Frequent agreements with lawyers offices and many prosecutors and Judges
under licence to practice the bar.
Public opinion
Very poor because there are no information elements. Afraid to express an OpInIOn about
corruption or even to participate it to authorities, as they are involved. The Law does not admit a
whisper complaint for identity protection.
c. Repressive legislation
Introduction
In Portugal the Criminal "Code" has been written in 1882 and it last till a new one in 1982 which
was replaced in 1995.However the concepts of "crime" remained the same, hold to a historical
tradition.
The actual legal concept of "corruption" is in the "Codigo Penal " systematised on the Chapter -
Crimes committed being a public servant - articles 372 0 remains as the request or accept for
himself or another person in a direct or indirect way, an advantage with any kind of reward, or
promising with a profit to do an act or omission against his duties as a public servant will incur
in a prison sentence from 1 to 8 years-.
This crime has a second effect as in the Disciplinary Statue of public servants any criminal
accusation will give place to an inquiry by his services, that will run independent of court. Is an
administrative procedure which last sentence can be given by the Supreme Administrative Court
as the appeal of criminal sentences are for the Supreme Court of Justice.
In that Code the article 373 0 defines that the public servant is the "passive corrupter" and in the
next 3740 call "active corrupter" to the one that made the request.
Just in the Chapter that comes before in the Code, - Crimes against the Justice" is defined as a
criminal act of bribery the promise money or favours to a witness or expert to go on court to
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convince the Judge with facts that are not true, incurring in a punishment of a fine or prison till 2
years.
In the legal framework corruption or bribery comes as a secondary crime with an main
administrative effect and punishment, getting away the citizen or society - the "passive corrupter
" - involving always a public servant - "the active corrupter "-.
We can show how slight is the importance of punishment in corruption crime by the appeal cases
- data provided by the database of Justice Ministry -
1988- 5 1
1989- 2 2
1990- 5 3
1991- 3 7
1992- 2 8
1993- 5 2
1994- 1 7
1995- 5 4
1996- 2 2
1997- 6 1
1998- 6 3
In 1994 Portugal going to U.E. started appearing fresh money from European developing
programs, with a old legal repressive system not able to stop the temptation of an society thirty
years late behind Europe.
The first Law called "Ways to fight corruption and Economical- Financial criminality - came
from the Parliament as Law 36/94 - September 29 tho
Here there was a definition of who and what.
The Public Attorney -"Ministerio Publico" - and the Police - "Policia Judiciaria" - have to
prevent and fight with the help of the new Department of Ministery of Justice called - "Direcyao
Geral para 0 combate a corrupyao , fraude e infracyoes economicas e financeiras " - the crimes
of:
Corruption and economical association of people in businesses;
Bad administration of companies belonging to public sector;
Fraud gaining or making disappear subsidises , subventions or credits;
Economics and financial infractions done in an organised way , using computer
technology;
Economics and financial infractions done in an international or transnational association.
In December 1995 came the Law n0325/95 about money laundry, as crime was growing by the
preparing return of Chinese with Portuguese passport from Macau - Chinese territory under
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Portuguese administration till 1999, where gambling, prostitution and organised crime were the
main economic activity.
This law was reviewed in September the 2th of 1998 by the Law n° 65/98.
By the first time in Portuguese Law history the crime of transferring and conversion. of money
coming from terrorist acts , arms dealing, extortion, kidnap, traffic of children or persons and
corruption, would be punished by Portuguese courts if the main acts were done outside national
territory.
th
Due to the free transit of European citizens in 8 August 98 the Law nO 244/98 allows to expulse
foreign citizens by national security reasons, by offending the Portuguese moral and habits or for
being convicted by a Portuguese court.
Finally in July the 10th of 1999 because there was lots of news of high corruption in Public events
like EXPO 98 and public companies president demission because they could not control fraud
and corruption the Parliament made the Law 90/99 that in an amendment to the Law 36/94
made a exception to the agents that:
commit corruption on the demand of the public servant;
reported the crime within 30 days;
has a relevant contribution to discover the facts;
Preventing laws
There are no direct prevention laws for corruption. The legislator says the best way to prevent is
the pardon to the one that reports within 30 days or co-operates with the authorities as
mentioned in the above Laws.
Other way of preventing is to legislate on matters that can discourage, but without a practical
impact, because courts are ineffective.
In Public sector there is a court called "Tribunal de Contas " supervised by the Finance and tax
Ministry that does a previous approval of all acts that involves public money, since the
nomination of a public servant to the expenses of a building project and all the public companies,
government, city councils are submitted.
That "Court" does after the audit of expenses and can give a non after approval as in many
happens, without specific consequences.
In private sector is allowed the companies to have "confidential" expenses tax deductible till
certain amount. There are no laws concerning corruption between to private persons or
companies, and usually when crimes are committed they are typified as crimes of fraud, offences
to others, it depends on the extend of corruption.
Between privates the only prevention laws are the tax declarations and the possibility of
suspicion on owning objects without declaring incomes.
7
In 1999 the Portuguese Bar Association - created by Parliament authorisation - declared that
agreements between lawyers to make damages to their clients with exchange favours, was
permitted.
Actually due to preventive Laws in most of countries ,Portugal is considered in E.U. like a
paradise to multinational companies to corrupt governments on Help Funds Programs and
investments ofE.U. from countries where there is a very restrictive law on corruption.
Heidenheimer's study on corruption departs from legalistic approaches and suggests a typology
based upon three stages of public condemnation: - white, - grey and black.
According to this typology , some practices - behaviours , collusive and subject to penal
condemnation, do not attract the sympathy of political elites, nor the complacency of the
population at large - BLACK CORRUPTION -.In this case, existing standards, mostly legally
based, are reinstalled by competent authorities when infringement takes place. But the problem
of condemnation also exists in the identification of the violation.
Corruption, occurs and develops in obscurity. The likelihood that a certain illicit practise or
behaviour will be exposed, or better, the determination and efficiency of competing authorities
to combat it has to measure strength against the ability and motivation of wrongdoers to avoid
being exposed.
The difficult battle of transparency, then, comes face to face with it's worst enemy -public
tolerance - indifference, or even complicity, in a context where illicit behaviour has expanded
pervasively at all levels of decision making and sectors of society. When infringement is widely
tolerated - WHITE CORRUPTION - legal condemnation loses its meaning.
Its rather the GREYNESS CORRUPTION that promotes the demand for reform in the system,
because existing standards are no longer seen operational, either by political elites themselves or
sectors of the population. The wave of Reforms take place in Portugal by the late 1980 and early
1990 can only be understood by the light of a significant value discrepancy between ruling elites
and masses. The way that different spheres of control have reacted , and the norm - values -
upheld by measures implemented , form the output of a process where standards are challenged
and revised. Subsequently, control measures and reactions are subject to further environmental
response - feedback loop.
Revision will still occur where there is still a discrepancy between elite - legal/formal - and
public - social/cultural - , standards in relation to existing structures off opportunity for
corruption.
The effects are different, jail for the first, the payment of a fine for the other. The legal concept
for corruption is strict but for fraud it's application is generally by tax evasion. Criminal effects
for Fraud demands usually both concepts - taxes and loss for someone.
In a very recent law the condemn for passive corruption was more severe on the behalf of active
corruption that had legal benefits.
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Only nationals, living in Portugal can be condemned as individuals. The territorial scope is the
national country.
This consequences brings Portugal like a paradise to bribers in businesses with Angola and
Mozambique.
Nevertheless Portugal signed in Paris the OECD convention 3 years ago, only now was ratified
by the Parliament. Meanwhile no law projects where presented and it was very recently formed a
commission in the Parliament to discuss the implementation of the Convention.
The population is not informed about the Convention and its benefits for Portugal, as politics
doesn't seem very persuaded to carry a deep implementation.
In Portugal in last year there was no condemns in court of justice for any case of corruption.
Officially is admitted that corruption in a small grade is not punished because is part of
education.
In this national situation people are afraid of getting help for extortion of money, supposely
named corruption.
d. Preventive measures
Allow civil society to intervene in private and public life as surveyors of building
contracts, foreign investments, activities of the commissions in the Parliament, essential
non transparent events in banks and insurance and in election campaigns funds raising.
Teach the children in school about what is corruption. - in a national survey 100 children
8/18 years old none knows the meaning or consequences ofthe word.
Audit Justice, health, finances, labour employees, with civil nominations non political.
Allow protection for victims - whistleblowers-
Promote intellectual debates and conferences.
Exist an international organisation in E.U. with power to receive analyses and recommend
the Portuguese State to make the existing Law effective and the competent institutions
work well and quick.
new Law about favours exchange, and consider the right to the citizens to fight
corruption.
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None of these measures exist because Politics say that corruption doesn't exist and there is no
priority to prevent.
e. Structures
In Portugal the only service to fight corruption is the department of police that has two specialist.
Like referred all the persons that worked in the High Authority Against Corruption were
dismissed 8 years ago most of them now Public attorneys.
There is a private association - Instituto Juridico Luso Brasileiro - that studies with Brazil
measures to prevent corruption and there is a forming Chapter of Transparency International.
There was a private and humanitarian help phone line "Say no to Corruption" closed by the
Justice Minister with the argument that the Ministry was the only one that could held such a
servIce.
a. Supply
Portugal can offer international co-operation in full way ifthere is a political will. The person that
is in charge is the General Republic Attorney - Procurador Geral da Republica - address Rua da
Escola Politecnica, Lisboa.Anyone can apply by letter.
There are a Delegation in Porto - Palacio da Justiya - Campo Martires da Patria, Porto, and
another in Coimbra also in Procuradoria Distrital da Republica - Palacio da Justiya, Coimbra.
The applicant can be any nationality and can do any request written. The possible obstacle is that
the request goes to a deputy of the Attorney that is not well acquainted with his job or have
delays in the bureaucratic distribution.
Is advisable to sent two ways request, one to the Procurador Geral da Republica and another to
the Pocurador Distrital da Republica and get a phone contact with his Secretary.
b. Demand
The main expectation when requesting co-operation from another country is that the request
doesn't go to the hands of a corrupt. Second, to get a clear, objective and proper reply, with
respect for the secret of an eventual criminal investigation on that.
Till the moment there is no complains about his exemption and independence nevertheless is a
political nomination.
, 10
At the moment the problems were resumed and they are a matter of Portugal to be in the E.U and
must be convinced by the Nations about what is a Global Policy and a European Union Policy.
• 11
NATIONAL REPORT
FOR
SWEDEN
a. General policy
a.1. What general policy does your country have towards corruption?
Sweden's policy against corruption is to fight this phenomenon with all means. The general
attitude mnong the citizens towards corruption is a negative one. Compared with other
countries Sweden, together with the other Nordic countries, ranks high on the corruption
perception index of Transparency International. In the 1999 survey Sweden shared third
place with New Zealand and came only after Denmark and Finland.
Regardless of this there is of course corruption in the Swedish society. Over the last decade or
so many local politicians have been discovered having misused public means and authority.
The media have been instrumental in detecting these crimes and a number of these politicians
have been sentenced to fines and have had to resign.
The Swedish policy against corruption focuses both on preventive and repressive measures.
Corruption and bribery is a crime and is dealt with in the Penal Code. (See annexe)
a.2. Do you consider this policy satisfactory or not? If not, in your opinion what are the
main deficiencies?
The policy is considered to be satisfactory. Getting a person sentenced for corruption crimes
is, however, not easy as it is often very difficult to prove that such a crime has been
committed.
b. Statistics
b.1. To what extent and from which sources are statistical data available concerning:
- corruption
- international co-operation in corruption cases
the link between corruption and organised crime
the link between corruption and money laundering?
1
In Sweden there is no general source of statistics for corruption. Several authorities have
some statistics, such as the Council for Crime Prevention, the Swedish Criminal Police, the
Ministry of Justice, the Finance Police (part of the Criminal Police) and the Economic
Crimes Bureau ( a public prosecution authority with specific responsibility to combat
economic crime ). The cases of corruption are by experience very few.
Some statistics from the Council for Crime Prevention are enclosed.
It is a fact that corruption and organised crime/money laundering are closely connected. But it
is difficult to make any assessments about the sums involved. There seems to be general
agreement among international experts that huge sums are involved and that organised crime
uses a large proportion of its income to corrupt influential members ofthe society in order to
further its interests ..
b.2. Can you provide these data? If they are not available, can you make an estimation?
Apart from the above-mentioned statistics it has not been possible to obtain statistics.
It goes without saying that it is very difficult to make a full estimation concerning the subjects
mentioned under this heading of the questionnaire.
c. Repressive legislation
c.l. Which types of behaviour can be sanctioned as forms of corruption (bribery, trading
in influence.. )? Active and/or passive corruption? In the public and/or private sector?
Both active and passive corruption in the public and private sector can be santioned and this
covers acts like bribery and trading in influence.
c.2. Are those legal provisions only applicable if nationals are corrupted or is their
scope of application more extensive ( foreigners, members of international
organisations.) ?
The pertinent legal provisions have an extensive application and cover nationals, foreigners,
international employees etc.
Chapter 2 of the Penal Code deals with the applicability of Swedish law. A copy of the
Chapter is enclosed.
2
r
cA. To whom are these legal provisions applicable (physical persons and/or legal
persons?
The legal provisions are applicable to both physical and legal persons. Company fines can be
imposed.
c.6. Does the law contain particular provisions relating to the burden of proof in
corruption cases (reversal, division, protection of whistle blowers)?
The same rules of proof as are applicable to other crimes are applied to corruption cases.
Whistleblowers are protected by the constitutional right of speech, by the right to inform and
by labour legal provisions forbidding firing of an employee without legal grounds.
c. 7. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion what
are the main problems?
d. Preventive measures
d.l. What kind of preventive measures exist in your country (auditing standards,
financial disclosure obligations, codes of conduct)?
The Bookkeeping Act, the Annual Accounts Act and the Penal Code contain rules of
importance in this context.
Regulations about maintaining and preserving bookkeeeping are found in the Bookkeeeping
Act, which stipulates that, for the purpose of providing information about the course of
operations, business transactions are to be currently recorded in a chronological and
systematic manner and receipts/vouchers must be available to support all accounting entries.
Annual accounts are to be drawn up at the end of the financial year for the purpose of
providing information about the results and financial position of the operations. A person who
intentionally or through carelessness neglects the obligations of the Bookkeeping Act can be
sentenced for bookkeeping crime or, in lesser cases, for obstructing tax control.
All limited companies are to be audited according to the Annual Accounts Act. Partnership,
and limited partnerships are also subject to auditing to the extent that they follow the Annual
Accounts Act. An auditor must be appointed if the number of employees exceeds ten.
3
Economic associations shall also appoint at least one auditor according to the Associations
Act.
The Stockholm Chamber of Commerce and its Institute against Bribes have adopted a special
Code of Conduct against bribes which gives recommendations to companies how to behave.
d.2. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion what
are the main deficiencies?
e. Structures
e.l. Has your country established specialised services, specifically assigned with the
combat against corruption? If so, what is the institutional context, the composition,the
functions and the powers of these services?
e.2. Do you consider this structural framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion what
are the main problems?
a. Snpply
a.I. To what extent can your country offer international co-operation in corruption
cases ( exchange of police information, mutual assistance in criminal matters,
extradition )?
4
-the 1990 European Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the
Proceeds of Crime
-the 1988 UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances.
-the OECD Convention on Conbating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International
Busines Transactions
-the 1997 European Union Convention on the fight against corruption.
There are also special agreements between the Nordic countries, in several case implying
simplified procedures and fewer conditions for legal assistance. Bilateral agreements on
mutual assistance in criminal matters have also been concluded with Hungary (1983) and
Poland (1989) and on restraint and confiscation of proceeds of crime with United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1989).
The various conventions are incorporated into Swedish law by legislation and are not applied
directly. This legislation is applicable without any reciprocity requirement. This is the case as
regards the entire area that falls under the heading mutual legal assistance (taking of evidence,
questioning during preliminary investigation, transfer of a person in custody, service of
documents and the use of coercive measures in connection with criminal Investigations).
The Swedish legislation concerning mutual legal assistance in criminal matters was to be
found in a number of laws and regulations. In order to be able to assist in as many cases as
possible the rules have been put into a new law on International Legal Assistance in Criminal
Matters (Law 2000:562) which entered into force on 1 October 2000. The underlying
principle of the law is that the Swedish authorities should be able to execute the same
measures internationally as in domestic cases.
The law containing conditions for providing extradition (the 1957 Extradition for Criminal
Offences Act, 1957:668)is also enclosed. The law contains additional requirements. Ifthe
limitation period according to Chapter 35 of the Penal Code has run out the extradition can
not be granted. Furthermore an extradition can not be granted for a political offence, nor of a
person who, on account of his origin, membership of a social group, religious or political
views or otherwise on account of political conditions runs the risk in the foreign state of being
subjected to persecution aimed at his life or liberty.
a.2. Who should the applicant apply to (which authority, person in charge at this instant,
address, phone and fax number)? On which conditions and in which form?
A request for legal assistance in Sweden may be made by a foreign prosecutor, investigating
judge, another judge or court or by some person empowered to make such a request according
to an international agreement that is binding on Sweden.
5
Legal assistance shall according to the Swedish law be provided subject to the prerequisites
applicable to a corresponding measure during a Swedish preliminary investigation or trial in
accordance with the Code of Judicial Procedure or other statute or enactment and in
accordance with special provisions in the law. In certain cases legal assistance may be
provided even if the act to which the request relates does not correspond to an offence
according to Swedish law. (The requirement of dual criminality.)
A request for legal assistance shall be refused if execution of the request would violate
Sweden's sovereignty, involve a risk to national security or conflict with Sweden's general
principles of law or other essential interests. A request may also be refused if the act is in the
nature of a political offence, comprises a military offence, unless the act also corresponds to
another offence under Swedish law that is not a military offence, a judgement or decision on
waiver of prosecution concerning the act has been issued in Sweden or the circumstances are
otherwise such that the request should not be granted.
Chapter 4 of the law contains rules concerning the transfer of a person in custody to a foreign
state for questioning or confrontation. The questioning must not concern the criminality of the
person concerned. The request may be denied if it refers to a political or military offence. - A
request shall be submitted to the Ministry of Justice. The decision to transfer a person to a
foreign state is taken by the Government. A request from a State member of the European
Union or from Iceland or Norway is considered by a prosecutor.
Chapter 5 of the Act contains provisions on the immunity of witnesses, who in accordance
with an international agreement come to Sweden to be questioned or to participate in some
other way in a criminal investigation.
Property may be seized and handed over to the requesting state if the property can be assumed
to be
of significance to the investigation of an offence or
deprived from some person by means of an offence or
confiscated on account of an offence. A special condition in the latter case is that the ..
property could have been confiscated under Swedish law and that there are special
reasons for handing over the property to the foreign state.
In the above-mentioned Act provisions on search of premises are found. In order to search for
property that are subject to seizure, premises may be searched under the same conditions as in
domestic cases. The same conditions and restrictions that apply to seizure are applicable to
search of premises.
If judgment has been issued in the foreign state, a copy of the judgment shall be annexed to
the request for provisional attachment or seizure. A request for seizure shall, when
appropriate, contain inforination about when prosecution will be instituted or a judgment can
be issued in the requesting state. A request is executed by a prosecutor, who immediately
shall consider whether the prerequisites of the measure exist and in such case hand over the
request to the court for decision. The court shall consider whether the seizure is lawfully
founded and whether the property shall be transferred to the requesting state. The court
decision is executed by the prosecutor.
Service of documents at the request of a foreign authority is executed either by the Ministry of
Justice or by a county administrative board in accordance with the Decree concerning Service
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of Documents at the Request of a Foreign Authority. In practice the Ministry of Justice deals
with service of documents in most cases. The county administrative boards deal with requests
for service of documents from other Nordic countries. The provisions on service of
documents applicable to domestic cases apply in principle to the execution of service of
documents at the request of a foreign authority. However, measures will be taken if possible,
to meet a request for a different procedure.
Sweden can provide mutual legal assistance in relation to criminal proceedings against a legal
person. The general conditions for mutual legal assistance mentioned above must however be
fulfilled.
From 1 October 2000 the Central Authority for international judicial co-operation has moved
from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to the Ministry of Justice. The requirement that requests
to and from Sweden must go through diplomatic channels has been removed.
The Central Authority receives, examines and forwards requests to and from Sweden in
matters including international legal assistance in criminal matters, extradition, transfer of
enforcement of sentence and proceedings, service of documents in criminal and civil cases
and taking of evidence in civil and commercial matters.
The Central authority is a part of the Ministry of Justice Division for Criminal Cases and
International Judicial Co-operation, which is a result of a merger of certain parts of the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs Department for International Legal Assistance and Consular
Affairs and the Ministry of Justice Division for Matters in Criminal Cases. This means a
concentration of Government Office resources and competence.
a.3. Which particularities should the applicant be aware of when requesting co-
operation from your country?
All requests for legal assitance must be made in writing and shall be in Swedish, unless
agreed otherwise by the Swedish authorities concerned.
a.4. Which (legal and factual) obstacles do, in your opinion, hamper an efficient co-
operation in practice (bank secrecy, double incrimination, language, policy priorities )1.
Which practical remedies can you suggest?
Information from banks can formally be collected via the rules on questioning persons or
search of premises. However, banks normally provide the information voluntarily upon
request from the public prosecutor. A formal decision to question a bank official or to search
bank premises is almost never needed. The rules on bank secrecy are suspended when a
preliminary investigation has been initiated. In addition, the rules on bank secrecy do not
prohibit the banks from providing infonnation in connection with a reported criminal
offence.
7
Even though a criminal investigation has not been initiated the banks are obliged, according
to the Statute on Money Laundering (SFS 1993:768), to supply the police of information
subject to bank secrecy with regard to all circumstances which are indicative of point towards
money laundering. The banks are also obliged to answer any questions from the police in
connection with such information.
There are no special provisions on bank secrecy with regard to international requests for·
mutual legal assistance. In practice, the system used in domestic cases is applied.
Pursuant to the Act concerning the Use of Certain Coercive Measures at the Request of a
Foreign State the provisions of Chapter 27 section 2 of the Code of Judicial Procedure shall
be applied when a decision on seizure is taken pursuant to the provisions of that act.
Pursuant to Chapter 27 section 2 of the Code of Judicial Procedure, if it can be assumed that a
document contains information that an official or other person may not disclose under
testimony under Chapter 36 section 5, the document may not be seized from the possession of
that person or the person who is owed the duty of confidentiality. Nor may from the suspected
person or his relative, as defined in Chapter 36 section 3, written communications between
the suspect and his relative or between such relatives be seized, except if the issue concerns an
offence in respect of which a less severe penalty than imprisonment for two years is not
prescribed. (SFS 1964:166)
Attorneys, counselor defense counsel may be heard as a witness concerning matters entrusted
to them in the performance of their assignment only if the party gives consent.
b. Demand
b.2 and b.3. To what extent are these expectations met? Which are the main problems
and how can these be solved?
An international requesting party must formulate the request well and cover many things.
Often differencies in legal culture and legal systems result in the fact that expectations are not
met. International discussions are going on to simplify the procedures, especially within the
European Union and the Baltic Sea area.
8
Annex 1
Chapter 17 section 7
A person who gives, promises or offers a bribe or other improper reward to an employee or
other person defined in Chapter 20, section 2 for the exercise of official duties, shall be
sentenced for bribery to a fine or imprisonment for at most two years. (Law 1977: 103)
Chapter 20 section 2
An employee who receives, accepts a pro,ise of or demands a bribe or other improper reward
for the performance of his duties, shall be sentenced for taking a bribe to a fine or
imprisonment for at most two years. The same shall apply idfthe employee committed the act
before obtaining the post or after leaving it. If the crime is gross, imprisonment for at most six
years shall be imposed.
The provisions of the first paragraph in respect of an employee shall also apply to:
1. a member of a directorate, administration, board, committee or other such agency
belonging to the State, a municipality, county council, association of local authorities,
parish, religious society, or social insurance office,
2. a person who exercises an assignment regulated by statute,
3. a member of the armed forces under the Act on Disciplinary Offemces by Memmbers
of the Armed Forces, etc ( 1986:644) or other person performing an official duty
prescribed by Law,
4. a person who, without holding an appoinment or assignment as aforesaid, exercises
public authority and
5. a person who, in a case other than stated in points 1-4, by reason of a position of trust
has been given the task of managing another's legal or financial affairs or independently
handling asn assignment requiring qualified technical knowledge or exercisng
supervision over the management of such affairs or assignment. ( Law 1993 :207 )
9
Annex 2
Sentences
Chapter 17
Section 7 Bribery 1 15 of which bribery
was main crime in 12
Statistics for 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999(prel.)
Penal Code
Chapter 17 1671 1752 2042 2294 2488 2493 2685 2862 2855 3099
Section 7-13,
15
Only section 7 deals with bribery. The other sections cover such crimes as improper activity
at election, violating the privacy of suffrage, interference in a judicial matter, protecting a
criminal, aiding escape, violation of official order, obstructing a functionary and pretence of
public office. It is not possible to see how many of the registered crimes above regard
bribery.
10
Statistics regarding persons sentenced for
1986 1 5 6
1987 3 2 5
1988 3 3
1989 1 1 5 7
1990 6 2 8 16
1991 5 2 7 14
1992 2 15 17
1993 3 1 7 11
1994· 2 6 8
1995 1 73 3 77
1996 2 4 6 12
1997 3 5 8
Corruption
1988 4 1 4 9
1989 2 1 3
1990 3 2 6 11
1991 1 3 8 12
1992 1 11 12
1993 1 4 24 29
1994 1 3 4 8
1995 2 4 2 8
1996 3 3 3 12
1997 2 5 7
11
,'-
l»
f" (S)
8 Ds 1999:36 Ds t919:36 9 r
~:'
~
~
~-~
~ ""'-
- 1'0
i: ~
particular crimes and any further special proVI~IOl1S. Other Chapter 2 t· (S)
L
sanctions may be imposed in accordance With~the provisions ,. . ~
~.. U1
concerning their use, even if they are not ment" ned in the ~" ~
provisions concerning particular crimes. (Law 1<)8 . 42) i'.- (T'l
On the Applicability of Swedish Law ~.
V.
SectiQU 5 " Sertiml J f:· ~
~\ ~
Imprisonment is to be considered a more sj,e punishment thall a
fi~. /
Crimes committed in this Realm shall be ad.iudged in accordance
with Swedish law and by a Swedish court. The same applies when
~.t
.<
,
U1
1'0
. OJ
" ....
( (
"
( (
crI
OJ
10 Ds 1999:36 Ds 1999:36 11 .....
t->
t->
.....
to.)
crI
crI
crI
Seclim: 3 Collaboration conceming Proceedings in Criminal Matters
(1975: 19). (Law 1976:20) t->
(J1
Even in cases other than those listed in Section 2, crimes l>-
committed outside the Realm shall be adjudged according to Section 4 en
Swedish law and by a Swedish court:
1. if the crime was committed on board a Swedish vessel or A crime is-.deemed to have been committed where the criminal act crI
OJ
aircraft or was committed in the course of duty by the officer in was perPetrated and also where the crime was completed or, in the I
(J1
l>-
charge or a member of its crew, case of an attempt, where the intended crime would have been (J1
to.)
2. ifthe crime was committed by a member of the armed forces completed. OJ
(J1
a judgement which has entered into legal force pronounced in a sanction cornpietely waived. (Law t 972:812) (T1
KEGERINGSKANSLIET
Ministry for Foreign Mfairs
UNOFFICIAL
TRANSLATION
---
EXTRADITION FOR CRIMINAL OFFENCES
ACT (1957:668)
2(13)
Section 4 (1) No person may be extradited unless the act for which
his extradition is requested constitutes a criminal offence which under
Swedish law is punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one
year. If the person has been convicted of the offence in the foreign state,
he may be extradited only if the penalty imposed is deprivation of liberty
for not less than four months or other institutional custody for a
corresponding period.
(2) If a person is to be extradited to a foreign state for an act referred to
in subsection (1), extradition to that state may also be granted for any
other act which constitutes a criminal offence under Swedish law.
(3) If the person has been sentenced in the foreign state to a combined
penalty for an act referred to in the first sentence of subsection (1) and
for another act which constitutes a criminal offence under Swedish law,
he may be extradited for these acts if the combined penalty imposed is
deprivation of liberty for not less than four months or other institutional
custody for a corresponding period.
Act 1975:292.
3(13)
Section 9 (1) If the person sought has been convicted of the offence
in the foreign state, his eA-cradition may not be granted unless the
judgment is substantiated by the supporting documentation and does not
give rise to any serious objections in other respects.
(2) If a judgment has not been delivered on the act in the foreign state,
the request for extradition shall be based on a warrant of arrest issued by
a competent authority in that state. However, in the case of an act for
which extradition may be granted pursuant to section 4 (2) the request
must be based on some other documentation. The request must not be
granted unless there is probable cause for believing that the person
concerned has committed the act.
(3) By agreement with a foreign state it may be decided that, where that
state is concerned, a conviction or a warrant of arrest issued by a court of
law or a judge shall be recognized unless in a particular case the judgment
or the warrant is obviously in error. It may be stipulated in such an
agreement that a judgment delivered without the convicted person being
present at the court proceedings in the case shall only be recognized if the
person's right to defend himself can nevertheless be deemed to have been
adequately safeguarded or if he is entitled, under an assurance given by
the foreign state in the extradition case, to demand a judicial review
which safeguards that right.
Act 19i9:98.
08/11/2000 15:46 08-54528581 REWIR AB SIDA 08
4(13)
5(13)
-......- Section 13 (1) If two or more states request extradition of the same
person, a. decision on the state to which the person is to be extradited
shall be taken following due consideration of the nature of the offence or
offences, the time and place of commission, the chronological order of
the requests, the nationality and domicile of the person concerned and
any other relevant circumstances.
(2) If the requests relate to different offences, it may be stipulated that
the person to be extradited to one state shall subsequently be extradited
to another state subject to conditions laid down in section 12.
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6(13)
Procedure
7(13)
'- Section 20 (1) When the Supreme Court has delivered its decision,
the case shall be reported to the Government. If the Supreme Court has
found that eXtradition is contrary to the provisions of sections 1-10, the
request may not be granted. However, it may be decided by agreement
with a foreign state that, if the provisions of section 8 or section 9 are
considered to constitute an impediment to extradition, the matter may be
referred to international arbitration.
(2) If extradition is granted, a period of time shall be determined within
which the foreign state shall fetch the person to be extradited. The period
fixed may not, unless in exceptional circumstances, exceed one month
from the date on which the requesting state was informed of the
08/11/2000 15:45 08-54528581 REWIR AB SIDA 12
8(13)
decision. The local police authorities shall give assistance in executing the
extradition and may in that connection, where the person to be
extradited is at libeny, take him into custody if necessary, but not for
more than twenty-four hours.
Act 1983:227.
Other provisions
9(13)
10(13)
Section 25 (1) When a request for extradition has been received, legal
proceedings in respect of the specified offence may not be instituted
unless the request has been refused.
(2) If extradition is granted after proceedings have been instituted, this
circumstance shall be deemed to constitute a procedural hindrance.
Act 1975:292.
11(13)
Section 32 (1) The person sought for the purpose of extradition shall
be asked as soon as possible by the prosecutor if he consents to extradition.
If so, he shall also be asked whether he acknowledges the right of the
requesting state, without the need for permission to be granted pursuant to
section 24, to try or punish him for an offence committed prior to
extradition other than that to which the search warrant relates and to
extradite him to another Member State of the European Union. He shall
be informed of the consequences of giving his consent or granting
permISSion.
(2) The person's consent and permission shall be submitted to the
prosecutor. The same procedure shall be applied as in the case of
extradition for criminal offences to Denmark, Finland, I,elan.d and
Norway.
08/11/2000 15:45 08-54528581 REWIR AB SIDA 15
12(13)
Section 33 (1) If the person has given his consent, the prosecutor shall
refer the case to the Prosecutor-General without delay. If it is apparent
that extradition must take place, the Prosecutor-General shall pronounce a
decision to that effect except in circumstances referred to in section 13.
OtheI"W'ise, the Prosecutor-General shall submit the matter to the Minister
of Justice for a decision, together with his own opinion. Decisions on
extradition in cases referred to in section 13 or decisions refusing a request
for extradition on the grounds of a legal impediment to e>..."tradition shall,
however, be taken by the Government.
(2) Decisions on extradition shall be taken not more than twenty days
after consent has been given. The requesting state shall be notified of the
decision immediately.
Act 1999:746.
13(13)
(Translation 2000-11-07)
Scope
1
08/11/2000 15:46 08-54528581 REWIR AB SIDA 19
General prerequisites
2
08/11/2000 15:46 08-54528581 REWIR AB SIDA 20
The request
Section 3 A request for legal assistance in Sweden WIder this Act may be {
made by a foreign prosecutor, investigating judge, another judge or court
or by some other person empowered to make such a request according to
an international agreement that is binding on Sweden.
Section" A request for legal assistance in Sweden under this Act should
contain:
information about the foreign court or authority that is
executing the matter,
a description of the legal proceedings pending,
information about the act involved, stating the time and
place of the act, together with the provisions that are
applicable in the requesting state,
information about which measure is requested and, when
appropriate, in which capacity a person shall be heard,
name and address of the persons implicated in the
matter.
Chapter 4, Sections 8, 11, 14 and 29 contain special provisions
concerning what a request further should contain regarding certain kinds
of measures.
If the matter is urgent or if execution is desired within a specific
time limit, this, together with the reasons for the urgency or time limit,
shall be stated.
A request for legal assistance shall be made in writing by post,
messenger or telefax. The request may also, upon agreement in the
particular case, be sent in another manner.
Section 6 A request for legal assistance in Sweden under this Act shall be
sent to the Ministry of Justice, which will pass the request on to the
Prosecutor-General or to the competent court unless the request shall be
considered by the Government. The Ministry of Justice may, following
consultation with the Prosecutor-General, pass the matter on directly to a
competent prosecutor.
3
08/11/2000 15:46 08-54528581 REWIR AB SIDA 21
Notifications
Section 9 If the request does not contain the information necessary for the
matter to be executed, the requesting state shall be given an opportunity to
supplement the request. If the request can only be granted partially or
subject to certain conditions, the requesting state shall be notified about
the impediments that exist and be given an opportunity to express its
views or to supplement or amend the request.
The procedure
4
08/11/2000 15:46 08-54528581 REWIR AB SIDA 22
5
08/11/2000 15:46 08-54528581 REWIR AB SIDA 23
Reporting back
Section 17 When the processing of the matter has been concluded, it shall
be reported to the Mi.nistry of Justice for passing on to the requesting state.
If the request has been made directly in accordance with Section 6, second
paragraph, the matter shall instead be reported directly to the authority in
the requesting state that made the request.
6
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7
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8
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9
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Section 14 If judgment has been issued in the foreign state. a copy of the
judgment shall be annexed to the request for provisional attachment or
seizure. A request for seizure as referred to in Section 23 should, when
appropriate, contain infonnation about when prosecution will be instituted
or a judgment can be issued in the requesting state.
10
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Section 20 If the act to which the request relates does not correspond to an
offence according to Swedish law, a search of premises in accordance with
Section 16 may be made and property seized and transferred to the
requesting state, provided that the request has been made by a state that is
a Member of the European Union or by Norway or Iceland and that
imprisonment may be imposed for the act in the requesting state.
In a case of legal assistance as referred to in Chapter 1, Section 5,
first paragraph, item 1. a search of premises may be conducted and
property may be seized' and transferred to the requesting state if the act
corresponds to an offence for which imprisonment of six months or more
is laid down by Swedish law or by the law of the requesting state. What
has just been said does not apply if the first paragraph is applicable.
11
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Interception of telecommunications
12
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Expression ofviews
13
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Immunity
14
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Secrecy
Section 11 The Government may decide that property or its value that is
confiscated by a Swedish order that has entered into final legal force shall
completely or partially be transferred to another state that during the
15
08/11/2000 16:04 08-54528581 REWIR AB SIDA 10
Reimbursement ofcosts
Section 12 The Government shall issue rules that particular costs for
measures that have been executed according to this Act, may be recovered
from the requesting state.
16
NATIONAL REPORT
FOR
SPAIN
by Francisco Javier Gonzalez IBANEZ, Chief Inspector of the Spanish National Police,
Judicial Police Headquarters
a.1. What general policy does your country have towards corruption?
The so-called economic crime, parallel to the industrial and commercial development in
Spain, is increasingly significant and, as a result, the public institutions have adopted both
preventive and repressive measures in order to counter this phenomenon, closely linked to
organised crime, since these offences, which very often require a complex perpetration and
result in millionaire frauds, cannot be committed without existing a criminal support structure.
Corruption, which as such a word has not a "nomen iuris" or a legal definition in the Spanish
laws, is an attack to the key principles in which the action of the Civil Service is based, since
it is aimed at an illicit and immoral private enrichment, through civil servants or officials'
misconducts, who commit one or several criminal offences by taking advantage of their post
and causing a serious damage to the civil service goals.
In Spain, it is fully acceptable the definition of the Article 8 of the United Nations Convention
against the Transnational Organised Crime, in the year 2000:
Generally, the damages which are caused are triple, with a serious danger of disruption of the
Rule of Law:
a) Large economic losses for the Ministry of Finance and for individuals.
b) Loss of prestige for the Institutions.
c) Disturbance of the peace and government of the community.
In Spain, from a preventive point of view, there are some mechanisms to purify the public
and private markets, such as:
The Central Consulting Council for Contracts with the Civil Services, a Register of
bidders and the Public Contracts Act of 16 June 2000, and a subsidiary regulation. These are
Agencies and a legilation which aim to make a prophylaxis as for the purification of the
supplies and the public works.
1
Unfair Practices Court, which imposes administrative sanctions for the unfair actions
against the free competition of the economic operators, and the abuse of privilege or power,
regulated in the Restrictive Practices Act of 17 July 1989 (modified by the Act of 28
December 1999) .
The Spanish Securities and Exchange Commission, which is in charge of the supervision
and inspection of the securities markets and the activity of all the individuals and legal
persons involved in the traffic of securities and, in the same way, it has the power to impose
sanctions to them. It also ensures the transparency of the Stock Exchange, the correct
formation of prices in it and the protection of the investors. It advices to the Government, and
it has a complementary regulatory capacity (Securities Market Act, of 28 July 1988, modified
by the Act of 16 November 1998).
Office of the Comptroller for the Social Security is in charge of the auditing, the
prevention, the accounts and statements analysis, and the control of all the Management
Agencies of the Social Security. (Order in Council of the Office of the Comptroller for the
Social Security, organisational structure and competences, of 4 November 1998).
Office of the Comptroller of the Goverment Administration carries out the auditings and
the general financial control of all the Goverment expenses and payments (General Budget
Act of23 September 1998).
The Court of Exchequer. Once the budget has been executed and, by delegation of the
Parliament, it proceeds with the examination and checking of the Government General
Account and, in particular, the contracts concluded by the Civil Services, the variations in the
Estate Lands and the credits. It reports the responsabilities which possibly has been incurred.
It is in charge of the accounting procedure, independently of the penal, civil, labour or
administrative jurisdiction. (Statutory Law of the Court of Exchequer, 12 May 1982).
Central Bank of Spain puts the Financial Institutions under a special system of
administrative supervision whioh is stronger than that of the remaining economic sectors
which, due to the social impact of the banking sector that needs an authority which limits the
possible ilegal practices and penalizes them. Functions that are centred in the Central Bank of
Spain (Discipline and Intervention of Credit Associations Act, 29 July 1988).
2
,
Other descentralized Civil Service Agencies and of several Institutions, such as the
Spanish Private Banks Association, the National Commission for the Prevention and
Money Laundering, Bar Associations, Professional Associations of Attorneys and
Solicitors, Realtors, Registrars of Mortgages and Commercial Agents, etc, which have
competences, in their respective fields, to purify misconducts, as they are against the
deontological rules.
From a repressive point of view, the prosecution of crimes related to corruption is carried out
by:
Territorial Courts of Law and the National Criminal Court, localised in Madrid and with
jurisdiction all over Spain, which knows about frauds and practices aimed to change the price
of things which have or may have a serious impact in the security of the commercial trade, in
the national economy, and cause a detriment in the estate of most people in the territory on
more than one (Provincial) Criminal Court (Statutory Law of the Judiciary)
Special Corruption Prosecutor's Office. It has extensive powers, in the whole national
territory, to investigate the crimes related to corruption, when they are very significant. It is
dependent on the Solicitor General (Act of 24 April 1995, on the Foundation of a Special
Corruption Prosecutor's Office). It has a multidisciplinar nature, since it is composed by
Judicial Police Specialized Units, Inspectors of the Spanish Tax Administration Agency
(Inspectors of taxes) and Inspectors of the Office of the Comptroller of the Goverment
Administration, mentioned above. It takes action in the pre-procedural enquiries as well as in
the committal proceedings, and in the plenary session or oral proceedings, with the further
appeals which could be made.
Spanish National Police. Judicial Police Headquarters. Judicial Police, with a civil and
urban nature, which investigates the offences related to the organised, economic, financial and
technological crime, and to the money laundering and gambling (Order in council, 28 July
2000, on the Ministry of Interior Structure).
Civil Guard. Information and Judicial Police Headquarters. Prosecution and Borders
Headquarters. Judicial Police with a military and rural nature, which investigates the
smuggling crimes and other ones such as financial/economic offences within their territorial
regIOns.
a.2. Do you consider this policy satisfactory or not? If not, in your opinion, what are the
main deficiencies?
In general terms, the corruption policy and the above mentioned preventive and repressive
instruments are suitable, but there is a lack of specialized human resources and technical .
devices. The strict legislation regarding the personal data protection does not contribute to
facilitate the police enquiries. On the other hand, the imprisonment sentences for the
economic crimes, in general, are short and they are always oriented, by constitutional order, to
the rehabilitation and social reducation. For this, the dissuasive effect of the penalty can be
considered by the criminal as acceptable, as opposed to a multimillionaire profit.
3
r
b} Statistics
b.i. To what extent and from which sources are stadistical data available concerning:
Corruption
International co-operation in corruption cases
The link between corruption and organised crime
The link between corruption and money laundering
The existing police statistics are those of the commission of several offences concerning
corruption. Howerver, it has been noted frecuent links between corruption, organised crime
and money laundering.
The international co-operation with regards to corruption follows the usual methods of
transnational figtht against the organised crime:
• EUROPOL
• INTERPOL-OIPC
• LIAISON OFFICERS
• SIRENE/SCHENGEN
• Rogatory commisions, Extraditions, etc.
There are not numerical data available on the impact of this international technical co-
operation in corruption, which, in future, will be more fluid and stronger.
b.2. Can you provide these data? If they are not available, can you make an estimation?
. The statistical data on known crimes committed all over Spain, during 1999 until August
2000, are enclosed separately.
Equally, it is enclosed an assessment of assets seized by the Spanish Police, during 1998 and
1999.
c. Repressive legislation
Crimes against Spanish and European Union Finance. They consist of defrauding the
public european, national, regional and local Finance, evading taxes or enjoying financial
benefits, when the evaded amount, in the case of the Spanish Finance, is more than 15 million
peseta, and in the case of the general budgets of the European Community, the illegaly
obtained amount is more than 50,000 Euro. In the same way, it is considered a crime to
defraud the Social Security in more than 15 millions peseta.
4
Breach of trust crimes. The Authority, Civil Servant, Judge or Magistrate who, on purpose,
adjudicates an unfair decision.
Insiders crime or misuse of insider trading, that is, those who make use, by themselves or by
a third party, of some relevant information for the quotation of any kind of securities or
negotiated instruments in some organised, official or recognised market, to what they have
had confidential access on the occasion of performing their professional or business activity,
or provides this information to obtain for theirselves or a third party, an economical profit
higher than 75 million Peseta or causing a damage of the same amount.
The insider trading crime lower than 75 million Peseta is sanctiones as an administrative
offence.
Misappropiation of public funds. It is defined as the Authority or Civil Servant who, with
profitable purposes, embezzles funds of which he is responsible or uses them for purposes
outside the Civil Service.
Legal frauds and exactions. It is sanctioned the Authority or Civil Servant who,
participating because of his position in any of the forms of Public Contract, either came to an
agreement with the concerned persons or used any other device to commit a fraud, or
demanded illegal rights or rates.
Exercise of undue influence. The civil servant or Authority who has influence upon other
civil servant or Authority, by taking advantage of his position or other situation derived from
his personal relations to this or other civil servant, in order to obtain an adjudication which
results in an financial profit for himself.
They are responsible of the same crime the individuals who have influence upon a civil
servant, by taking advantage of any personal situation, in order to obtain a profitable
adjudication, or who required to third parties some presents or other remuneration to perform
these types of behaviour.
Bribery. The Authority or civil servant who, in his own or other person favour, requires or
receives, by hisself or by a third person, a present or accepts an offer or promise to take, in the
holding of his office, an action or omission which could be considered as a crime. The
Authority or civil servant who, in his own or other person favour, requires or receives, by
hisself or by a third person, a present for executing an act concerning the holding of his office.
Equally, those who corrupt or try to corrupt the authorities or civil servants by means of
presents, offers or promises.
Negotiations prohibited for civil servants. These mean the negotiations carried out by the
authorities or civil servants, who, having to inform, in accordance to their position, in any
kind of contract, matter, operation or activity, take advantage of this circumstance to force or
facilitate their participation, directly or by a third party, in these negotiations. This crime
extends to the authorities or civil servants who use a secret that they know because of his
position, in order to obtain an economical profit, and to those who carry out some permanent
5
or eventual professional/advising actIvIty, under the control of private institutions or
individuals, concerning any matter in which they must participate or have participated
because of their position, or in matters that are attended, reported or decided in the Office or
Management Agency to which it has been destined.
Corruption crimes in the international business transactions. Those who corrupt or try to
corrupt (by means of presents,. offers or promises) foreign authorities or civil servants, or from
other international organizations to obtain a benefit for them or a third party, or those who
meet their requests concerning this issue; in order to make them take .action or not, in
accordance to the civil service, to obtain or maintain a contract or other illegal benefit in the
international financial activities.
Practices in order to change the price of things. Those who request presents or promises
for not participating in a public tender or auction; those who try to keep away from these to
the bidders by using threats, presents, promises or any other means; those who come to an
agreement in order to change the price of the auction; those who break or leave the auction
after obtaining the sale.
Bankruptcy involving criminal negligence. It deals with some behaviours that exceed the
mercantile bankrupcy and come into the field of the criminal law. For instance, that person
who makes a concealment of assets to the detriment of his creditors, or that person who
performs any act of using the estate or of generating capital debentures, which delays, makes
difficult or hinders the efficacy of an embargo or a compulsory, judicial, extrajudicial or
administrative proccess which has been initiated or is going to be initiated. Furthermore, those
persons, who are adjudicated bankrupt, bankruptcy proceeding or cease payments, and
aggravate, on purpose, the economical crisis situation to the detriment of the creditors. In the
same way, it is considered as a bankruptcy insolvence offence to provide false data
concerning the balance sheet in order to obtain illegaly, in a judicial proceeding, the
adjudication of bankrupt, bankruptcy proceeding or the cease of payments.
Crimes of Company Partners. They are crimes recently created and tipified in the Penal
Code of 1995 to penalize the administrators of a company that counterfeit the annual accounts
or other documents which must reflect the company economic situation, in order to cause an
economical detriment of this company, some of its partners or a third party; or those who,
taking advantage of their majority in the Shareholder's meeting, impose unfair agreements, in
order to gain a profit and to cause a detriment to the remaining partners, which do not benefit
the company; or those that impose or take advantage, in order to gain a profit and to cause a
detriment to the company and some partners, of an injurious agreement adopted by a false
majority obtained by abusing of the blank signature or other illegal device; or the
administrators who, without a legal reason, deny or hinder a partner from using his right of
information, participation or management of the social activity, or his preferential application
for shares; or when these administrators deny or hinder the action of persons, agencies or
inspection institutions of the Community; or the administrator or partners who, taking
advantage of their position, misuse the company assets or incur of liabilities in their own
favour.
Crimes related to the market and consumers. Price fixing. They include the conducts
concerning the disclosure of company confidential information or the seizure of written or
electronic documents, as well as the withdrawal of raw materials or primary commodities
6
,
from the market in order to force a change of the prices; they also include deceitful
advertising of products or services with false assertions or doubtful features which go beyond
the administrative offence on false advertising; or those who alter the automatic devices of
providing products or services, to the detriment of the consumer; or those who try to alter the
market prices that should result from the free competition of products, by means of the
dissemination of false information, using insider trading or threats or fraud.
As it can be noted, the active and passive forms of corruption and certain practices in the
private and public sectors, are penalized.
c.2. Are those legal provisions only applicable if national are corrupted or is their
scope of application more extensive (foreigners, members of international organisations,
... )?
The scope of application is extensive. It includes the crimes commited by foreigners and,
even, the corruption of foreign officials or officials of international organisations.
cA. To whom are these legal provisions applicable (physical persons and/or legal
persons)?
They have the scope of the Spanish jurisdiction, that is, they include, in principle, all the
crimes commited within the Spanish territory.
c.6. Does the law contain particular provisions relating to the burden of proof in
corruption cases (Reversal, division, protection of whistleblowers ... ?
It doesn't contain particular provisions for theses economic crimes, but, as in other types of
serious crime, it is possible to apply the burden of proof (that which results fron several
truthful peripherical indications which are interrelated) and the legislation concerning the
protection of witnesses when they are in danger. The Spanish Constitution prohibit the
inversion of the burden of proof.
7
c. 7. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion,
what are the main problems?
Yes, I think it is satisfactory but, sometimes, the behaviours which determine the penalty need
to be complemented with the Commercial Law, the Administrative Law, the Common Law
and the Labour Law, and this make it complex, so that criminals could take advantage of that
and could design operations of "financial engineering" in order to conceal the offence or their
profits.
d. Preventive measures
d.l. What kind of preventive measures exist in your country (auditing standards,
financial disclosure obligations, codes of conduct)?
d.2. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion,
what are the main deficiencies?
In general it is satisfactory, since the liberty and legal security principles do not allow
suppressing the economic activity for a exhaustive prevention.
e) Structures
e.l. Has your country established specialized services specifically assigned with the
combat against corruption? If so, what are the institutional context, the composition and
the powers of these services?
Yes, in the fiscal scope, it was established III the year 1995 the Special Corruption
Prosecutor's Office.
This Special Corruption Prosecutor's Office intervenes when the economic crimes interact
with the corruption and reach a certain importance.
If the investigated matter is punishable, the Prosecutor's Office follows it during the phase of
the penal process (judicial instruction and oral proceedings as public accusation).
It has access from their own authority to the National Databases of taxes, of transactions with
foreign countries, payments, collections, proprietorship register and files with personal data of
the citizens.
It works in coordination with the OLAF for investigations of frauds to the financial interests
of the European Union and it has prosecutors assigned for the regions.
8
In the police scope, although there are not specific units against the corruption; there are,
however, units against the economic crimes that include those of that nature.
The General Directorate of the Police has a Brigade of Internal Matters for the demand of
responsibilities to the staff of the National Police Agency with respect to the Deontological
Police Code and a Unit of Judicial Police attached to the Corruption Prosecutor's Office
mentioned above.
The Judicial Police Headquarters of the General Directorate of the Police also has:
A Unit of Judicial Police attached to the National High Court with competences all over the
country in some crimes of corruption.
A Squad of Economic and Financial Criminality with the following Operative Sections:
A Squad of the National Historical Heritage for the repression of the traffic of cultural
goods.
An Unit of Investigation of the Crimes related with the Technology of the Information
that includes the "cybercrime" and the frauds with new technologies.
The National Central Office of Interpol and the National Unit of Europol, for the
technical cooperation in the respective areas of Criminal Police International Organization
and of Police European Office.
A Central Gambling Service that controls the investments and fraudulent transactions in
casinos and gambling houses.
A National Center of International Communications that receives and processes all the
police communications from and to abroad (Interpol, Europol, Liaison Officers, Drugs.
Central Unit, etc).
Yes, since they would no be profitable the creation of multiple national offices against the
corruption disconnected from the rest of the units of fight against the economic crimes.
9
2. International co-operation regarding corruption
a. Supply
a.t. To what extent can your country offer international co-operation in corruption
cases (exchange of police information, mutual assistance in criminal matters,
' ,
extra d Itwn,... )?.
Spain works side by side with the international agencies for the fight against the corruption
(United Nations, Council and Commission of the European Union, OECD, GAFI, Council of
Europe, (GRECO), OIPC-INTERPOL, EUROPOL, etc. and with the countries that request
help or assistance.
a.3. Which particularities should the applicant be aware of when requesting cooperation
from your country?
aA Which (legal and factual) obstacles do, in your opinion, hamper an efficient
cooperation in practice. Which practical remedies can you suggest?
The offered examples of: bank secrecy, double incrimination, language, plicy priorities are
not really obtacles except for that of double incrimination.
But even in this supposition of double incrimination, to the exception of certain fiscal cases, it
is a common policy to include the corruption as a crime.
b) Demand
b.t. What are your expectations when you request co-operation from another country in
a corruption case?
10
b.2. To what extent are these expectations met?
As regards to the framework of liberty, security and justice of the Fifteen, the prospects are
good (Treaty of Amsterdam, Eurojust, Plan of Action in the fight against the organized crime,
etc).
As for the so called "tax heavens", off-shore countries and non cooperating territories in the
fight against the money laundering, the collaboration doesn't still reach the desirable levels.
The new electronic banking "on line" along with the free movement of capitals can cause
problems when identifying the person who -places the order and the receiver.
b.3. Which are the main problems and how can this be solved?
The economic crime is increasingly better finantial device to conceal the money from
corruption, and for this reason it is convenient:
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THE POLICE AND TIlE CIVIL GUARD. -= Cuetpo Nacional de Policia y la Guardia
Civil) .
;
B) Falseness/lies:;;; Falsedades
A-3 "" Price alteration (Auction t Contracts of Public Offers) "'" Alteracion de precios,
subastas, concursos
A~4 = Against the intellectual and industrial property = Delitos contra Ia propiedad
intelectual e industrial.
A-S .... Offenses related to the market and I or consumers -= Delitos relacionados con el
mercado y los consumidores.
A-7 "" ~eiving and similar behaviour patterns ;; Receptacion, y conductas afines
9 =: Against the Public TreasUl')' and the Social Security "" Contra la Hacienda
Publica y la Seguridad Social.
B-IO == Money counterfeiting, forgery of credit cards, traveller checks and other items =
Falsificaci6n de moneda, tarjetas de credito, cheques de viaje.
B-II ~ Forgery of the national identity document (::: DN! in spanish), and forgery of
passports. Falsificaci6n del DN! y de pasaportes.
a. General policy
a.1. What general policy does your country have towards corruption (is it an issue or
not; focus on repression and/or prevention, ... )?
In Slovenia we do not have an official policy for the repression of corruption, although in
2000, due to doubts concerning the relevancy of the statistical data on the spread of corruption
and the need for specialization in the police, we have established the first specialized units for
the fight against this phenomenon. These units have been devised as the beginning of the
setting up of an anti-corruption system. So far these units have been operating within regular
police forces and there are no special rules regarding their equipment, resources and personnel
that would deviate from rules and principles of the operation of the police normally in force.
Within the Public Prosecutor's Office, Group of Public Prosecutors for Special Tasks
operates, which deals only with the most serious forms of organized crime, including
corruption. This group, which operates in the area of the whole country and has its seat at the
Public Prosecutors Office of the Republic of Slovenia, only employs prosecutors - volunteers,
who have to meet certain stricter criteria. The group has sufficient resources and equipment
available for their work.
In the Slovenian judiciary there are not specialized courts or their units for the fight against
corruption." Likewise, Slovenia does not have any institutions that would deal with
corruption outside the law enforcement agencies and the justice system.
Briefly we could say that in Slovenia no irregular or special principles, rules and norms apply
for the authorities dealing with the repression of corruption as regards the means for their
operation.
a.2. Do you consider this policy satisfactory or not? If not, in your opinion what are
the main deficiencies?
Such situation is not satisfactory. Petty corruption often goes unnoticed in society or is even
looked at as traditional or customary in certain areas, vocations, businesses, etc. Corruption
appears more rife in certain vocational groups, positions in organisation, individual roles and
activities. Self-regulation is at a low level or just starting. The last ten years have witnessed
many codes of conduct appearing among professional groups, companies, and organisations
1
but the rules established are often not obeyed by anyone. Certain principles in them are non-
realisable and corruption is not always mentioned at all. Codes of conduct are not always
present in organisations or, where existing, employees are not aware of them ant there is
nobody to implement them. Whistleblowers are too few in number and there is no protection
offered them even under the law. The main problem appears to lie in lack of education both of
people in position and students. Ethics should be compulsory subject in schools and
management training courses. Institutions are ill equipped to join international networks
promoting business ethics in all areas of public life. Systems of internal controls and audits
are weak, there is no regular and unanticipated rotation of officials. Those who are caught or
suspected of corrupt activities are not curtailed from lucrative second career oportunities. And
in mine opinion specialised bodies in police and public prosecutors still do not have
administrative authonomy which would schield them from political interference, while
guarding at the same time against possible corruption and political manipulations by them.
b. Statistics
b.t. To what extent and from which sources are statistical data available concerning:
- corruption
- international co-operation in corruption cases
- the link between corruption and organised crime
- the link between corruption and money laundering?
b.2. Can you provide these data? If they are not available, can you make an
estimation?
The Republic of Slovenia does not have the defmition of corruption laid down in its regulations
or in its theoretical literature. As criminal offences of corruption we process 7 criminal offences,
which are regarded as corruption in the narrow sense of the word. Statistically those offences do
not represent a big problem and no serious increase can be perceived long term, although general
data on the total number of all criminal offences in Slovenia do indicate their increase. Below we
are listing statistical data on the number of criminal offences of corruption detected in Slovenia
from 1991 and for comparison also the total number of all criminal offences in the same period
as well as their clear-up rate.
Year Crime. offences of corrup. All crim. offences Clear-up rate (in
%)
2
The number of criminal offences of corruption is very low, which is the very reason for
concern. The change of property ownership after the independence of Slovenia - privatization
- namely brought along a large number of irregularities detected in the changed property
ownership, which has however not been reflected in the increased number of detected
offences of corruption. Most probably this is the consequence of very liberal economic
legislation and lack of practice.
As regards its structure, corruption does not represent a major problem either - the greatest
portion belongs to the so called road corruption - bribing of state officials on the lowest levels
(traffic and border police officers, customs officers), yearly we only record a couple of cases
where bribing of state officials of a higher rank is involved (so far the highest level has been
the fourth rank), and here the most exposed fields are certainly the field of public procurement
(especially construction work) and medical care. So far operative data have not given us too
big a reason for concern either, as on their basis it can not be inferred that the problem of
corruption is great or important.
Already in its basic characteristics corruption is an act that in its most serious forms has all
the features of organized crime and is therefore only one of its phenomena. So far Slovenia
cannot claim that organized criminal associations who deal with other criminal offences as
their basic activities also deal with corruption. It would be more accurate to say that groups of
perpetrators that associate in order to perpetrate the offences of corruption increasingly
operate according to the principles that apply to organized criminal associations. This is also
why we have placed the newly established police units for the fight against corruption within
wider units dealing with the repression of organized crime. Namely, the methods, means,
procedures and way of the fight against both phenomena are identical and their closer
connection in future inevitable.
Statistically number of cases where is connection with money laundering and international
co-operation are not significant (less than 2 -5 cases per year).
c. Repressive legislation
In the Slovenian legal order there are, after last amendments, seven criminal offences of
corruption laid down in the Penal Code (the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, no.
63/94 and 23/99 - hereinafter referred to as OG RS), which cover unjustified acceptance and
giving of gifts in the performance of economic activity, acceptance of bribe by official
persons and giving of bribe to official persons, acceptance of bribe at the election or ballot,
3
influencing free decision-making by the voters by bribing and trading in influence. Below we
quote the legal wording of the mentioned criminal offences of corruption:
(2) The perpetrator of the offence under the preceding paragraph of the present Art., who
requests or agrees to accept a disproportionate award, gift or other benefit for himself or
any third person in exchange for making a contract or performing a service, shall be
sentenced to imprisonment for not more than three years.
(3) The perpetrator of the offence under the first paragraph of the present Art. who requests
or agrees to accept an award, gift or other benefit, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for
not more than one year.
(l) Whoever gives, attempts to give or promises to give a disproportionate award, gift or any
other benefit to a person performing an economic activity with a view to obtaining any
unjustified favour in the making of a contract under Art. 247 of the present Code, shall be
sentenced to imprisonment for not more than three years.
(2) Whoever gives, attempts to give or promises a disproportionate award, gift or other
property or non-material benefit to a person performing an economic activity in exchange
for making a contract or performing a service shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not
more than one year.
(3) If the perpetrator under the preceding paragraphs declares the offence before it was
detected or he knew it had been detected, his punishment may be remitted.
(4) The given award or gift shall be seized, while in the case under the preceding paragraph
the same may be returned to the person who gave it.
Acceptance of Bribe
(Art. 267)
(1) An official who requests or agrees to accept a gift or other favour or who accepts the
promise of the same in order either to perform an official act within the scope of his
4
official duties which should not be performed or not to perform an official act which
should or may be performed, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than one and
not more than five years.
(2) An official who requests or agrees to accept a gift or other favour or who accepts the
promise of the same in other either to perform an official act within the scope of his
official duties which he should or may perform in any case or not to perform an official
act which he should not perform in any case, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not
more than three years.
(3) An official who requests or accepts a gift or other favour with respect to the performance
of the official act under the first or second paragraphs of the present Art. after the official
act is actually performed or omitted, shall be punished by a fine or sentenced to
imprisonment for not more than one year.
Giving of Bribe
(Art. 268)
(1) Whoever gives, attempts to give or promises a gift to an official in order for him either to
perform an official act within the scope of his official duties which should not be
performed or not to perform an official act which should or may be performed, or
whoever serves as an agent for the purpose of bribing an official, shall be sentenced to
imprisonment for not more than three years.
(2) Whoever gives, attempts to give or promises a gift to an official in order for him either to
perform an official act within the scope of his official duties which he should or may
perform an any case or not to perform an official act which he should not perform in any
case, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year.
(3) If the perpetrator under the previous paragraph had declared such an offence before it was
detected or he knew it had been detected, his punishment may be remitted.
(4) The give gift shall be seized while in the case of the preceding paragraph the same may be
returned to the person who gave it.
Trading in Influence
(Art. 269)
(1) Whoever accepts a gift or any other favour in order to use his official or social rank and
influence to intervene so that a certain official act be or not be performed, shall be
punished by a fine or sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year.
(2) Whoever uses his official or social rank or influence to intercede either for the
performance of a certain official act which should not be performed or for the non-
performance of an official act which should be performed, shall be punished to the same
extent.
5
(3) If the perpetrator accepts any gift or other favour in exchange for his intervention, he shall
be sentenced to imprisonment form not more than three years.
(1) Whoever requires or accepts any award, gift or other material or non-material gain for
himself or a third person for voting or not voting, or for casting his vote in favour of or
against a certain proposal, or for casting an invalid vote, shall be punished by a fine or
sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year.
(2) The accepted award, gift or other material or non-materiaLgain shall be seized.
(1) Whoever, at an election or ballot, compels another person to vote, or not to vote, or to cast
a void vote, or to vote in favour of or against a particular proposal by means of force,
serious threat, bribery, deception or in any other unlawful manner shall be punished by a
fine or sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year.
(2) If the offence under the preceding paragraph is committed by an official through the abuse
of his function relating to the election or ballot, such an official shall be sentenced to
imprisonment for not more than two years.
In order to understand the legal description of the mentioned criminal offences, Art. 126 of
the Penal Code is also very important as it defines the concept of an official, of economic
activity and of election or ballot.
6
6) a person with official status accorded by an international organization whose
member is also the Republic of Slovenia, and who meets the conditions under
items one, two or three of this paragraph;
7) a person performing the duty of a judge, prosecutor or another official duty or
function at the international court whose jurisdiction is acknowledged by the
Republic of Slovenia.
"Economic activity" means the production and trade of goods, the performance of market
activity, banking and other operations, and management services as well as participation in the
management, representation and supervision of the above mentioned activities, while elections,
ballots and voting mean presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections as well as referenda
on the adoption of legislation, the confirmation of amendments to the Constitution and the
establishment of a municipality.
It can be seen from the above text that the Penal Code covers both active (with the exception
of trading in influence) and passive forms of criminal offences of corruption, which comprise
the operation of domestic and foreign officials as well as authorities performing economic
activities, regardless of whether those authorities are domestic or foreign. Bribe as a subject of
a criminal offence is envisaged as a property and non-property benefit, and in this regard both
the permitted and non-permitted acts by officials are punishable, including official acts of
discretion.
Slovenia has already ratified the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption, while the Civil
Law Convention on Corruption and the OECD Convention on the Repression of Corruption
in International Business Transactions are in the signing procedure.
Legal persons are held responsible for all criminal offences of corruption, except for the
criminal offences under Art. 168 (Acceptance of Bribe at the Election or Ballot) and Art. 267
(Acceptance of Bribe), due to their special nature. Namely, the Republic of Slovenia and local
self-government units as legal persons are not held responsible for criminal offences and the
right to vote is a right that only applies to natural persons. Legal persons are also held
responsible for the criminal offence of money laundering.
The liability of legal persons for criminal offence is governed by the Liability of Legal
Persons for Criminal Offence Act (OG RS, no. 59/99).
The rules determining applicability of the Penal Code are defined in its Chapter 13. In
accordance with this chapter the Penal Code is applicable to every person who commits a
criminal offence in the territory of the Republic of Slovenia. Likewise, it can be applied, on
certain conditions, also for the offences of corruption committed abroad both by domestic
nationals and foreigners against the Republic of Slovenia and its national or against a foreign
country and a foreign person.
The legal wording of the provisions governing the applicability of the Penal Code in the case
of criminal offences mentioned in the answer to question 2.1 is as follows:
7
Applicability to Persons for Criminal Offences Committed in the Territory of the Republic of
Slovenia
Art. 120
(1) The Penal Code of the Republic of Slovenia shall apply to any person who commits a
criminal offence in the territory of the Republic of Slovenia.
(2) The Penal Code of the Republic of Slovenia shall also apply to any person who commits a
criminal offence on a domestic vessel regardless of its location at the time of the
committing of the offence.
(3) The Penal Code of the Republic of Slovenia shall apply to any person who commits a
criminal offence either on a domestic civil aircraft in flight or on a domestic military
aircraft irrespective of its location at the time of committing of the criminal offence.
The Penal Code of the Republic of Slovenia shall be applicable to any citizen of the Republic
of Slovenia who commits any criminal offence abroad other than those specified in the
preceding Art. and who has been apprehended in or extradited to the Republic of Slovenia.
(1) The Penal Code of the Republic of Slovenia shall apply to any foreign citizen who has, in
a foreign country, committed a criminal offence against the Republic of Slovenia or any
of its citizens and who has been apprehended in the territory of the Republic of Slovenia
or has been extradited, even though the offences in question are not covered by Art. 121
of the Present Code.
(2) The Penal Code of the Republic of Slovenia shall also be applicable to any foreign citizen
who has, in a foreign country, committed a criminal offence against a third country or any
of its citizens and has been apprehended in or extradited to the Republic of Slovenia. In
such cases, the court shall not impose a sentence on the perpetrator heavier than the
sentence prescribed by the law of the country in which the offence was committed.
(1) If, in cases under Art. 120 of the Present Code, the criminal procedure has been initiated
or discontinued in a foreign country, the perpetrator may be prosecuted in the Republic of
Slovenia only by permission of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Slovenia.
(2) In cases under Art.s 122 and 123 of the Present Code, the perpetrator shall be prosecuted:
8
1) if he has served the sentence imposed on him in the foreign country or if it was
decided in accordance with an international agreement that the sentence imposed
in the foreign country is to be served in the Republic of Slovenia;
2) if he has been acquitted by a foreign court or if his sentence has been remitted or
the execution of the sentence has fallen under the statute of limitations;
3) if, according to foreign law, the criminal offence concerned may only be
prosecuted upon the complaint of the injured party and the latter has not been
filed.
(1) In cases under Art.s 122 and 123 the perpetrator shall be prosecuted only insofar as his
conduct constitutes a criminal offence in the country where it was committed.
(2) If, in the case under Art. 122, the criminal offence committed against the Republic of
Slovenia or the citizen thereof does not constitute a criminal offence under the law of the
country where it was committed, the perpetrator of such an offence may be prosecuted
only by permission of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Slovenia.
(3) If, in the case under the preceding Art., the criminal offence is not punished in the country
where it was committed, the perpetrator may be prosecuted only by permission of the
Ministry of Justice and with the proviso that, according to the general principles of law
recognized by the international community, the offence in question was constituted a
criminal act at the time it was committed.
(4) In the case under Art. 120, the prosecution of a foreign person may be transferred to
another country under conditions provided by the statute.
c.6. Does the law contain particular provisions relating to the burden of proof in
corruption cases (reversal, division, protection of whistleblowers, ... )?
Only with a partial reform of criminal material and formal legislation in 1999 Slovenia has
envisaged the obligation to omit penalties for persons, who co-operate with the justice, and
the obligation to protect such persons and some witnesses, but this has not been yet put to
practice, so there is no relevant experience in this field. Special programmes for protection,
though foreseen in the new Penal Procedure Act, do not exist yet, as well as special services
to protect such persons have not been yet founded.
In certain cases Slovenia has protected witnesses and has got to know at such occasions some
basic characteristics and requirements concerning such issue. In spite of all it is expected that
the number of such cases would increase in future, and which will, taking into account the
fact that legal bases are provided and experiences of others avaliable, help in forming the best
practises that could be used for all forms and special cases in the field of witnesses protection.
9
c.7. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion
what are the main problems?
Legislative framework is almost sufficient. Main problem are very low penalties ( 5 years of
imprisonment for most dangereus form of corruption - acceptance of bribe) and due to that
fact very short expireing time for penal procedure.
d. Preventive measures
d.l. What kind of preventative measures exist in your country (auditing standards,
financial disclosure obligations, codes of conduct, ... )?
Authorities dealing with corruption in the wider sense (which can be considered as
prevention) are the Court of Auditors, the Mandate and Immunity Commission of the
National Assembly and the Commission under the Act on Incompatibility of Holding Public
Office with a Profit-Making Activity.
There is a high possibility for the Court of Auditors in the course of its work to encounter
cases of criminal offences and misdemeanours (including those that could contain elements of
corruption or indicate that there is a background of corruption).
when an auditor of the Court of Auditors in the course of his work finds out (suspects) that a
criminal offence or a misdemeanour has been committed, the Court of Auditors acts in one of
the following ways:
In their work the Court of Auditors uses INTOSAI standards and the European guidelines for
the implementation of international aUditing standards issued on their basis. The European
guideline no. 52 - irregularities, includes guidelines to plan auditing, auditing procedures
where there is alleged fraud or other irregularities, and the responsibilities to report on fraud
or irregularities. This guideline gives instructions to the auditor on planning, implementation
of procedures and reporting on eventual illegalities.
The legal regulation of public procurement and its consistent application can contribute
greatly to the prevention of corruption in public sector and in public administration. This is
why the Court of Auditors in performing its audits also regularly supervises the granted public
orders. It dedicates individual audits to finding out about the regularity of granting public
orders.
In the past the Court of Auditors has established a number of irregularities in the field of
public procurement. Until 1997 this field was governed by the Governmental Order on the
Procedure of Invitations for Public Tenders in Public Procurement, which had substantive
deficiencies. In 1997 a new act on public procurement came into force, which regulated this
10
field in detail. This year a new act has been adopted and will come into force in November
2000. It is completely harmonized with the ED acquis and will not bring about any greater
substantive changes in the field of public procurement. The Court of Auditors estimates that
the situation has substantially improved since the adoption of the act in 1997.
In the procedure of public orders itself, legal security to tenderers is guaranteed, which is
carried out by the State Audit Commission for the Audit of Procedures of Granting Public
Orders. The work of this Commission greatly affects the regUlarity of the implementation of
individual procedures of public procurement, as in the case of established irregularities the
commission partly or wholly annuls the procedure of granting the public order.
The Mandate and Immunity Commission is a working body of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Slovenia. It is established on the basis of the ordinance on the composition and
election of a Mandate and Immunity Commission of the National Assembly of the Republic
of Slovenia (OG RS, no. 5/97). The Commission is composed by the president, vice-president
and eight members, who are deputies in the National Assembly. The Commission performs
work related to confirming the terms of office of deputies, studies questions in connection of
the immunity of deputies and judges of the constitutional court and notified the assembly on
cases that result in the termination of a deputy's term of office (far example: ifhe is sentenced
with a final non-conditional sentence to imprisonment longer than 6 months, if in three years
from the confirmation of his term of office as a deputy he has not stopped performing the
activity which is not compatible with holding a public office, or if he starts to hold a function
or to perform an activity which is not compatible with the function of deputy).
Following the information by the Commission under the Incompatibilities of Holding Public
Office with a Profit-Making Activity Act, the Mandate and Immunity Commission proposes
to the National Assembly to establish whether a deputy has accepted gifts or gained benefits
that affected the performance of his function and to initiate the procedure for the termination
of his term of office and/or dismissal in accordance with the constitution and the law.
The Commission under the Incompatibilities of Holding Public Office with a Profit-Making
Activity Act is established on the basis of the Incompatibilities of Holding Public Office with
a Profit-Making Activity Act (OG RS, no. 49/92 and 50/92). The Commission has been
established by the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia. It is composed of seven
members: the president and four members are elected by the National Assembly of the
Republic of Slovenia while two members are elected by the National Council of the Republic
of Slovenia. The Commission is established to perform tasks related to the restrictions
regarding the performance of a profit-making activity to private ends for persons performing
representative and executive function in the national bodies and bodies of local communities
(officials) and supervision of their property situation. It decides on matter within its'
competence on a session, adopting decisions with the majority of votes of all members.
The Act on Incompatibility of Holding Public Office with a Profit-Making Activity (OG RS,
no. 4911992 of 10 October 1992) is one of the fundamental regulations in this field. The
provisions of this law refer to all persons who perform representative or executive functions
in state bodies and bodies of local communities in Slovenia. It therefore binds the President of
the Republic, the President of the Government and ministers, as well as state secretaries and
all other officials in the state administration, as well as delegates to both "houses" of the
11
Slovenian Parliament. In addition, it applies also to the mayors of Slovene municipalities and
to other officials on a local or regional level.
The Act on Incompatibility of Holding Public Office with a Profit-Making Activity stipulates
that during his function an official can not perform a profit-making activity, which under this
act is incompatible with his office. An official can not receive gifts in relation with the
performance of his office; during the time of his office he can not obtain any advantages that
could affect his actions. The prohibition of receiving gifts and obtaining advantages is also in
force for the official's spouse or the person he is living with in a joint household, as well as
for his children and his adopted children, parents, grandchildren, brothers and sisters living
with him in a joint household. An official who performs his office professionally can not
perform any profit-making activity during the time of his office that could affect objective
performance of his duties that is not influenced by any external factors. An official who does
not perform his office professionally can perform a profit-making activity to private ends if
this does not affect the performance of his functions and if the nature of the profit-making
activity does not affect objective performance of his function. The official has to inform the
commission about the data on his financial situation immediately after his office starts or
terminates or within one month at the latest. During his term of office the official has the duty
to report about his assets every two years and upon the request of the cOITnnission also one
year after his office is terminated.
Apart from the Act on Incompatibility of Holding Public Office with a Profit-Making Activity
(limitations regarding the performance of profit-making activity to private ends for persons
performing representative and executive functions in state bodies and bodies of local
authorities and supervision of their financial situation), two other acts are in force: the Court
of Auditors Act (OG RS, no. 48/94), which stipulates that upon their appointment the
members of the Court of Auditors have to submit a written statements on their financial
situation, and the Act on Social Attorney of the Republic of Slovenia (OG RS, no. 69/95),
which stipulates that the National Assembly can dismiss a social attorney and his deputy ifhe
damages the reputation of the office with his work and his actions.
If the commission estimates that an official has received gifts or acquired benefits that
affected the performance of his functions, it notifies the body whose member is the official in
question or the body that is competent for the election and appointment of the official. If that
body establishes that the official has received gifts or acquired benefits affecting the
performance of his functions, it initiates the procedure for the termination of his term of office
and for dismissal pursuant to the constitution and the law. If on the basis of the data on his
financial situation or on the basis of other data the commission establishes that the financial
situation of the official and/or of his family members living in the same household as he has
increased exceptionally, it has to notify the body whose member if the official or the body
that is competent for the election or the appointment of the official. The body that is
competent for the election or the appointment of the official can demand such a report from
the competent authority at any time.
12
The Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia in its Art. 120 stipulates that the authorities of
public administration perform their duties and functions independently and pursuant to the
Constitution and the law. Judicial protection of the rights and legal entitlements of individuals
and organizations against the decisions and acts of the administrative bodies and statutory
authorities is guaranteed.
The Act on State Employees (OG RS, no. 15/90, 5/91, 18/91, 2291, 2/91-1, 4/93, 7'/97 and
38/99) in Art. 45 among other stipulates as a serious violation of working obligations (which
can also be corruption) an act that means a criminal offence against official duty, another
criminal offence perpetrated during work or related to work or perpetrated out of
dishonourable impulse or a misdemeanour that affects the reputation of the state authority as
well as abuse of position or of authorization.
For the mentioned serious violations of the working obligation the obligatory measure of
termination of labour relations is envisaged.
In Art. 27 this Act stipulates that an official employed in a state body, except higher
administrative officials (secretary general, state undersecretary, counsellor to the government,
undersecretary, assistant head, counsellor to the head, ... ) can, beside his own work, perform
activities in economic associations or perform work similar to the one he performs in his
office for another body or organization only on the basis of a written permit by his head,
except in cases of independent scientific, pedagogical, cultural, artistic, sports, humanitarian
or journalist activity. The violation of this provision is listed among the more serious
violations of working duties and obligations, where also belong: non-performance, non-
conscientious, untimely or negligent performance of work, abuse of position or of
authorization, illegal disposing with social means, violation of regulations on the protection of
official secrets, act obstructing the customers in exercising their rights and interests at a state
body. For some of these violations the mandatory measure of termination of labour relations
is envisaged and for others this measure is facultative.
The quoted act in Art. 51 further regulated the liability for damages. An employee has
liability for the damages he has caused during his work or in relation to his work in a state
body to that state body on purpose or out of gross negligence.
The draft Public Officials Act, which is envisaged to be adopted in 2001, also contains the
adoption of an ethical code for public officials. Further, commissions for personnel affairs are
envisaged which will decide on employee complaints, while the establishment of the institute
of the nullity of the act on the gained position or of the concluded employment contract for
individual cases of the most serious violations of legal provisions violating the basic
principles and damaging a quality and efficient performance of public functions and by that
an adequate level of services to the users. A public official has to act in accordance with the
principles of performing public duties and to refuse to carry out orders if by doing so he
would commit an anti-constitutional or illegal act. The draft act also introduces the obligation
of acting and behaving in the interest of the office. An employee should call the attention of
his head, his superiors or the competent inspector to irregularities in the actions of the
employees. A new institute in the draft act is also taking of an oath in order to ensure personal
suitability and honourability of the performance of public functions and to protect the
employer and the public official.
13
Slovenia also knows statutory rules and codes of conduct in force for individual professions
that are exposed to corruption. Although the provisions of both kinds of instruments are
different, the following points in common can be established:
Codes of conduct
Police officers, prosecutors and judges, lawyers, officials in the service for the execution of
penal sanctions, tax officials, accountants all have their codes of conduct. Military personnel
and politicians so not have their codes of conduct. Codes of ethical conduct ensure the
application of the following principles: loyalty, efficiency, effectiveness, integrity, fairness,
impartiality, prohibition of discrimination, prohibition of undue preferential treatment for any
group of individuals, prohibition of abuse of position, prohibition of receiving of gifts and
advantages.
Most codes envisage sanctions in case of violations. Professional associations are usually
competent for the pronouncing of sanctions, although such cases rarely occur.
Statutory rules
A number of statutory rules are in force for public officials, prosecutors and judges, and their
points in common are:
they require substantive argumentation of the decisions taken, they establish responsibility for
decisions taken, they prohibit removal or destruction of official property, they prohibit the
abuse of, and any illegal manipUlation with, the resources that the office has entrusted to the
individuals, they prohibit the abuse of confidential information, they prohibit the receiving of
any gifts that would represent for the officials an obligation to return the favour or to grant a
special procedure to the donor, they prohibit the unsuitable exploitation of the official
position, influence or knowledge, they prohibit gaining financial benefits through activities
outside the office, competition clauses (after the termination of labour relations certain
professions such as customs officers, police officers, deputies, prosecutors, judges, officials
cannot perform for a certain period work similar to what they performed during their office),
obligation to protect confidential information also after termination oftheir office, ...
In the case of violations of statutory provisions disciplinary sanctions apply, which are
pronounces by the authorities in two instances.
e. Structures
e.1. Has your country established specialised services, specifically assigned with the
combat against corruption? If so, what is the institutional context (e.g. established
within the police), the composition, the functions and the powers of these
services?
In Slovenia there is only one authority that has police powers in detection and prevention of
corruption. This is the Police, as an autonomous body within the framework of the Ministry of
the Interior. According to Art. 3 of the Police Act one of its tasks is also " the prevention,
disclosure and investigation of criminal offences and misdemeanours, the disclosure and
14
arrest of perpetrators of criminal offences and misdemeanours, the implementation of
searches for wanted persons and their hand-over to the proper authorities".
The police is organized on state, regional and local level.
At the state level there is the General Police Directorate, which is divided into a number of
Directorates, one of which also being the Criminal Police Directorate. This directorate is
composed of sections, one of which is also the Organized Crime section, which comprises 5
smaller units - divisions. One of those divisions is also Corruption Division. The tasks of this
division are listed in Point 2.3.3.4 of the Regulation on Organization and Systemization of
Working Places at the Ministry of the Interior and the Police, according to which this division
"plans, organizes, directs and supervises activities in the following fields:
corruption in state authorities,
corruption in authorities and organizations with public authorizations,
corruption in obtaining and granting public investment works, investments purchases,
concessions, financial subsidies and credits,
trading in influence,
other crimes of corruption."
At the regional level there are 11 Regional Police Directorates, within which there are
Criminal Police Offices, which are divided into divisions or groups, depending on the size of
the individual regional police directorate. One of such divisions (or groups) is also Organized
Crime Division (or Group), which, among other, "directly carries out criminal investigation in
the following fields:
corruption in state authorities,
corruption in authorities and organizations with public authorizations,
corruption in obtaining and granting public investment works, investments purchases,
concessions, financial subsidies and credits,
trading in influence,
other crimes of corruption."
Thus at the state level co-ordinating, supervisory and plarming function is carried out while at
the regional level the basic investigative activities are carried out.
At the local level police stations are organized, whose task is also the prevention, detection
and investigation of all criminal offences, including corruption, as well as detection,
apprehension of perpetrators and their handing over to the competent authorities. The local
level deals with the simplest forms of criminal offences.
In the performance of their work police officers can use the following most important police
powers, which are listed in:
Art. 33 of the Police Act: warning, giving orders, determining a person's identity and
carrying out identification procedures, making a security check on a person, issuing
summons, performing a safety check, denying entry to a certain territory, arresting and
bringing in a person, detaining a person, carrying out strict police surveillance,
confiscating items, entering a private residence, making use of transportation and
communication means, applying undercover police coercive and any other measures
authorised by law.
Art. 49 of the Police Act: surveillance and tailing with the use of technical equipment for
the purposes of documentation, undercover work, undercover co-operation, altered
documentation and identification insignia.
15
,
Art. 50 of the Police Act: instruments of constraint (from handcuffs to firearms).
Art. 148 of the Criminal Procedure Act (hereinafter referred to as the CPA): collection of
information, inspection of means of transportation, passengers and their luggage,
restriction of movement in a certain area, establishing the identity of persons and objects,
issuing of searches for persons and objects, examinations of certain objects and premises
in enterprises and other legal entities as well as their documentation.
Art. 149 0 f the CPA: sending to the investigating judge, detention at the scene of the
offence, photographing and publishing of photographs of suspects, taking of fingerprints
and of an oral mucous membrane swab.
Art. 150 of the CPA: monitoring of telecommunications through bugging and recording,
control ofletters and other parcels, control of the computer systems of banks or other legal
entities which perform financial or other commercial activities, bugging and recording of
conversations with the permission of at least one person participating in the conversation
- all by court order
Art. 151 of the CPA: bugging and surveillance in another person's home or in other areas
with the use of technical means and where necessary secret entrance into the apartment -
by court order.
Art. 155 of the CPA: feigned purchase, feigned acceptance or giving of bribery - by the
order of the public prosecutor.
Art. 214 of the CPA: house and body search - by court order.
Art. 218 of the CPA: entrance into another person's apartment.
The authority for criminal prosecution in the Republic of Slovenia is the Public Prosecutor's
Office, whose position is governed by the State Prosecutor Act and the Criminal Procedure
Act. The latter stipulates in its Art. 45 that the tasks of the public prosecutor in the
prosecution of the perpetrators of criminal offences are as follows: Paragraph 45, Paragraph 2
of the CPA:
(1) In respect of criminal offences prosecuted ex officio, the public prosecutor shall have the
jurisdiction:
1) to take the necessary steps concerning the detection of criminal offences, tracing
of perpetrators and directing of preliminary criminal proceedings;
2) to request that investigations be undertaken;
3) to prefer and press an indictment or a charge sheet before the competent court;
4) to file complaints against judgements that have not become final and apply
extraordinary legal remedies against finally binding judicial decisions.
In Slovenia there are the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Slovenia, four higher
public prosecutor's offices and 11 district public prosecutor's offices. District prosecutor's
offices are the basic authorities for prosecution dealing with all the crime, although within the
larger among them specialization has already taken place, while higher public prosecutor's'
offices are instance authorities. The head of the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of
Slovenia is the General Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Slovenia.
With the amendments to the State Prosecutor Act of 1999 the legal base for the Group of
Public Prosecutors for Special tasks was laid down, which since 1995 has been dealing with
organized crime and in this context also with some kinds of offences among which corruption
is explicitly mentioned. The mentioned group operates for the whole Slovenian territory in
such a way that district public prosecutor's offices that have territorial jurisdiction have the
16
duty to inform the group on matters from its jurisdiction as soon as they find out about them.
As regards other matters the competencies of prosecutors from this group are the same as
prosecutors' general competencies.
Local courts (there are 44 in the country) administer justice in procedures for criminal
offences where pecuniary penalty or imprisonment for not more that three years is
prescribed. Thus out of criminal offences of corruption those courts process Obstruction
of Freedom of Choice under Art. 162 of the Penal Code, Acceptance of Bribe at the
Election or Ballot under Art. 168, Unjustified Acceptance of Gifts under Art. 247,
Unjustified Giving of Gifts under Art~ 248, Giving of Bribe under Art. 168, Trading in
Influence under Art. 169, Acceptance of Bribe under Art. 267, Paragraph 2 and 3 of the
Penal Code.
District Courts (there are 11 in the country) among other judge in procedures for the
criminal offence of Acceptance of Bribe under Art. 267, Paragraph 1 of the Penal Code.
The Supreme Court of the Republic of Slovenia is the last instance in court procedures
and passes judgement in filed extraordinary appeals.
Criminal matters are judged by the criminal departments of the courts, within which there is a
certain specialization of judges. Slovenia also has the institute of the investigating judge, who
carries out the investigation against a certain person if there is grounded suspicion that the
person has committed a criminal offence, but he also issues orders for the encroachment upon
the rights and freedoms of suspects in cases where court decision is envisaged by the
Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia and the laws.
Considering the identical territory covered by the regional police directorates, district public
prosecutor's offices and district courts the very necessary co-operation between all the three
authorities in the prosecution of corruption is ensured.
e.2. Do you consider this structural framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion
what are the main problems?
This organisational structure of law enforcement is satisfactory for the time being.
a.1. To what extent can your country offer international co-operation in corruption
cases (exchange of police information, mutual assistance in criminal matters,
extradition, ... )?
17
,
a.2. Who should the applicant apply to (which authority, person in charge at this
instant, address, phone and fax number)? On which conditions and in which
form?
a.3. Which particularities should the applicant be aware of when requesting co-
operation from your country?
a.4. Which (legal and factual) obstacles do, in your opinion, hamper an efficient co-
operation in practice (bank secrecy, double incrimination, language, policy
priorities, ... ) ? Which practical remedies can you suggest?
International legal assistance in criminal matters is governed by the Criminal Procedure Act
(OG RS) in Articles 514 - 520, if an international treaty does not stipulate otherwise.
Art. 514
International aid in criminal matters shall be administered pursuant to the provisions of the
present Code unless provided otherwise by international agreements.
Art. 515
(1) Petitions of domestic courts for legal aid in criminal matters shall be transmitted to foreign
agencies through diplomatic channels. Foreign petitions for legal aid from domestic courts
shall be transmitted in the same manner.
(2) In emergency cases and on condition of reciprocity, requests for legal assistance may be
sent through the ministry of internal affairs, or in instances of c.rimina1 offences of money
laundering or criminal offences connected to the criminal offence of money laundering,
also to the body responsible for the prevention of money laundering.
Art. 516
18
(1) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall send petitions for legal aid received from foreign
agencies to the Ministry of Justice which shall forward them for consideration to the
circuit court in whose territory resides the person who should be served with a document,
or interrogated, or confronted, or in whose territory an investigative act should be
conducted. In instances referred to in the second paragraph of Art. 515 of the present
Code petitions shall be transmitted to the court by the Ministry of the Interior.
(2) The permissibility and the manner of performance of an act requested by a foreign agency
shall be decided by the court pursuant to domestic regulations.
(3) If a petition relates to a criminal offence for which no extradition is provided by domestic
regulations the court shall consult the Ministry of Justice as to whether to grant the request
or not.
Art. 517
(1) Domestic courts may grant the request of a foreign agency for execution of a judgement
of conviction passed by a foreign court if so provided by the international agreement or if
reciprocity exists.
(2) In the instance referred to in the preceding paragraph the domestic court shall execute
punishment imposed by a final judgement of a foreign court by imposing sanction in
accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Slovenia.
(3) The court of jurisdiction shall pass judgement in the panel of judges referred to in the
sixth paragraph of Art. 25 of the present Code. The public prosecutor and defence counsel
shall be informed about the session of the panel.
(4) Territorial jurisdiction of the court shall be determined according to the last permanent
residence of a convicted person in the Republic of Slovenia. If a convicted person had no
permanent residence in the Republic of Slovenia territorial jurisdiction shall be
determined according to his place of birth. If a convicted person neither had permanent
residence nor was born in the Republic of Slovenia the supreme court shall assign the
conduct of proceedings to one of the courts of real jurisdiction.
(5) In the enacting terms of the judgement from paragraph three of this Art. the court shall
enter in full the enacting terms of the judgement of the foreign court and the name of the
foreign court and shall pronounce sanction. In the statement of reasons the court shall
state the grounds for the sanction which it has passed.
(6) An appeal may be lodged against the judgement by the public prosecutor, the convicted
person and his defence counsel.
(7) If an alien sentenced by a domestic court, or a person authorised under a contract, files
with the court of first instance petition for the convicted person to serve the sentence in his
country, the court shall be entitled to grant petition if so provided by the international
agreement or if reciprocity exists.
19
,
Art. 518
In the case of criminal offences of counterfeiting money and putting it into circulation, illicit
production, processing and sale of narcotics and poisons, white slavery, production and
dissemination of pornographic material or some other criminal offence for which
centralisation of data has been provided under international agreements, the agency which
conducts criminal proceedings. shall be bound immediately to send to the Ministry of the
Interior data about the criminal offence and its perpetrator, and the court of first instance shall
in addition send the finally binding judgement. Whenever the criminal offence of money
laundering or a criminal offence connected to money laundering is involved, the data shall be
sent without delay to the body responsible for the prevention of money laundering.
Art. 519
(1) If an alien who permanently resides in a foreign country commits a criminal offence in the
territory of the Republic of Slovenia all files for criminal prosecution and adjudication
may, beside conditions specified in Art. 522 of the present Code, be surrendered to the
foreign country if it agrees to receive them.
(2) The decision on the surrender of files shall before the ruling on investigation has been
rendered lie with the competent public prosecutor. During the investigation the surrender
shall be decided by the investigating judge upon motion of the public prosecutor, and until
the opening of the main hearing it shall be disposed of by the panel (sixth paragraph, Art.
25) who shall also handle matters from the jurisdiction of the district court.
(3) The surrender of criminal files may be allowed where criminal offences punishable by up
to ten years imprisonment are involved, as well as in case of criminal offence against
safety of public transport.
(4) The surrender of criminal files shall not be allowed if the injured party is a citizen of the
Republic of Slovenia who opposes it, except where his indemnification claim has been
secured.
(5) If the defendant is in remand the foreign country shall be requested through the shortest
possible channels to report within fifteen days if it assumes prosecution.
Art. 520
(1) The request of a foreign country to the Republic of Slovenia to assume prosecution of a
citizen of the Republic of Slovenia, or a person with permanent residence in the Republic
of Slovenia, for a criminal offence committed abroad shall be transmitted, together with
the files, to the competent public prosecutor in whose territory that person has permanent
residence.
(2) Indemnification claims filed with the competent agency of a foreign country shall be
treated as if they have been filed with the court of jurisdiction.
20
r
(3) Information about the refusal to assume criminal prosecution and the final decision
thereon shall be sent to the foreign country which requested that the Republic of Slovenia
assume prosecution.
No specific factors exists on the side of Slovenia that would prevent or hinder international
legal assistance in the prosecution of criminal offences of corruption.
b.Demand
b.l. What are your expectations when you request co-operation from another country
in a corruption case?
b.2. To what extent are these expectations met?
b.3. Which are the main problems and how can these be solved?
We expect quick response with clear statements what is possible and what is not. We expect
that those who are answering on our request would make personal contact (by phone or e-
mail) with our officers which are responsible for cases. We always practice that in
complicated or high priority cases (and this is the case with corruption) are giving the
contact persons.
Especially with corruption cases which are involving foreign nationals we expect that our
informations are handled in accordance with the regulations for data protection.
We have to few cases on this field so I can't answer which are the main problems because
that would be clear speculation.
21
• NATIONAL REPORT
FOR
THE NETHERLANDS
The Falcone Project stated that it is not wishing to duplicate other projects (GRECO, Di
Pietro, etc.) but that is an update regarding the regulations, structures and practices of the
legal fight against corruption. The Project involves 26 states. In this Report I describe the
Dutch situation. My position is being the President of the Dutch Branch of Transparency
International and a Professor in Ethics and Economics. The law is not my field as such. As an
ethicist I know that by and large the law is based on moral convictions. In this Report I will
review a selected number of measures and practices.
a. General Policy
a.I.
For a long time the Dutch people have treated corruption as a phenomenon of the Second and
Third World. Perhaps in Southern Europe it could happen as well. And, yes, maybe in France
or Belgium. But at the border it would stop. Allegations of involvement in corrupt practices
by multinational enterprises with headquarters in The Netherlands circulated in the 1980s and
1990s. But it were some trials in which city councilors had to defend themselves against
accusations of petty corruption that put concern for integrity on the agenda of he politicians.
There are now two tracts oflegislation processes: the first oriented towards amending the
Penal Code with punishments of foreign corrupt practices; the second towards improving the
legal guarantees for integrity in public procurement. The first legislative project includes the
ratification of the OECD Anti-Corruption Treaty. The second legislative project includes
putting a new system in place of with a regime of proper diligence.
a.2.
I think that before 1990 corruption was not really an issue. Today, it is. Yet, anti-corruption
legislation does not receive any priority.
1
b. Statistics
Statistical data on crime do not (yet) have a separate entry concerning bribery, corruption or
related offenses.
The Supreme Audit Office (Algemene Rekenkamer) at The Hague reported that during 1990-
95 143 civil servants allegedly were involved in corrupt practices. Some of them have been
put to trial and were successfully convicted. (Source: Report 1996)
Out of a total of 650,000 civil servants (125,000 working at central government, 125,000 in
the QUANGO's, 400,000 in various lower level governments and authorities) it was
estimated in 1997 that there were annually 450 indictable offenses related to corruption.
(Source: Beijers, Niemeijer, Huisman, 1997)
c. Repressive Legislation
The bulk of the repressive legislation is to be found in the Penal Code. The code of behaviour
for civil servants does have a number of articles concerning conflicting interests (ARAR:
articles 61,62,63, 63a), acceptance of gifts (ARAR: article 64) and neglect of duty (ARAR:
article 80). Codes of behaviour of enterprises usually contain articles that forbid active
bribery.
The Dutch Penal Code contains the usual articles concerning active and passive bribery of
civil servants, officials, judges, politicians, etc. (Penal Code: articles 177,362 and 363).
The very word 'corruption' is not being used in the Penal Code. In its various appearances,
such as bribery. It has been defined as a crime. By and large it is a victimless crime: so far,
there are hardly so-called victims who file complaints with an office of the police or another
government agency with investigative authority, such as inspectors for labour, tax, education,
housing, etc. Those involved in corruption by and large hesitate to file a complaint since it
would expose their own involvement in a crime. In many a case prosecutors base their
charges on evidence found during investigations concerning smuggling, theft, tax fraud, or
other crimes.
Corruption is, in fact, in the Dutch legal system a construction built from other criminal
activities that are being defined in the Penal Code. Its punishment is relatively light. The one
who bribes faces a punishment of maximum two years in prison. Dismissal and a limit of four
years prison are the punishments for civil servants who have been bribed. At the maximum
the condemned civil servant is not entitled to work again for the government during a period
of five years. The maximum penalty rarely has been used with the argument that a dismissed
civil servant already has been punished. Dutch judges look at punishment in an integral way
and easily conclude that a prison term would nothing add to the punishment of a dismissal in
disgrace.
Most complaints do not end up in a trial and many judicial examinations come to a dead end
as the burden of proof cannot be established fully and legally. In trials of accused mayors it
was impossible to establish the causality between the acceptance of a gift and awarding a
contract.
2
• Mr Dick Pijl, the present director of the state detective force, doubts whether the Dutch penal
Code at all has been tailored to repression of corruption. (Conference, 1997)
Dutch law does not yet have provisions for whistleblowers neither does it contain plea
bargaining devices.
d. Preventive measures
The most used preventive measure is public debate, dialogue between government and the
market sector, and codes of conduct.
Dutch law has a provision obligation to notify the authorities (police, or other agencies) of
cases of abuse of power and misfeasance (Law of criminal procedures, Sv, 162). If a citizen
suspects a civil servant of accepting gifts, then he should notify the police. If a citizen
suspects a contractor of bribing civil servants there is no such legal obligation of informing
the police. It has been proposed in circles of corruption fighters to extend this article in a way
that it successfully can be applied to all cases of corruption.
Since 1993 the public (certified) accountants are obliged to report to a special public
prosecutor fraud and corrupt practices if an accountant detects such practices in his annual
audit. This obligation only can be enforced in case the Board does not take measures to put
the business back on a sound basis. So far, no such reports have been brought to the public
prosecutor.
Since the early 1990s there is a long parliamentary debate on a proposed bill for due diligence
in Public Procurement. In the 1970s some European Guidelines on this subject have already
been formulated. In the 1990s these Guidelines were reformulated: for example, 93/37/EEC
(procedures for tender of public works), 93/36/EEC (procedures for putting out contracts to
supply government agencies), 92/50/EEC (procedures for granting service contracts), and
93/38/EEC (procedures for contracting out the supply of water and energy). In 1997 these
Guidelines have been reformulated again in accordance with the WTO-Guidelines.
In the 1990s there was a discussion whether the Government had to exercise due diligence
when tendering contracts and whether the Government could put additional criteria to the
contractor which may militate against the principle of equal treatment. The discussion found
its origin in the case of the Beentjes Firm against the State of The Netherlands (European
Court of Justice, 20 December 1988, ECR 1988,4635). The Court ruled that indeed additional
conditions might be made, as long these conditions are not testing the contractor's economical
and technical capacities. The conditionality of this case concerned the use of persons who
were jobless for a very long time. Since this ruling Governments could put additional criteria
in tenders. The Court got more cases to judge but it was clear that there existed some room to
maneuver.
3
• In the mid-1990s the Parliament was willing to discuss issues such as corruption and integrity.
At that time the main culprit was 'organized crime'. In 1994 Struiksma and Michiels
published a report on possible law improvements to combat criminal activities in securing
building permits, environmental licenses and tender activities. Several Departments of the
Government presented in 1996 a concept bill 'Advancement Integer Decision Making in the
Public Sector. The idea is to develop a screening system which is more or less comparable to
the cautele antimafia in Italy. In this framework there is much room for preventive measures.
The idea in the proposed Dutch system is to give discretionary powers to the authorities to
screen companies when decisions, permits, subsidies, concessions and contracts are at stake.
It is about the screening of the 'other' party not by the authority involved in handing out a
permit or a concession but by a special bureau. This bureau is authorized to investigate the
records, the files and other sources for evaluating the integrity of the company involved.
There is much critique on the proposed bill. Is the establishment of a new bureau really
necessary? What about the balance between the public interest and the infringement of the
privacy of the functionaries in the companies involved? Will such an investigation stand the
test of article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights? Will there be a sufficient
general interest that fits the requirements as stipulated in this article 8? What to do when the
bureau encounters fraud and corruption? Are its reports qualified enough for public
prosecutors to start an indictment? There are also practical points: will such a bureau succeed
where police, accountants and other agencies failed so far, when it comes to getting a good
picture of the structure, the financing, the control and the interweaving with other interests
and companies? The Parliament, so far, has raised about 350 questions which are waiting to
be answered by the ministers involved.
Corruption is a state of affairs in which many little persons bring about many little distortions
in the way government and its agencies are supposed to work.
e. Structures
In the early 1990s both the police organization and the organization of the public prosecutors
have been reorganized from a network of local districts with their local heads toward a central
run organization. Reason was to fight organized crime which was not bound to operate in a
single police district. Of all police capacity 40% is targeted to do criminal work. Included in
this figure is the investigative department which employs 15% 0 the police force. Previously,
the Dutch police had two different sorts of police: cities and towns had their city police force
but the countryside was served by the state police force. The two kinds of forces have been
integrated into 25 regional districts and 1 national service for special tasks.
The public prosecutors did not have a central authority but were virtually independent within
their own jurisdiction. Since 1998 there is a Counsel of three Public Prosecutors who have
authority over all public prosecutors in the country. The Counsel makes annual plans, has its
aims (such as more security in certain areas), likes to raise standards of professionalism and
tries to supervise the integrity of the necessary relation to the police force.
Both reorganizations were set in motion to combat organized crime but both have now
national offices which easily can be equipped to fight corruption as well. Besides police there
are many more special intelligence units: labour inspection, tax fraud inspection, etc. It is
estimated that the Netherlands has some 68 special intelligence units, the biggest being the
800 persons of the tax fraud office.
4
The tax fraud office has been merged with the 200 persons of the office for economic
offences (the former bureau for price control). This merge may become quite important for
fighting corruption effectively. It is premature now to report of the results ofthis recent
merger.
The OECD Anti-Corruption Treaty is being processed in the Parliament. The Second
Chamber passed the bill of ratification and approved the necessary changes in the Penal code.
The First Chamber is expected to debate the bill soon.
Dutch companies abroad bribe. That is a fact. To promote the OECD Treaty is one thing. To
convince the Boards of these multinational companies that corruption is wrong and that they
should phase out foreign corrupt practices is quite another thing. Persuasion is a task for the
discussions in the civil society. A treaty and a law, as such, cannot bring about a change in
mentality. It is the citizens themselves that should work on it.
5
NATIONAL REPORT
FOR
LITHUANIA
a. General policy
a.1. What general policy does your country have towards corruption (is it an issue or
not; focus on repression and/or prevention, ... )?
The Lithuanian Government has set the following policy priorities in the anti-corruption sector:
1
• Another important step is 8 May 2000 Ruling of the Constitutional Court denying
immunity from prosecution (which may also involve the usage of special
equipment, i.e. technical devices intended for monitoring by means of electronic,
telegraph, and other communications, wiretapping and recording of telephone
conversations, as well as surveillance of premises, or may be subject to the mode of
simulating the criminal activity) to all high government officials save for the
President. This Ruling provides for a wider range of measures exercised by the SIS
operatives in disclosing corrupt high-level officials.
Other preventive measures include the following projects developed and implemented within
the framework of Phare programme:
In 1999, the State Security Department, together with other law enforcement
institutions, executed Preliminary Evaluation of Corruption Situation in Lithuania,
initiated by Phare.
In 2000, under Phare "Pre-Ins Facility", project No. LI9809.02, the National Anti-
Corruption Programme (comprised of the Anti-Corruption Policy and Strategy) will be
developed integrating law enforcement, legislature and civic society in the fight
against corruption. The follow-up twinning project, No LI9913, will focus on the
Review and Implementation of the Programme as well as development and
implementation of Sector Anti-Corruption Action Plans. The main purpose of these
projects is to increase Lithuania's national capacity to combat corruption by reducing
it as much as possible, particularly in the public sector; and involve Civil Society in
the fight against corruption by engendering a national culture of integrity. This will be
carried out in close co-operation with the National Chapter of Transparency
International, established in Lithuania in early 2000.
Further anti-corruption policy of the Government will be carried out in compliance with the
Long-Term Programme for the Prevention of Organised Crime and Corruption for the period
1999-2005 to make anti-corruption actions more systematic, to harmonise the legislative
framework and ensure inter-departmental co-ordination of anti-corruption efforts.
2
• a.2. Do you consider this policy satisfactory or not? If not, in your opinion, what are the
main deficiencies?
Lithuania, like many other countries restoring democracy and market economy, requires a
national anti-corruption programme and operational measures facilitating the following:
b. Statistics
b.l. To what extent and from which sources are statistical data available concerning:
- corruption
- international co-operation in corruption cases
- the link between corruption and organised crime
- the link between corruption and money laundering?
Since the establishment of the Special Investigations Service (SIS), the data on the situation
regarding corruption (as well as in international co-operation) have been collected, stored and
analysed in one of the divisions of the SIS.
Other statistical data on civil service offences and crimes are stored in the Department of
Information Technology of the Ministry of the Interior. This Department also obtains data from
the Financial Police (incidents of money laundering) and Organised Crime Investigations Service
(organised crime) under the Ministry of the Interior, Interpol, Department of Statistics under the
Government (the latter provides data on the general economic, social, legal, and financial status
of the country).
b.2. Can you provide these data? If they are not available, can you make an estimation?
3
The following is the 1997 - 2000 statistics on the fight against corruption (SIS performance
results):
1999
.. 1998 b
160 crimes
117 crimes
.. 2000
. 1997
19 crimes since
1 September
68 crimes during
the first 8 months
1999
2 3 4
• 1998 1999
190 persons 168 persons
• 2000
76 persons in the first
8 months
• 1997 persons
29 persons
since 1 September
1999
2 3 4
4
c. Repressive legislation
c.l. Which types of behaviour can be sanctioned as forms of corruption (bribery, trading
in influence, ... )? Active and/or passive corruption? In the public and lor the private
sector?
Passive bribery:
Article 282 of the CC (its version as of 1 July 1999) stipulates that' acceptance of a bribe' shall
be accepting, promising to accept or demanding of a bribe by a public official or a civil servant,
for himself or herself or for anyone else, for him or her to act or refrain from acting, to make a
decision, vote or express an opinion in favour of a bribe-giver, or the promise to do so.
Active bribery:
Art. 284 of the CC stipulates that 'bribe-giving' shall be giving or an agreement to give to a
public official or civil servant a bribe in the form of money or material advantage or making it
possible to have some material benefit in exchange of such a public official's or civil servant's
action or refrain from acting, decision, voting or voicing an opinion in favour of a bribe-giver or
other person.
'Abuse of office' is an intentional abuse of office by a public official or a civil servant in the
interests adverse to such office and done for personal gain or by inflicting damage to the state or
to other parties (Art. 285 of the CC).
Under Article 290 of the CC, a public official is a person who works for state, government,
municipal, law enforcement, state control and supervision and similar institutions and performs
the functions of a public office holder or the one who has administrative powers.
The CC also stipulates other corruption-related crimes in the public sector. These include abuse
of office, refraining from official duties (non-feasance), fraud (related to document handling) in
office (malfeasance), exceeding one's authority, acceptance of undue remuneration, etc.
5
• Commercial bribery (Art. 319 of the CC) - active form of bribery, which is described as 'giving
of undue remuneration in the form of money, valuables, other property or services to a person
employed in commercial, economic or financial enterprise in exchange for making decisions or
actions in the course of that person's duties or refrain from such in favour ofa bribe-giver'.
Acceptance of undue remuneration (Art. 320 of the CC) - passive form of bribery, which is
described as 'acceptance of undue benefit by a person employed in a commercial, economic or
financial enterprise or engaged in professional activity, in exchange for a decision or action
performed or refraining from such in the course of that person's duties in favour of a bribe-giver'.
c.2. Are those legal provisions only applicable if nationals are corrupted or is their scope
of application more extensive (foreigners, members of international organisations,
... )?
The issue of criminal liability of foreign diplomats or those in their capacity which commit a
crime in the territory of Lithuania shall be solved in a diplomatic way (CC, Art.
4, part 5).
Foreign nationals having committed crimes in the territory of Lithuania shall be extradited to
appropriate countries pursuant to international or interstate agreements, or in their absence -
pursuant to the legislation of the Republic of Lithuania (CC, Art. 7 1 p. 1).
The punishment for a bribe-taking is confinement for up to 5 years and deprivation of the right to
hold certain office or do certain work or be engaged in certain activities within the period of up to
5 years or a fine with the deprivation of the right to hold certain office, do certain work and
engage in certain activities for up to 3 years.
A person who has given a bribe to a public official or a civil servant is punishable by
confinement for up to 3 years, or corrective labour for up to 2 years, or a fine. Giving of a
substantial bribe is punishable by the deprivation of liberty for up to 5 years or a fine.
Abuse of office is punishable by imprisonment for up to 4 years and a fine, or a fine and other
sanctions.
6
• Acceptance of undue substantial remuneration is punishable by imprisonment for up to 6 years.
c.4. To whom are these legal provisions applicable (physical persons and/ or legal
persons)?
Said provisions are applicable only to natural persons: public officials, civil servants or such
employed in commercial, economic or financial enterprises. The new Criminal Code as of 26
September 2000 (which will come into effect in 2 years) will incriminate both natural and legal
persons.
All persons who commit crimes in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania as well as in the
territory of other countries are liable in compliance with the criminal legislation of the Republic.
The territory of Lithuania is the entire territory and its depths within the boundaries of state
borders, as well territorial waters and airspace above it. If the crime is committed in the territory
of Lithuania and another country, the crime is considered to be committed in the territory of
Lithuania if it was started or finished or prevented there.
Pursuant to Art. 6 of the CC, Lithuanian citizens and persons permanently residing in Lithuania
having no citizenship are liable for the crimes committed abroad in accordance to the criminal
legislation of Lithuania.
Pursuant to Art. 20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of Lithuania, the procedure of criminal
cases concerning the crimes committed by foreign citizens and persons having no citizenship is
carried out in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania (excluding persons having the status of
diplomatic immunity).
c.6. Does the law contain particular provIsIons relating to the burden of proof in
corruption cases (reversal, division, protection of whistleblowers, ... )?
The Special Investigations Service performs enquiry in the corruption-related cases, initiated by
the SIS (Part 3, Art. 134 of the Code of Criminal Procedure). Enquiry must be completed within
1 month if pre-trial investigation is necessary. The period of 1 month can be extended by the
prosecutor monitoring the case. (Art. 139 of the Code of Criminal Procedure).
Pre-trial investigations in the criminal cases are performed by investigators from prosecution
offices, SIS investigators as well as investigators of the Ministry of the Interior inasmuch as this
falls within their competence (Art. 47, the Code of Criminal Procedure).
In case of major crimes (bribe-taking is regarded as such), the prosecutor as well as the
investigator having the approval of the prosecutor have the right to keep in secret the name and
other identification data of a victim or witness with a view to ensure their security. Such identity
data are considered to be the state secret.
7
• c.7. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion what
.are the main problems?
• Up until recently, the focus was mostly on criminal prosecution. Currently, however,
the liability of civil servants is taking a wider range, including administrative,
disciplinary and other forms of penalty provided for in their agency regulations (codes
of ethics, etc.). Notably, quite a few codes of ethics are already in place: for judges,
lawyers, state inspectors, customs, etc.
• There is no sufficient control of the implementation of the Law on the Declaration of
Property of Public Officials.
• A vetting mechanism for candidates to high-profile public offices is necessary.
• With a view to halt offences and misuse in budgetary institutions, internal audit
system must be introduced there, which has been already been given a start in state
institutions.
• A lion's share of the public provides little co-operation to the law enforcement in
terms of disclosing corruption crimes. Much emphasis should be put to integrating
civil society, business community and the academia in the active fight against
corruption. This will be provided for the National Anti-Corruption Programme.
• The possibility of applying civil penalties and blacklisting should be given a thought
in terms of excluding corrupt persons from employment in the civil service.
• The anti-corruption legislation framework must be improved accommodating the
experience of other countries.
• The judicial branch must be separated from the executive, the procedures of
appointing and dismissing judges must be reviewed, and efforts must be made to
introduce effective disciplinary measures targeted at corrupt judges.
d. Preventive measures
d.l. What kind of preventative measures exist in your country (auditing standards,
financial disclosure obligations, codes of conduct, ... )?
Since 1996, efforts have been made in applying preventive measures in the anti-corruption arena.
This includes the Law on Reporting Residents' Property and Income, which requires
declaration of residents , property and income based on taxes and other mandatory charges due to
be paid to the Government.
In 1997, the Lithuanian Parliament adopted quite a few legal acts that can serve as prevention in
the fight against corruption. These include:
• Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering, which provides for preventive measures
against money laundering as well as government bodies responsible for their
implementation;
8
• • Law on the Grounds for Lawfulness of Property Acquired and Income Received by
Persons, which obligates the persons suspect of or charged with a serious crime committed
for personal gain, as well as close relatives or family members thereof and other persons
related to the defendant to ground the lawfulness of acquired income or property;
• Law on the Adjustment of Public and Private Interests in the Public Service ensures that
holders of public office make decisions solely in terms of the public interests and secures the
impartiality of the decisions taken;
• Law on the Control over Financing Political Campaigns aims at ensuring democracy and
lawfulness of elections and referendums as well as control of such campaigns by electors and
state institutions.
In 1999:
• Law on Financing Political Parties and Political Organisations aims at avoiding political
corruption as well as ensuring lawfulness and transparency of funds used by political parties
and organisations;
• Law on Public Administration sets out the basics for administrative regulation,
administration of providing public services and internal administration of bodies, as well as
lays down administrative procedures and responsibilities for examining individual requests
and complaints;
• Law on Public Service provides for the basic principles of the public service, the status of a
public servant, and legal grounds for the management of the public service.
This year, the Law on Lobbying has been adopted whose objective is to regulate the influence
exercised over the law-making process, eliminate procrastination and forestall corruption. A
major step in centralising the anti-corruption efforts was the adoption of the aforementioned Law
on the Special Investigations Service. Currently, the draft law on Anti-Corruption is being
developed.
Other preventive measures include codes of ethics development in the customs, state tax
inspectorate, prosecutor's offices, state control, etc. The draft code of ethics has been also
developed in the Special Investigations Service.
Disclosure of banking secrecy is regulated by the Law on Commercial Banks which stipulates
that Banks must inform the institutions of law and order if the documents submitted to them or
any other available information about the transactions of their clients testify to the legalisation of
illegally acquired property or financial servicing of unlawful activities. Within the course of pre-
trial investigation having filed a criminal case, the investigator has the right to ask the bank to
seize the account of the suspect or the defendant. (Art. 195 of the CC).
So far, the possibility of introducing blacklisting as a civil law sanction has been an issue of
consideration.
d.2. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion what
are the main deficiencies?
9
1) The Law on Public Administration, which has come into effect since 1 January 2000,
contains a few loopholes that could be abused by potential policy players (for example,
there is no provision stipulating termination of contracts when in the course of public
procurement prices are groundlessly increased).
2) Administrative declaration of property should be put in place as soon as possible.
3) There should be more active involvement of Civil Society. We anticipate this deficiency
will soon be minimised with the establishment of the National Chapter of Transparency
International in Lithuania.
4) There is a lack of prevention anti-corruption measures carried out in separate agencies.
The leadership of those bodies could analyse the institutional structures, foresee the
elements that are most prone to corruption and take efforts to prevent that.
e. Structures
e.1. Has your country established specialised services, specifically assigned with the
combat against corruption? If so, what is the institutional context (e.g. established
within the police), the composition, the functions and the powers of these services?
Pursuant to the Law on the Special Investigations Service as of 2 May 2000, the Special
Investigations Service, a body previously accountable to the Government was reorganised and a
service accountable to the President and the Parliament. (See Appendix No 1 on the structural
chart of the SIS).
10
• Apart from the specialised anti-corruption agency, the SIS, there are other institutions or their
structural units that play an important role in eradicating corruption
• State Security Department (combats corruption inasmuch as it poses threat to the state
security);
• National and Criminal Police have field divisions or groups that handle bribery;
• System of Internal Affairs has a division of Inspector General who controls lawfulness of
officers' activity;
• Chief Institutional Ethics Commission handles abuse of office related to the adjustment of
public and private interests of high ranking officials, (established to ensure enforcement of
the Law on Adjustment of Private and Public Interests);
• Economic Crimes Investigation Commission of the Seimas (established in 1996)
investigates economic, corruption crimes and civil service offences of officials, as well as
makes decisions concerning control over such crimes;
• Prosecutor's General Office and other prosecution offices have divisions of Organised
crime and corruption - these control corruption pre-trial investigation carried out by the
aforementioned institutions;
• Financial Police under the Ministry of Internal Affairs (established in 1997) has a Money
Laundering Prevention Division, which mainly focuses on money laundering matters;
• Customs Departmenthas a special subdivision whose purpose is to fight against economic
and corruption crimes inasmuch as those fall within their jurisdiction;
• Specialised units have been formed in the territorial police commissariats for fighting against
bribery or receipt of undue remuneration by public officials or public servants.
e.2. Do you consider this structural framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion what
are the main problems?
Since its establishment in 1997, the SIS has faced certain problem§. Those relate to the lack of
comprehensive agency anti-corruption measures. Information and remuneration system
preventing the appearance of corruption is absolutely indispensable. The leadership of those
agencies should analyse the respective structural framework, foresee the forms of corruption that
could infect its certain area and control it.
a. Supply
a.I. To what extent can your country offer international co-operation in corruption cases
(exchange of police information, mutual assistance in criminal matters, extradition,
... )?
11
• Pursuant to the international legal acts Lithuania has signed and ratified, our country may offer
direct legal assistance (extradition, exchange of investigative information and intelligence,
representation in criminal cases, etc.) to other countries.
In addition, co-operation could be carried out in compliance with other legal acts. Those include:
intergovernmental agreements on legal assistance;
agreements between prosecution offices on legal assistance and co-operation.
Exchange of intelligence and investigative information is carried out via the National Bureau of
Interpol in Lithuania. The SIS maintains close relations with the Federal Bureau of Investigation
and its Legal Attache's Office in Tallinn that is very helpful at giving prompt responses to the
requests related to corruption cases we investigate.
a.2. Who should the applicant apply to (which authority, person in charge at this instant,
address, phone and fax number)? On which conditions and in which form?
Bodies of foreign countries investigating corruption may apply to the Ministry of Justice, the
Interior of the Prosecutor General's Office of Lithuania asking for legal assistance. This is
regulated by the Code of Criminal Procedure of Lithuania.
If a court, investigation or enquiry body (including the SIS) receives a written or oral request, they
execute it only upon receiving the appropriate permission from the aforementioned bodies (unless
there are separate agreements regulating the matter).
When requesting legal assistance in corruption cases from the SIS, the applicants may use the
following address:
a.3. Which particularities should the applicant be aware of when requesting co-operation
from your country?
The particularities of applying to the Republic of Lithuania are regulated by the Cc.
12
When a foreign country requests extradition of a criminal, the criminal may not be extradited if:
the acts of foreign nationals are not considered crimes pursuant to the criminal law of the
Republic of Lithuania;
foreign nationals have been granted the right of asylum as a result of persecution for the
act in that foreign country;
the acts of Lithuanian nationals are not considered crimes pursuant the criminal law of the
Republic of Lithuania.
a.4. Which (legal and factual) obstacles do, in your opinion, hamper an efficient co-
operation in practice (bank secrecy, double incrimination, language, policy
priorities, ... ) ? Which practical remedies can you suggest?
The main obstacles hampering efficient co-operation with analogous or similar institutions of
other countries are related to the following:
The establishment of direct contact and signature of intergovernmental agreements could make
exchange of information speedier and would facilitate co-operation of states in pursuing common
aims.
b. Demand
b.1. What are your expectations when you request co-operation from another country in
a corruption case?
The SIS, a specialised anti-corruption agency, aims at co-operation with analogous services, law
enforcement agencies and international organisations in the anti-corruption sector. The contacts
are established with a view to sharing experience, upgrading qualifications, jointly investigating
international corruption cases, i.e. those that involve foreign nationals or our citizens in a foreign
country.
We have also established a working relationship with the National Chapter of Transparency
International, a civil society organisation in Lithuania. Our expectations are to involve civil
society in the fight against corruption and build public sensitivity about corruption.
13
2) We have received assistance in terms of training our staff (analysts, investigators, and
operatives).
b.3. Which are the main problems and how can these be solved?
The SIS is facing typical problems of the fight against corruption that are familiar to many other
countries. These are mainly the lack of experience in countering this complex phenomenon, latent
character of corruption crimes as well as speedier evolution of them in relation to the reform to
the state system and its areas.
The procedure of intercommunication with foreign states is stipulated by the treaties on bilateral
or multilateral legal assistance as well as the Code of Criminal Procedure of Lithuania. Official
requests are sent via the Ministry ofthe Interior, Justice or the Prosecutor General's Office.
Thus the main problem in the anti-corruption co-operation is the lack of direct contact
when exchanging intelligence and carrying out investigations.
Direct contacts with the representative of law enforcement bodies would help rational
international relations in the anti-corruption area. Such representation would elimin::tte the
problem of physical distance, which would facilitate co-operation between Lithuanian institutions
and bodies of other countries in the pursuit of common aims.
14
INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS SERVICE
OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
Director
I
I
Deputy Director - Advisor to the Director-
Senior special agent I 1sl Deputy Director
J
H Press Representative
Auditor
I Board of
Intelligence Activities
Administrative Investigation Analitical - Division of Information
Support Division Organisational Legal Affairs, Technology
Division Division Personnel and Division
Internal
Investi~ations
Accountancy
Unit of
Organisational Unit of
Matters and Information
International Analysis
Relations
I
Panevezys Field Klaipeda Field Siauliai Field Kaunas Field
Office Office Office Office
NATIONAL REPORT
FOR
ESTONIA
a. General policy
a.1. What general policy does your country have towards corruption (is it an issue or
not; focus on repression and/or prevention, ... )?
The Criminal Code, the draft of Penal Code and the Anti-corruption Act which entered into
force on 28 February 1999 contain legal provision on corruption. The,provisions for fight
against corruption are also contain in Code of Criminal Procedure, Credit Institutions Act,
Public Service Act, Public Procurement Act etc.
Addition to the specific criminal provisions the relevant issues are the implementation of law
and law enforcement. We need to pay attention to the prevention of corruption. The system of
institutions is necessary condition for this activity.
As regards the prevention of corruption the introduction of internal audit has very important
role. The Parliament (Riigikogu) adopted on 07.07.2000 the Government of the Republic Act
Amendment Act. This amendment ensures the introduction of the system of internal control in
ministries, local governments, county governments and state agencies. At the same time the
State Public Servants Official Titles and Salary Scale Act Amendment Act was adopted by
which a position of an internal auditor was introduced in government and state agencies. The
aim of an internal audit is to evaluate and analyse the system of internal control of an
executive public authority, as well as to assess its efficiency and compliance with established
requirements.
The units of internal audit have been established in Customs Board, Boarder Guard,
Citizenship and Migration Board, Police Board and Security Police Board and in prisons.
In 1994 was established the governmental body Crime Prevention Council which also deals
with the elaboration of the strategy and tactics against corruption.
In order to intensify the work of the authorities that deal with the investigation of corruption
and to exchange experiences a training program introducing the differences and problems
connected with the investigation methodology of corruption and offences in office is planned
for the period 2000-2003 in co-operation with foreign police and justice authorities. It is
necessary to introduce European Union anti-corruption related legislation to the specialists
dealing with the investigation of corruption and fraud within the framework of the same
It training program. There is an approved Phare project for EU integration related expertise and
training concerning the fight against corruption. The first priority of the project is to train
those people, who are responsible for investigation of corruption cases. The main idea of
expert advice is to get more knowledge concerning strategic approach of combating on
corruption.
The Estonian Law Centre (Foundation) started the program "Measures against corruption in
transition society" in December 1999. The duration of the project is 2. years. The aim of the
project is to analyse the legal aspects of the prevention of corruption. The main task of the
project is to find out what are the areas that involve the risks of corruption and to propose a
legally sound measurement of corruption. Experiences of other countries will be studied and
the possibility of applying those in Estonia will be explored.
The Ministry of the Economy started the project "Good practice in internal audit" in May
2000. This project helps to create and introduce the system of internal audit in the Estonian
public sector. The project proceeds from the necessity to harmonize, on one hand, the
activities of the Estonian public sector with the norms and practices of the European Union,
and on the other hand, to improve substantially with the existing resources, the administrative
capacity of the Estonian public sector, as well as to improve the control over Estonian
national resources.
a.2. Do you consider this policy satisfactory or not? If not, in your opinion what are
the main deficiencies?
b. Statistics
There is no data about the link between corruption and money laundering, 1 case of
international co-operation in corruption cases, there is no statistical data between corruption
and organised crime.
2
c. Repressive legislation
The Articles 164, 164 1, 165 and 165 1 of Criminal Code enact the punishments for accepting
and mediating of bribe and bribing. According to the Criminal Code the accepting of bribe is
receiving personally or through a mediator of property, proprietary rights or other proprietary
benefits as a bribe for the performing or refraining from performing an act in the interests of
the person who gives the bribe, and the official is required to perform or can perform such act
using his or her official position. Separately is criminalised the bribing of an official of a
foreign country or international organisation. Bribing an official of a foreign country or
1
international organisation is criminalised in the Article 165 •
In addition to the bribing related articles there is also special corruption article (Art. 1642 ) in
the Criminal Code. It declares that the act of corruption is the making of undue or unlawful
decisions or performance of such acts, or failure to make reasoned and lawful decisions or
perform such acts by an official through the use of his or her official position for receiving
income derived from corrupt practices or other self-serving purposes.
Pursuant to Article 1663 official can be punished for acceptance of a of a more than adequate
remuneration determined by an Act or other legislation for the provision of services or
making of decisions by an official, or acceptance of remuneration for services without charge
if this has caused significant proprietary damage or other serious consequence to the rights or
interests of a person, the state or a local government protected by law has been caused
thereby, or if the administrative punishment has been imposed on the offender for the same
act.
The Article 160 of the Criminal Code defines an official as a person who has an official
position in an agency, enterprise or organisation based on any form of ownership and to
whom administrative, supervisory, managerial, operational or organisational functions, or
functions relating to the organisation of movement of tangible assets, or functions of a
representative of state authority have been assigned by the state or the owner. By the
mentioned article you can also count a private sector official as an official.
In enactment of the Article 1642 of the Criminal Code the official will be considered to be the
officials of state or local government, persons, who fulfil the duties of an official temporarily,
the heads of constitutional institutions, ambassadors, state prosecutors, judges, notaries, the
members of a local councils, police officers, bailiffs, prison officers, officials of the defence
3
forces, border guard officers, heads of the state owned legal persons and persons, who decide
over the exploitation of state property or it's expropriation.
The criminal liability of the constitutional institutions is regulated by the constitution and
some of constitutional laws.
The member of the Parliament, President of the Republic, the member of the Government,
State Auditor, the head and the member of the Supreme Court can be held criminally liable
only by the suggestion of the Legal Chancellor and with the approval of the majority of the
Parliament.
A judge can be held criminally liable while being in official position only by the suggestion of
the Supreme Court and with the approval of the President.
Legal Chancellor can be held criminally liable only by the suggestion of the President with
the approval of the majority of the Supreme Court. These exceptions don't expand to the
members of European Commission, European Parliament, Court of Justice and Court of
Auditors.
For accepting a bribe there is possible to punish with the imprisonment up to four years (by
aggravating circumstances with imprisonment up to seven years) with deprivation of the right
of working in a certain position or acting in a certain area of activity. For bribing or mediating
a bribery it is possible to punish with imprisonment up to four years (by aggravating
circumstances with imprisonment up to seven years).
A person who receives a bribe shall be released from punishment if he or she, voluntarily, is
the first to submit a written notification of the events after having received property,
proprietary rights or other proprietary benefits but before he or she
performs or refrains from performing an act in the interests of the person who gives the bribe.
A person who arranges a bribe shall be released from punishment if he or she arranges the
bribe under extortion or ifhe or she, voluntarily, is the first to submit a written notification of
the events after having arranged the bribe but before the person who receives the bribe
performs or refrains from performing an act in the interests of the person who gives the bribe.
A person who arranges a bribe shall be exempted from punishment if the bribe mediation has
been extorted from him or her or if he or she was the first to inform voluntarily thereof in
writing after bribe mediation, but before performing or not performing the act in the interest
of the briber.
For corruptive act the punishment shall be a fine or deprivation of the right of employment in
a particular area or operation in a particular area of activity or arrest. For corruption, if this
has caused significant damage the punishment shall be a fine and deprivation of the right of
employment in a particular area or operation in a particular area of activity or imprisonment
for up to three years. For the same act repeatedly or by a group of persons or ifthis has caused
significant damage or by extortion the punishment shall be imprisonment for up to six years
4
with deprivation of the right of employment in a particular area or operation in a particular
area of activity.
For trading of influence the punishment shall be imprisonment for up to two years. For he
acceptance of a more than adequate remuneration determined by an Act or other legislation
for the provision of services or making of decisions by an official, or acceptance of
remuneration for services without charge the punishment shall be imprisonment for up to two
years with deprivation of the right of employment in a particular area or operation in a
particular area of activity.
Concerning the participants or instigator of crime then the court has to consider the level and
characteristics of everyone's participation in crime to make the decision about punishment.
According to the legislation being in force, all persons who have committed crimes on the
territory of the Republic of Estonia, as well as on board of a ship or a plane registered in the
Republic of Estonia, are held criminally liable. A foreigner can be held criminally liable for
an act that has been committed outside the territory of the Republic of Estonia, if on the basis
of an international agreement a request for prosecution of a person has been submitted and at
the location, where the act has been committed, it is also punishable according to the criminal
law or, if at the location, where the action took place, there is no criminal law in effect of any
state, as well as if the act has been committed against a citizen of the Republic of Estonia and
if this action according to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Estonia and the criminal law
being in force at the location of its commitment, is punishable, or at the location where the
action took place there is no criminal law in effect of any country.
Nationals can be extradited for bribery accusations according to the European Convention of
Extradition (Paris 1957) and it's additional protocols what have been ratified in February 19,
1997. I
The ne his in idem principle is valid also considering extradition. There will not be extradition
ifthere is a final court's decision for the offence or offences according to what the extradition
is requested. It is possible to refuse from extradition if there is a decision not to start a trial or
end a trial for the same offence or offences.
Harmonising law with the EU standards it is necessary to adopt new Penal Code. The Draft of
the Act Amending Acts relating to the Penal Code (119 SE) and Penal Code are currently
under the discussions of the Riigikogu. The following corruption related offences will be
prescribed in the new Penal Code:
5
5) Liability for corruption-related crimes in the private sector.
c.7. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion
what are the main problems?
d. Preventive measures
d.2. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion
what are the main deficiencies?
The legislative framework is satisfactory but the main deficiencies in the implementation,
especially in internal audit.
e. Structures
e.l. Has your country established specialised services, specifically assigned with the
combat against corruption? If so, what is the institutional context (e.g. established
within the police), the composition, the functions and the powers of these
services?
There is no special unit concerned with corruption. Corruption cases are investigated by
Police Board and Security Police Board. By the Code of Criminal Procedure Amendment Act
adopted by the Riigikogu on 14.07.2000 the competence of carrying out the preliminary
investigation was partly changed (§ 164 of the Code of the Criminal Procedure). According to
the amendment the Security Police Board carries out preliminary investigation of corruption
related crimes only if they were committed by public servants or any of the persons referred
to clauses 1-13, 17-22 and 24 of subsection 2 of section 4 of the Anti -corruption Act. The
main problem is to raise the qualification of police, prosecutors and judges through training
programmes.
e.2. Do you consider this structural framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion
what are the main problems?
6
Administrative Procedure and Court Expertise Act are under elaboration. Present Code of
Criminal Procedure does not meet needs of fighting against organised crime. Procedures are
too long, slow, bureaucratic and expensive.
The foreign relations division of general department deals with practical issues of legal aid.
The number of letters of rogatory is increased continually.
Estonia's Constitution stipulates that ratified conventions take precedence over national law,
except for the Constitution, and do not need to be transposed into national law in order to take
effect.
Estonia has ratified the key criminal law conventions of Council of Europe in 1997.
1) European Convention on Extradition (ETS 24), Paris, 13.12. 1957, signed by Estonia
04.11.1993 and two Additional Protocols:
Protocol I, Strasbourg, 15.10.1975. Signed by Estonia 03.05.1996.
Protocol II, Strasbourg, 17.03.1978. Signed by Estonia 03.05.1996.
Ratified by the Riigikogu 19.02.1997.
3) European Convention on Information on Foreign Law (ETS 62) The Hague 25.10.1985.
Signed by Estonia 06.11.1996.
Additional Protocol. Signed by Estonia 03.05.1996.
Ratified by the Riigikogu 19.02.1997.
Estonia has ratified Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced
Persons, Strasbourg 1997 in 1999.
The Act ratifYing the Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and
Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime was adopted on 08 March 2000. In this connection
the related provisions of the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure were
amended (published RT I 2000, 29, 173). The Criminal Code provides for the confiscation of
property gained by such crimes. The Code of Criminal Procedure was amended by provisions
of mutual assistance in the execution of judgements of foreign states.
7
Chapter 35 of the Code of Criminal Procedure prescribes the international co-operation in
criminal matters.
Procedures of extradition are included. Extraditable offence is not defined in Estonian law.
We follow the definition given by the Council of Europe Convention (art 2), bearing in mind
all exceptions prescribed by other articles and additions coming from additional protocols to
the Convention.
Our law reqUIres dual criminality for all offences except for the
offences that are committed outside the territory of Estonia and the
international treaty reqUIres the prosecution for those offences. But as
the international law IS superior to national law III Estonia (except for
our Constitution), we can apply also the provISIons of the international
treaty without transposing them into national law if the provISIOn is
clear.
Pursuant to Article 36 of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia the extradition of the
national is decided by the Government. Estonia has made the reservation to European
Convention on Extradition, according to which the extradition of nationals can be refused in
case the national disagrees to extradition. But finally the decision to extradite or refuse
extradition of nationals is the discretion of the Government (§ 407 (1) of the Criminal
Procedure Code).
In urgent cases the warrant to arrest can be given before the formal request for extradition has
been submitted. This can be the case when the competent authority of the requesting state
confirms that the warrant of the arrest has been given in the requesting state or conviction and
sentence has been imposed. Requesting state must confirm that the formal request will be
submitted as soon as possible. Provisional arrest shall not exceed 40 days (§ 402 of the
Criminal Procedure Code).
Non-Estonian citizen can be extradited without formal procedures in case the consent has
been given. Consent must be given in writing. Defence lawyer must be present. Person
concerned will be informed of all consequences. Consent will be submitted to the Minister of
Justice immediately and Minister of Justice will make the decision without delay. In case the
extradition is denied, relevant documents will be sent to the State Public Prosecutor who will
decide whether to initiate criminal procedures or not (Criminal Procedure Code § 404).
Estonian citizen can not be extradited by using simplified procedures.
Mutual legal assistance is provided for in line with the convention and with the bilateral
agreements Estonia is a contracting party too. A majority of requests comes via the Ministry
of Justice but where Estonia has bilateral agreements on mutual legal assistance, these can be
transmitted directly between legal institutions. Experience in handling requests for legal
assistance is limited and there has been some language problems. The Baltic States are
discussing how they can further fasten and simplify the procedures in legal matters between
them.
National legislation allows for the exchange of information with foreign authorities in cases
related corruption and in practice such exchanges are done through Interpol.
The Council of Europe Civil Law Convention on Corruption. The Government of the
8
Republic approved on November 31, 1999 the accession to the Convention. The Convention
was signed on January 24, 2000. The Draft of the Civil Law Convention on Corruption
Ratification Act was approved by the Government on June 13 and submitted to the Riigikogu
(Parliament) on June 15,2000.
The Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption. The Government of the
Republic approved on May 2, 2000 the accession to the Convention. The Convention was
signed on June 08, 2000.
Estonia has not ratified the OECD Convention on combating bribery of Foreign Public
Officials in international business transactions and the time of ratification has not been fixed
yet.
It is necessary to improve the national co-operation with neighbouring countries so that the
exchange of information would be smoother and quicker than settled in the European
Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters (1959).
Secondly, the ratification of the Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption
and the Council of Europe Civil Law Convention on Corruption is relevant.
b. Demand
The main obstacle is too slow proceeding of the requested State, sometimes 6 months and
more.
We expect faster proceedings.
This expectation will be met by concluding bilateral co-operation agreements. Good example
in this field is Finland.
9
Annex 1
International Co-operation
Chapter 35
(1) Requests for legal assistance in criminal matters shall be adjudicated on the basis of the
international agreements of the Republic of Estonia. Legal assistance to states with whom an
international agreement has not been entered into shall be provided pursuant to the principles
arising from the criminal conventions of the Council of Europe which have been ratified by
the Republic of Estonia, and this Part.
(2) The provisions of this Part apply unless otherwise provided by an international agreement
of the Republic of Estonia.
(3) Activities regulated by this Part shall be performed pursuant to the provisions of this Code
unless otherwise provided for in this Part.
The courts, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Internal
Affairs of the Republic of Estonia are the legal authorities who submit applications to foreign
states for legal assistance and adjudicate, according to their competence, the applications for
legal assistance received from foreign states.
§ 400. Activities of prosecutor in Public Prosecutor's Office upon receipt of application for
extradition of person to foreign state
(1) The Minister of Justice shall send an application received from a foreign state for the
extradition of a person immediately to the Public Prosecutor's Office. If an application for
extradition is received directly by the Public Prosecutor's Office, a
prosecutor in the Public Prosecutor's office shall notify the Ministry of Justice of the
application immediately.
(2) A prosecutor in the Public Prosecutor's Office is required to review a received application
10
for extradition immediately and verify whether all necessary documents have been annexed to
the application. If necessary, additional information is requested from the foreign state
through the mediation of the Ministry of Justice and a term for reply is determined.
(3) A properly prepared application for extradition is immediately sent to the court by a
prosecutor in the Public Prosecutor's Office.
§ 401. Jurisdiction
Hearing of applications for extradition of persons to foreign states is within the jurisdiction of
the Tallinn City Court.
(1) After a court has received an application for the extradition of a person to a foreign state, a
judge shall, on the basis of a reasoned order of a preliminary investigator or on the proposal of
a prosecutor in the Public Prosecutor's Office, decide the grant of a permission for the taking
of the person to be extradited into custody. A refusal to take a person into custody shall be
reasoned.
(2) In cases of urgency, a city or county court judge may grant a permission for the taking of a
person into custody before the receipt of an application for the extradition of the person to a
foreign state, if it is requested by a competent authority of the foreign state and if the authority
confirms that an order for taking the person into custody exists or that a judgement of
conviction has entered into force with regard to the person and an application for extradition
will be sent immediately.
(3) A person may be released from custody if a foreign state fails to submit an application for
extradition and the required documents within eighteen days after the detention of the person.
A person shall be released from custody if an application for extradition has not been received
within forty days.
(1) A person has the right to representation during the whole proceedings regarding
extradition. Sworn advocates or the senior clerks or clerks thereof, and other persons who
have the permission of the court may be representatives.
(2) If a person requests the participation of a representative but is unable to pay for legal
assistance, a representative is appointed for the person pursuant to the procedure provided for
in subsection 361 (2) of this Code.
§ 404. Extradition of citizen of foreign state or stateless person to foreign state with his or her
consent
(1) A citizen of a foreign state or a stateless person may be immediately extradited on the
basis of his or her written consent given in the presence of a representative. A proposal to
consent to extradition to a foreign state is made upon the detention of the person to be
extradited. A consent is immediately sent to the Minister of Justice who shall decide the
11
extradition of the person to the foreign state.
(2) A decision of the Minister of Justice regarding the extradition of a citizen of a foreign
state or a stateless person shall be immediately sent to the Police Board for execution. A
decision by which extradition is refused shall be sent to the Public Prosecutor's Office for the
commencement of criminal proceedings.
(1) A court session shall be held not later than within ten twenty-four hour periods after the
court receives an application for the extradition of a person to a foreign state.
(3) The participation of a prosecutor from the Public Prosecutor's Office in proceedings
regarding extradition is mandatory.
(4) A court shall summon to a court session a citizen of a foreign state or a stateless person if
a proposal to consent to the extradition has not been made to him or her upon detention or if
he or she has refused to consent thereto, or a citizen of the
Republic of Estonia to be extradited and shall notify the person to be extradited of the receipt
of an application for extradition against his or her signature in a language the person
understands, shall explain the facts on which extradition is based and the possible course of
extradition, shall hear the opinion and objections of the person, and shall verify whether
extradition is legally justified.
(1) Upon adjudication of an application for the extradition of a person to a foreign state, a
court shall make one of the following rulings:
2) not to support the extradition of the person to the foreign state if the extradition is not
legally justified.
(2) A ruling shall set out the time and place of the making of the ruling; the given name and
surname of the judge; the given name, surname and the time and place of birth of the person
to be extradited; the application being heard, and the content of
the ruling. Issues regarding the taking of the person to be extradited into custody or his or her
release from custody shall also be adjudicated by a ruling.
(3) A judge shall send an extract of a ruling provided for in clause (1) 1) of this section and an
application for extradition to the Public Prosecutor's Office where a draft decision on
extradition shall be prepared.
(4) If extradition is not legally justified, the proceedings regarding extradition shall be
12
terminated.
(1) Extradition of citizens of the Republic of Estonia shall be decided by the Government of
the Republic.
(2) Extradition of citizens of foreign states or stateless persons shall be decided by the
Minister of Justice.
(5) If a decision on extradition is not contested or the term for contestation of the decision
expires, the time and place for thetransfer of the person to a foreign state shall be determined.
(1) If a person suspected of the commission of a criminal offence, the accused or accused at
trial is in a foreign state and absconds the criminal proceeding, or if a convicted offender
absconds the enforcement of a court judgment and it is necessary to request his or her
extradition, a judge shall, on the basis of a reasoned order of a preliminary investigator and on
the proposal of a prosecutor in the Public Prosecutor's Office, decide the grant of permission
for the taking of the person into custody.
(2) A prosecutor in the Public Prosecutor's Office prepares an application for the extradition
of a person from a foreign state. An application shall be in writing and have the following
annexes:
2) data relating to the criminal offence in connection to which extradition is requested; the
time and place of commission of the criminal offence, and a reference to the corresponding
section, subsection and clause of criminal law;
4) a description of the person whose extradition is requested and data to facilitate the
establishment of his or her identity and citizenship;
(3) The submission of an application for extradition shall be decided by the Minister of
Justice or a legislative authority appointed by him or her.
13
(4) In cases of urgency, a foreign state may be requested to take the person to be extradited
into provisional custody before the submission of an application for extradition.
(5) The guarantees with regard to the treatment of an extradited person granted to a foreign
state upon application for extradition are mandatory to the Republic of Estonia.
A prosecutor of the Public Prosecutor's Office shall, through the mediation of the Ministry of
Justice, request a permission for the transit of a person to be extradited and decide the grant of
permission for transit through the Republic of Estonia.
(2) In criminal matters specified in this section, a summary of charges shall be approved and
the criminal matter shall be sent to the court by the Chief Public Prosecutor pursuant to the
procedure prescribed in this Code.
(3) Hearing of criminal matters specified in this section is within the jurisdiction of the
Tallinn City Court.
14
(1) Seizure of property for securing a civil action or seizure may be carried out also if the
criminal proceedings are conducted in a foreign state and the competent authorities of the
foreign state have requested the transfer of the property,
provided that the act which is the basis for the request is punishable pursuant to criminal
procedure both in Estonia and in the place of commission of the act and the satisfaction of the
application is in compliance with the legislation of the Republic of
Estonia.
2) has been acquired as a result of a criminal offence and, at the moment of taking a person
whose extradition is requested into custody, is in the possession of the person, or is found
later.
(3) Seizure of property shall be carried out pursuant to the procedure provided for in this
Code.
(4) The rights of third persons to transferred property shall be retained. In the case of
existence of such rights, property shall be returned to the party who received the application
immediately after the court without charge.
(1) A permission for the transfer of property to a foreign state is granted by a county or city
court judge on the basis of a reasoned ruling submitted to him or her.
(2) Upon granting a permission, a judge shall decide whether the transfer of property is
permitted by the state and is practicable.
(3) If a county or city court judge refuses to grant a permission for the transfer of property, he
or she shall make a reasoned ruling. The county or city court judge shall sign the ruling and
certify it by the court seal.
An application for the seizure or transfer of property shall be submitted to a foreign state by
the Minister of Justice or a legal authority appointed by him or her.
15
other sanctions if the foreign state submits a valid application to the Ministry of Justice and
appends the original or certified copy of the court judgment
which has entered into force. If necessary, additional information shall be requested from the
foreign state by a specified date. The Ministry of Justice shall send the application
immediately to the Public Prosecutor's Office where the application is
verified and promptly forwarded to a court.
1) the judgment which is the basis for the application is not final or has not entered into force;
4) the right of defence is not ensured to the accused or criminal proceedings are not conducted
in a language which he or she
understands;
5) the person is punished because of his or her race, nationality, religious or political values;
6) an act for the commission of which a punishment or other sanction has been imposed,
which does not bring about
punishment pursuant to Estonian law or for which Estonian law does not prescribe such
punishment or sanction;
7) an Estonian court has convicted a person of the same charge, with respect to him or her
criminal proceedings have not
been commenced or criminal proceedings have been terminated or
(2) If a judgment to confiscate made in a foreign state pertains to a third person, it shall not be
executed if
1) the third person has not been given the opportunity to protect his or her interests or
2) the judgment is not in accordance with a civil law judgment made in the same matter
pursuant to Estonian law. .
§ 4133. Jurisdiction
16
The Tallinn City Court shall decide on recognition of a court judgment of a foreign state.
If a foreign state applies for the assumption of execution of confiscation, a representative shall
be provided to a convicted
offender and third persons. Sworn advocates or the senior clerks or clerks thereof, and other
persons who have the
permission of the court may be representatives.
(1) A judge shall hear the recognition of a court judgment of a foreign state sitting alone
within ten working days after the
court receives the application. If necessary, additional information shall be requested through
the Ministry of Justice by a
specified date.
(2) Upon deciding on confiscation, the participation of third persons in the proceedings is
mandatory.
(2) If the execution of a court judgment of a foreign state is admissible, the punishment
imposed in the foreign state shall be
qualified. A court shall send the copy of a court ruling to the Ministry of Justice who notifies
the foreign state thereof.
(1) If the execution of a court judgment of a foreign state is admissible, a court shall
determine the punishment subject to execution in Estonia. A punishment imposed in a foreign
state shall be compared to a punishment prescribed for the same act
17
in the Estonian Criminal Code.
(2) The qualified punishment shall by nature as much as possible correspond to the
punishment imposed in a foreign state. A court shall take into account the degree of the
punishment imposed in a foreign state but it shall not exceed the maximum rate
prescribed in the sanction of the corresponding section of the Criminal Code.
(3) If the length of sentence has not been determined in a foreign state, a court shall do it in
compliance with the principles of the Criminal Code.
(5) Upon conditional deferral of the enforcement of a punishment in a foreign state or release
of a person on parole, a court shall do the same pursuant to the corre$ponding provisions of
the Criminal Code.
(6) A fine and a sum of money subject to confiscation shall be converted into Estonian kroons
on the basis of the exchange rate on the date of recognition.
In the case of confiscation, assistance shall be provided to a foreign state if a court has
considered the execution of the court judgment of the foreign state admissible.
The provisions of this Code apply to confiscated property unless the states have agreed
otherwise.
(1) Under the conditions provided for in the European Convention on the Transfer of
Sentenced Persons, the following procedures may be applied with regard to persons sentenced
in a foreign state:
2) to continue the enforcement of an imposed sentence without a legal reassessment and bring
the charges, on the basis of a court ruling, into conformity with the sanctions prescribed for a
similar criminal offence by the criminal acts in force in the
Republic of Estonia, or
18
3) to reassess the charges by a court judgment and substitute the imposed sentence by
sanctions prescribed for the same criminal offence in the Republic of Estonia.
(2) The amendment of a sentence imposed by a court of a foreign state and the legal
reassessment of charges on the basis of a proposal of a prosecutor in the Public Prosecutor's
Office is within the jurisdiction of the Tallinn City Court. The participation of a prosecutor
from the Public Prosecutor's Office in a court session is mandatory.
(3) At the request of a foreign state, the Minister of Justice shall, before the transfer of a
person sentenced in the foreign state, specify which of the procedures provided for in
subsection (1) of this section shall be applied. A proposal shall be made to the Minister of
Justice by a prosecutor in the Public Prosecutor's Office.
19
Annex 2
Anti-corruption Act
Passed 27 January 1999 (RT* I 1999, 16,276), entered into force 28 February 1999, amended
by the following Acts:
14.03.2000 entered into force 29.03.2000 - RT I 2000,25, 145
09.11.1999 entered into force 06.12.1999 - RT 11999,87, 791.
Chapter 1
General Provisions
This Act provides the legal bases for the prevention of corruption and prosecution of officials
involved in corruption.
1) declaration of the economic interests of officials and persons listed in § 4 of this Act and
disclosure of declarations of economic interests in the cases prescribed by law;
2) restriction on employment and activities specified in Chapter 3 of this Act;
3) procedural restrictions specified in Chapter 4 of this Act.
(1) For the purposes of this Act, an office is a place of employment or service to which a
person has been elected, appointed, or hired under an employment contract.
(2) Official position is the competence of an official arising from the office to adopt decisions
binding to other persons, perform acts, participate in making decisions concerning
privatisation, transfer or grant of use of municipal property and the obligation to fulfil his or
her official duties honestly and lawfully.
§ 4. Official
(1) Pursuant to this Act, an official is a state or local government official who has an official
position provided for in subsection 3 (2), or a non-staff public servant performing his or her
duties.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, the following are also deemed to be officials:
20
4) the Chief Justice and justices of the Supreme Court;
5) the Chairman and members of the Board of the Bank of Estonia, the President of the Bank
of Estonia;
6) the Commander (Commander-in-Chief) ofthe Armed Forces;
7) the Auditor General;
8) the Legal Chancellor;
9) heads of foreign missions of Estonia;
10) the State Secretary;
11) county governors;
12) the Chief Public Prosecutor and prosecutors;
13) judges of administrative, county, city and circuit courts;
14) members of rural municipality and city councils;
15) members of rural municipality and city governments, city district elders;
16) members of administrative councils of rural municipality districts and city districts;
17) notaries;
18) police officers;
19) bailiffs, prison officers and probation officers;
20) officers of the armed forces, armed forces officials, border guard officials, rescue service
officials, and officials of the National Defence League;
21)the Commander of the National Defence League, members of the General Staff and
central bodies of the National Defence League, and heads of units of the National Defence
League and members of the bodies thereof;
22) members of the management boards and supervisory boards of companies with state
participation;
23) members of the management boards and supervisory boards of companies with local
government participation;
24) members of the management boards and supervisory boards of companies with the
participation of a legal person in public law;
25) members of a body making decisions on transfer of state assets or municipal property or
property of other legal persons in public law.
(1) An act of corruption is the use of official position for self-serving purposes by an official
who makes undue or unlawful decisions or performs such acts, or fails to make lawful
decisions or perform such acts.
(2) A relationship involving the risk of corruption is a relationship of an official with another
person which is created or may be created if the official violates of the restrictions on
employment and activities or the procedural restrictions provided for in Chapters 3 or 4 of this
Act.
(3) Income derived from corrupt practices is economic or other benefit which an official
directly or indirectly receives from another person for committing an act of corruption or on
the condition that an act of corruption will be committed in the future:
21
1) as a monetary payment;
2) as a gift;
3) as remuneration in kind, a useful favour or advantage;
4) by way of transfer without charge, or sale below the market price of shares, share
certificates and other securities to him or her;
5) by way of accepting an offer to become a co-owner of an immovable, a partner or
shareholder of a public limited company or other company;
6) as economic or other benefit not set out in clauses 1) - 5) of this subsection.
(1) An official shall refrain from acts of corruption or entry into relationships involving the
risk of corruption. Subsections (2) and (3) of this section apply to prevent the risk of
corruption which may result from the contract of marriage.
(2) An official who has a relationship involving the risk of corruption or who creates such
relationship or receives a proposal to do so, shall promptly notify his or her immediate
superior or a person or body with employment or appointment authority or a body with
election authority thereof in writing. To terminate the relationship, he or she shall apply for
the relocation of himself or herself or the other party to another position, or for the conclusion
of transactions to be entrusted to another person, or shall take other steps to terminate the
relationship involving the risk of corruption which has been or may be created.
(3) Prior to commencing performance of the duties of employment or service, an official shall
notify his or her immediate superior or a person or body with employment or appointment
authority or a body with election authority of the given name and surname, personal
identification code, date of birth and place of employment or service of his or her spouse in
writing.
An official shall promptly give notification of changes in the aforementioned information.
(4) Failure to give notification of a relationship involving the risk of corruption shall bring
about liability pursuant to law.
Chapter 2
22
A declaration of economic interests (hereinafter declaration) is a document in which an
official declares information concerning his or her property, proprietary obligations and other
circumstances which allow to determine the economic interests and financial situation of the
official.
§ 9. Content of declaration
(1) A declaration shall contain the following information concerning the person submitting
the declaration:
1) immovable property (including structures and parts thereof until entry in the land register)
(use, location, land registry jurisdiction and registered immovable property number);
2) vehicles entered in the state register (type of vehicle, make, and year of production);
3) the holding of shares, other securities (share certificates in investment funds, bonds,
convertible bonds, privatisation vouchers, certificates proving the right or obligation of
purchase or sale (option), etc.), and shares (issuer, class, amount, the nominal value of one
unit, and the total value of each article in the case of shares and convertible bonds);
4) debts and contracts of suretyship (creditor and amount of debt) to banks and other persons
if the amount of debt exceeds six months' salary or 50 000 kroons a year, if salary is not
paid in the corresponding office;
5) other proprietary obligations, if the amount of debt or the possible debt-claim (leasings,
contracts of suretyship, pledges, mortgages, real encumbrances, etc.) exceeds six months'
salary or 50 000 kroons a year, if a salary is not paid in the corresponding office;
(14.03.2000 entered into force 29.03.2000 - RT I 2000,25, 145)
6) other income (salary and additional remuneration if the official does not receive a salary
for the office, including remuneration received from supervisory boards, interest, pensions,
and other remuneration and sources of income)
(14.03.2000 entered into force 29.03.2000 - RT I 2000, 25, 145)
7) bank accounts (bank, type of account and number of accounts);
8) taxable income (shall be completed on the basis of a natural person income tax return of
the preceding year submitted to the Tax Board);
9) dividend income (shall be completed on the basis of a natural person income tax return of
the preceding year submitted to the Tax Board).
(1) The things, rights and obligations in common or joint ownership (joint property of spouses
and other joint ownership provided by law) listed in § 9 of this Act shall be declared and the
share of the official in the common ownership and the estimated share in joint ownership shall
be indicated; a corresponding notation shall be made concerning the property which belongs
to the spouse of the official.
(2) If an official has entered into a marital property contract, he or she shall submit the copy
of the marital property contract entered in the marital property register to a depositary of
declarations within one month as of entry into the contract or amendment thereof. Upon
disclosure of a declaration, the content of the marital property contract shall not be disclosed.
23
(14.03.2000 entered into force 29.03.2000 - RT I 2000, 25, 145)
(1) A declaration shall be submitted on the fonn set out in Annex 1 to this Act. The State
Chancellery shall arrange the printing of declaration fonns. For the submission of a
declaration, a depositary of declarations shall give or send the fonn to the person submitting
the declaration at least one month before the expiry of the tenn for the submission of
declarations. A depositary of declarations shall make an entry in the register maintained by
the depositary and shall indicate the person who submitted the declaration, the date of
submission of the declaration and the number of the declaration.
(2000 entered into force 2000 - RT I 2000,)(14.03.2000 entered into force 29.03.2000 - RT I
2000,25,145)
(2) If the person who is required to submit a declaration has not received the declaration fonn
by the time specified in subsection (1) of this section, he or she shall, in order to receive the
declaration, address a depositary of declarations at a time which enables the timely
submission of the declaration.
(2) A depositary of declarations shall organise the timely collection of declarations and the
depositing and verification thereof.
(3) Declarations shall be deposited such that nobody except the head of the agency or an
official designated by him or her has access thereto. The head of an agency or an official
designated by him or her to be the depositary of declarations shall not disclose the
infonnation given in a declaration, except in the cases provided for in this Act.
(4) Declarations shall be deposited in the office of a depositary of declarations for three years
as of the submission thereof. Thereafter, the declarations shall be given to the State Archives
for pennanent preservation pursuant to the procedure provided for in the Archives Act (RT I
1998,36/37,552; 1999, 16,271).
24
§ 13. Tenn for submission of declaration
(1) A declaration shall be submitted every year one month after expiry of the tenn for
submission of income tax returns or within one month after the date of commencement of
work in an office, unless otherwise provided by this Act.
(2) If, after the submission of a declaration during the tenn specified in subsection (1) of this
section, the composition of the property or the structure thereof declared by the official
changes significantly, the official shall submit a new declaration within one month after the
change occurs. A change in the financial situation is deemed to be significant if it involves a
change to the extent of at least 30 per cent or over 100 000 kroons.
(3) Officials specified in subsection 4 (2) of this Act, with the exception of persons specified
in clauses (2) 1) and 2), shall submit a declaration to the fonner depositary of declarations
within two years after leaving their posts.
(1) An official shall submit a declaration to the head of the agency, a person designated by
him or her or another person designated by this Act.
(2) Members of the Riigikogu, the President of the Republic, members of the Government of
the Republic, the Chainnan and justices of the Supreme Court, the Chainnan and members of
the Board of the Bank of Estonia, the President of the Bank of Estonia, the Commander and
Commander-in-Chief of the Anned Forces, the Auditor General, the Legal Chancellor,
ambassadors, the Chief Public Prosecutor and public prosecutors, the chainnen of circuit
courts, the chainnen of administrative, county and city courts shall submit declarations to the
committee designated by the Riigikogu.
(09.11.1999 entered into force 06.12.1999 - RT 11999,87, 791; 14.03.2000 entered into force
29.03.2000 - RT I 2000,25, 145)
(3) The State Secretary, county governors, chainnen of rural municipality and city councils,
heads of rural municipality and city governments and rural municipality district and city
district elders shall submit declarations to the Auditor General.
(4) Members of a local government council, local government officials and non-staff public
servants perfonning the duties of local government officials shall submit declarations to the
committee designated by the councilor to a member of the council.
(5) A member of the directing body of a person in public law shall submit a declaration to the
supervisory body of the same person in public law. A member of the supervisory body of a
person in public law shall submit a declaration to the committee designated by the Riigikogu.
(6) A member of the directing or supervisory body of a company in which the state has a
majority holding shall submit a declaration to the minister who directs the ministry which
exercises the state shareholder rights in the company, unless otherwise prescribed by law.
25
(61) Members of the management boards and supervisory boards of companies with majority
local government participation shall submit declarations to a committee appointed by the local
government councilor to a council member.
(7) Judges of administrative, county, city and circuit courts, and senior prosecutors,
prosecutors and notaries shall submit declarations to the Minister of Justice.
(8) The Riigikogu committee specified in subsection 14 (2) of this Act shall be informed of
the figures of the declarations of economic interests submitted by the categories of officials
listed in subsections (3)-(7) of this section within two months after the submission of the
declarations to a depositary of declarations.
(9) The person submitting a declaration is required to submit one declaration. If, pursuant to
this Act, there are different depositaries of declarations with respect to the person sUbmitting a
declaration, he or she is required to submit a notice concerning the submission of a
declaration to all the depositaries of declarations. A depositary of declarations set out in the
notice is required to forward the copy of a declaration to other depositaries of declarations at
their request.
(1) Everyone has the right to disclose the information given in his or her declaration.
(2) The information given in the declarations of members of the Riigikogu, the President of
the Republic, members of the Government of the Republic, the Chairman and members of the
Board of the Bank of Estonia, the President of the Bank of Estonia, the Commander and
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Auditor General, the Legal Chancellor,
ambassadors, the Chief Public Prosecutor, the Chairman and justices of the Supreme Court,
the State Secretary, the chairmen and members of circuit courts, the chairmen and members of
administrative, county and city courts, secretaries general of ministries, county governors,
chairmen of rural municipality and city councils, heads of rural municipality and city
governments shall be disclosed in the Riigi Teataja Lisat.
(09.11.1999 entered into force 06.12.1999 - RT 11999,87, 791; 14.03.2000 entered into force
29.03.2000 - RT I 2000, 25, 145)
(3) Declarations of members of local government councils and members of city governments
and rural municipality governments shall be disclosed in a pUblication designated by the city
councilor rural municipality council. The local government council shall decide the
disclosure of the declarations of other local government officials and determine the procedure
for disclosure.
26
(4) An agency or official to whom a declaration has been submitted, or a committee
designated to be the depositary of declarations shall submit the information given in the
declaration for disclosure.
(5) Information given in a declaration shall be disclosed without changing the location of
information in the declaration, but without the addresses, personal identification codes and
data concerning the relatives and relatives by marriage of the official, and without indicating
the income set out in clauses 9 (1) 6), 8) and 9) of this Act.
(6) Information contained in a declaration not subject to disclosure shall not be disclosed.
(1) A depositary of declarations may verify a declaration on the depositary's own initiative
and is required to verify a declaration in the case of a suspicion of corruption.
(2) The depositaries of declarations are required to report to the Riigikogu committee on the
performance of the duties imposed on them by this Act and, at the request of the committee,
submit data for the performance of the rights and duties set out in subsection (3) of this
section.
(3) Everyone who has SuspICIOns of corruption with regard to a person specified in
subsections 4 (1) and (2) of this Act has the right to submit a reasoned application to access
the declaration of the official to the Riigikogu committee specified in subsection 14 (2) of this
Act or the depositary of declarations of the official. The recipient of an application has the
right and duty to verify the suspicions presented in the application and is required to respond
to the applicant in writing within one month as of the date of receipt of the application. The
results of verification and the facts in favour thereof shall be indicated in the response. If the
facts presented in an application prove to be even partly right, the data given in the verified
declaration shall be added to the response pursuant to the provisions of subsection 15 (5) of
this Act.
(4) Depositaries of declarations shall verify the content of data presented in the declarations
and changes thereto at least once a year.
In the case of a suspicion of corruption, the State Audit Office and other persons or the
27
committee authorised to verify declarations have the right to verify the following without
charge:
1) the natural person income tax return of an official submitted to the Tax Board;
2) data concerning an official which is necessary for the verification of the declaration and is
deposited in registers and databases maintained by the state and local governments;
3) data concerning an official which is necessary for the verification of the declaration of
economic interests and is deposited in credit institutions.
(1) Failure to submit a declaration by the due date prescribed in this Act without good reason,
and the presentation of knowingly false information in the declaration shall bring about
liability pursuant to the procedure provided by law.
(2) If an official specified in subsection 15 (2) of this Act fails to submit a declaration by the
due date or presents knowingly false information therein, this shall be the basis for the
commencement of criminal proceedings pursuant to § 1643 of the Criminal Code (RT 1992,
20, 288; RT I 1997, 21122, 353; 28, 423; 30, 472; 34, 535; 51, 824; 52, 833 and 834; 81,
1361; 86,1461; 87,1466-1468; 1998,2,42; 4, 62; 17,265; 23, 321; 30,412; 36/37, 552 and
553; 51, 756 and 759; 59, 941; 98/99,1576; 107, 1766; 108/109, 1783; 1999,4,53).
(3) If a member of the Riigikogu or a local government council fails to submit a declaration
by the due date, the chairman of the Riigikogu or local government council shall publish a
corresponding official notice in the Riigi Teataja Lisa within one month after the due date for
submission of the declaration.
Chapter 3
(1) For the purposes of this Act, a restriction on employment and activities means a restriction
to operate as an undertaking, hold a second job or work in a relationship of direct
subordination with a close relative or close relative by marriage, while in public service.
1) hold a second job with a work load higher and at a time different than permitted by the
immediate superior if such employment damages the reputation of the position or office,
or if performance of the duties of employment also means supervision over the other
employer;
2) be a member of the directing or supervisory body of a company, except the representative
of the state, a local government or legal person in public law of a company with the
participation of the state, local government or legal person in public law;
3) be the director of a branch of a foreign company;
4) be employed in an office where an official who directly monitors him or her, or is his or
28
her immediate superior is a close relative or close relative of the official by marriage;
5) be a member of a legal person in public law and, at the same time, the directing or
supervisory body of a legal person directly monitored by the legal person in public law;
6) be a member of the directing or supervisory body of a company with state or local
government holding within three years after resignation from the public service.
(4) An official shall not exercise supervision over the activities of himself or herself as an
undertaking, or over a general partnership of which he or she is a partner or a limited
partnership of which he or she is a general partner in performing his or her duties of
employment or service.
(5) For the purposes of this Act, close relatives mean grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters,
children and grandchildren; close relatives by blood mean the spouse, his or her parents,
brothers, sisters and children.
(1) The restrictions on employment and activities of officials specified in clauses 4 (2) 1)-16)
of this Act are not regulated by § 19 of this Act but are provided for in §§ 63 and 84 of the
Constitution of the Republic of Estonia and in the Acts concerning the activities of the
Riigikogu, the Government of the Republic, the Legal Chancellor, the State Audit Office, the
Bank of Estonia, prosecutor's offices, armed forces and the border guard, judges, the police,
notaries' offices, bailiffs and local governments, and in other legislation which separately
regulates the official position, rights and obligations of the officials of such categories.
(2) Taking into account the specific character of some offices, the Government of the
Republic may establish a list of offices the employment in which may be permitted,
regardless of the restrictions provided for in clauses 19 (2) 4) and 5) of this Act, by the
minister in whose area of government the place of employment is, provided there is no risk of
corruption involved.
The minister shall justify the grant of permission every time. Upon the establishment of
exceptions, the person who establishes the exceptions shall exercise regular supervision over
the justification thereof and submit a corresponding report together with the opinion of the
State Audit Office to the Riigikogu committee specified in subsection 14 (2) of this Act.
(3) Taking into account the specific character of some offices, a local government may
establish a list of offices the employment in which may be permitted, regardless of the
29
restrictions provided for in clauses 19 (2) 4) and 5) of this Act, by the executive body of the
local government, provided there is no risk of corruption involved. The executive body of a
local government shall justify the grant of pennission every time. Upon the establishment of
exceptions, the person who establishes the exceptions shall exercise regular supervision over
the justification thereof and submit a corresponding report together with the opinion of the
county governor to the committee or member of the council specified in subsection 14 (4) of
this Act.
Chapter 4
Procedural Restrictions
(1) For the purposes of this Act, a procedural restriction means a prohibition to perfonn acts
which enable to receive income derived from corrupt practices.
(2) Procedural restrictions do not apply to activities as a result of which income on shares of a
company is received, unless otherwise provided by law. An official may also receive income
as royalties, revenue from patents, interest on deposits, on immovables which are subjected to
commercial lease or use by other persons, fee for the works published in print or electronic
media, and other income which does not presume the employment of the recipient thereof to
promote the economic benefit of another person, unless otherwise provided by law.
(1) An official who is required to provide services or make decisions without charge shall not
demand or accept remuneration therefor in money, in kind or as a favour.
(2) An official who is required to provide services pursuant to the official procedure for a
specific remuneration in money, shall not demand or accept remuneration therefor different
from the remuneration set out in the rates or price lists.
(1) An official is required to notify the immediate superior or head of the agency and the
police in writing of any offering, giving or acceptance of a bribe which becomes known to
him or her.
(2) Failure to give notification of an offering, giving or acceptance of a bribe pursuant to the
procedure provided for in this Act shall be the basis for the release of the official in the public
service from service.
(1) An official shall not engage in self-dealing, or conclude transactions of similar nature or
30
involving a conflict of interest. He or she shall not authorise persons subordinate to him or her
to perform such transactions instead of him or her.
(3) The restrictions concerning the representatives of the state or a local government provided
for in subsection (2) of this section also apply to the representative of a legal person in public
law.
(4) Transactions concluded in violation of the prohibitions provided for in subsection (1) of
this section are void.
(1) A conflict of interest occurs if an official, in the course of his or her duties of employment,
is required to make a decision or participate in the making of a decision which significantly
influences the economic interests of the official, his or her close relatives or close relatives by
marriage or legal persons, if the legal person is:
1) a general partnership, the partner of which the official, his or her close relative or close
relative by marriage is;
2) a limited partnership, the general partner or limited partner of which the official, his or her
close relative or close relative by marriage is;
3) a private limited company, the shareholder or member of the management board or
supervisory board of which the official, his or her close relative or close relative by
marriage is;
4) a public limited company, the shareholder or member of the management board or
supervisory board of which the official, his or her close relative or close relative by
marnage IS;
31
5) a commercial association, the member of the management board or audit committee of
which the official, his or her close relative or close relative by marriage is;
6) other legal person in private law, the member of the directing or supervisory body of
which the official, his or her close relative or close relative by marriage is.
(2) An official whose duty is to participate in the making of common decisions specified in
subsection (1) of this section is required to notify promptly a body concerned and his or her
immediate superior or a person or body with the employment or appointment authority
thereof and forego the making of the decision. The person or body who has designated an
official as a member of a body making common decisions, may designate another person for
the one-time substitution of the official.
(3) An official who is competent to make decisions specified in subsection (1) of this section
solely, is required to remove himself or herself from making the decision and notify his or her
immediate superior of a conflict of interest; the immediate superior shall designate another
official to make the decision.
(4) In this section, a decision does not mean legislation of general application.
(1) An official shall not solicit, in connection with his or her duties of employment, gifts or
other benefits made or granted by persons to him or her, his or her close relatives or close
relatives by marriage.
(2) An official shall not accept gifts or consent to the benefits which are made or granted to
him or her, his or her close relatives or close relatives by marriage, and the acceptance of
which may directly or indirectly influence the impartial performance of his or her duties of
employment or service.
(3) Gifts received in violation of the restrictions provided for in subsections (1) and (2) of this
section shall belong to the employer of the corresponding official, unless otherwise provided
by an international custom or diplomatic etiquette.
Chapter 5
Liability
(1) An official who commits an act of corruption shall be punished under disciplinary,
administrative or criminal procedure.
(2) An official who commits an act of corruption shall be released from service, or his or her
employment contract shall be terminated due to the act of corruption.
(3) If an official has been punished for an act of corruption under administrative or criminal
procedure, he or she shall be released from service due to the act of corruption.
32
(4) Subsections (2) and (3) of this section do not apply to persons whose release from office
or service is regulated by a specific Act.
Chapter 6
Implementing Provisions
§ 28. The Republic of Estonia Employment Contracts Act (RT 1992, 15116, 241; 1993, 10,
150;RTI 1993,26,441; 1995, 14, 170; 16,228; 1996,3,57;40,773;45,850;49,953; 1997,
5/6,32; 1998, 111, 1829) is amended as follows:
2) the title of § 103 is amended by adding the words "or upon commitment of act of
corruption", and the text is amended by adding subsection (3) worded as follows:
"(3) An employer has the right to terminate an employment contract with each employee who
commits an act of corruption on the basis prescribed in clause 86 12) of this Act.";
§ 29. The Public Service Act (RT I 1995, 16,228; 1999, 7, 112) is amended as follows:
"4) who are in a close relationship (grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, children,
grandchildren) or a close relationship by marriage (spouse, spouse's parents, brothers, sisters,
children) with an official or the immediate superior who has direct control over the
corresponding position.";
"5) a person who has been punished for an act of corruption under administrative or criminal
procedure.";
3) the end of subsection 17 (1) is amended by adding the words "or pursuant to law";
4) subsection 28 (1) is amended by adding the words "the public service code of ethics and"
after the words "I am aware that";
"(1) A public servant shall perform his or her duties of employment in an accurate, timely and
conscientious manner, expediently and without self-interest, pursuant to the public interest.
The duties of employment are determined in this Act and other Acts, regulations and job
33
descriptions, and other legislation. A public servant shall also perform his or her duties
pursuant to the public service code of ethics set out in Annex I to this Act and other codes of
ethics established within the administrative agency.";
"(1) A state official shall not belong to the permanent directing body or permanent control or
audit body of a commercial association, except as a representative of the state to the directing
or supervisory body of an enterprise with holding ofthe state or a person in public law.";
1) acquiring assets which are entrusted to him or her for concluding a transaction and belong
to a person with whom he or she is in employment or service relationship and;
2) concluding, as a person entitled to represent a state agency in transactions, transactions
with the state through the administrative agency concerned, or concluding, as a person
entitled to represent a local government agency in transactions, transactions with a local
government through the administrative agency concerned;
3) concluding, as a representative of the state or a local government, property transactions
with legal persons specified in subsection 19 (2) of the Anti-corruption Act;
4) concluding, as a representative of the state or a local government, property transactions
with a non-profit association or political party of which he or she is a member;
5) concluding, as a representative of the state or a local government, property transactions
with an employer, company, non-profit association or political party, over the activities of
which he or she exercises supervision;
6) concluding, as a representative of the state or a local government, property transactions
with his or her close relatives, close relatives by marriage or himself or herself.
(2) Transactions concluded in violation of the prohibitions provided for in subsection (1) of
this section are void.";
9) clause 84 3) is amended by adding the words "or ethic standards set for officials" after the
words "moral standards";
34
1. An official is a citizen in the service of people.
2. The activities of an official shall be based on respect for the Constitution of the Republic of
Estonia provided for in the oath of office.
3. An official shall adhere, in his or her activities, to the legally expressed will of politicians
who have received a mandate from the citizens.
10. An official shall always, in his or her activities, subject departmental interests to public
interest.
12. An official shall make decisions based on public and generally understandable criteria.
13. An official shall avoid creating a situation which arouses or may arouse suspicion with
regard to his or her impartiality or objectivity in considering matters under suspicion.
14. An official shall treat property entrusted to him or her economically, expediently and
prudently.
15. An official shall use information which becomes known to him or her through official
duties solely in the public interest.
16. A person exercising public authority is characterised by honesty and respect for the public
and co-employees.
17. An official shall be polite and helpful when communicating with people.
19. An official shall do his or her best in the public service by constant individual
development.
20. An official shall facilitate the spread of the above principles in every way."
35
§ 30. The Criminal Code (RT 1992, 20, 288; RT I 1997, 21122, 353; 28, 423; 30, 472; 34,
535; 51, 824; 52, 833 and 834; 81, 1361; 86, 1461; 87, 1466-1468; 1998,2,42; 4, 62; 17,265;
23, 321; 30, 412; 36/37, 552 and 553; 51, 756 and 759; 59, 941; 98/99, 1576; 107, 1766;
1081109, 1783; 1999,4,53) is amended as follows:
1) subsection 27 (1) is amended by adding the words "or employment in the public service"
after the words "operation in the particular area of activity", and the word "three" is
substituted by the word "five";
Failure to give notification of a relationship involving the risk of corruption shall be punished
by a fine or imprisonment for up to one year together with taking away the right of
employment in the particular office or operation in the particular area of activity or
employment in the public service if:
36
consequence to the rights or interests of a person, the state or a local government protected by
law has been caused thereby.";
5) the title of § 1642 and subsections 1642 (2) and (3) the word "corruption" is substituted by
the words "an act of corruption";
"(1) For the purposes of this Act, an act of corruption is the making of undue or unlawful
decisions or performance of such acts, or failure to make reasoned and lawful decisions or
perform such acts by an official through the use of his or her official position for receiving
income derived from corrupt practices or other self-serving purposes.";
(2) The same act shall be punished by a fine or imprisonment for up to one year together with
taking away the right of employment in the particular office or operation in the particular area
of activity or employment in the public service if a significant proprietary damage or other
serious consequence to the rights or interests of a person, the state or a local government
protected by law has been caused thereby.";
"§ 1644. Failure to submit declaration of economic interests not subject to disclosure, or
presentation of false information therein
"§ 1645. Submission of false information to person or agency or committee which verifies
declarations of economic interests
37
good time to a person or agency or the committee set out in the Anti-corruption Act which
exercises lawful supervision over declarations of economic interests shall be punished by
detention or imprisonment for up to six months.
(2) The same act shall be punished by imprisonment between six months and two years
together with taking away the right of employment in the particular office or operation in the
particular area of activity if a significant proprietary damage or other serious consequence to
the rights or interests of a person, the state or a local government protected by law has been
caused thereby.";
Section 46 of the Credit Institutions Act (RT I 1995, 4, 36; 1998, 59, 941; 110, 1811; 111,
1828) is amended by adding subsection 41 worded as follows:
"(41) On the basis of a written application of the depositary or person who verifies
declarations of economic interests, or an official authorised therefor by him or her pursuant to
the Anti-corruption Act, a credit institution is required to release information which is
deposited in the credit institution, including information subject to banking secrecy which is
necessary for the verification of declarations of economic interests, without charge."
§ 32. The Code of Administrative Offences (RT 1992,29, 396; RT I 1997, 66-68, 1109; 73,
1201; 81, 1361 and 1362; 86, 1459 and 1461; 87, 1466 and 1467; 93, 1561, 1563-1565; 1998,
2, 42; 17, 265; 23, 321; 30, 410; 34, 484; 36/37, 552 and 553; 38, 562; 51, 756 and 759;
52/53, 771; 60, 951 and 952; 64/65, 1004; 86/87, 1409; 98/99, 1574; 103, 1695; 108/109,
1783; 1999,4,53) is amended as follows:
38
1) Chapter 121 is added to the Code worded as follows:
"Chapter 121
A fine of 50 to 100 days' wages shall be imposed for the violation of restrictions on
employment and activities or procedural restrictions established by the Anti-corruption Act if
no significant proprietary damage or other serious consequence to the rights or interests of a
person, the state or a local government protected by law has been caused thereby.
A fine of 50 to 100 days' wages or administrative detention shall be imposed for the failure to
give notification of a relationship involving the risk of corruption if no significant financial
loss has been caused thereby.
§ 1583. Failure to submit declaration of economic interests not subject to disclosure during
term, or presentation of false information therein
A fine of 50 to 100 days' wages shall be imposed for the failure to submit a declaration of
economic interests not subject to disclosure during the term or presentation of incomplete or
false information therein if no significant proprietary damage or other serious consequence to
the rights or interests of a person, the state or a local government protected by law has been
caused thereby.
A fine of 100 to 200 days' wages or administrative detention shall be imposed for the failure
to perform or the unsatisfactory performance of the duties of the collection, depositing or
verification of declarations of economic interests by the head of an agency or another person
responsible for the collection, depositing or verification of declarations of economic interests.
A fine of 100 to 200 days' wages or administrative detention shall be imposed for the
unlawful disclosure of information contained in a declaration of economic interests.
A fine of 50 to 200 days' wages shall be imposed for the acceptance of a more than adequate
remuneration determined by an Act or other legislation for the provision of services by an
official, or acceptance of remuneration for services without charge.";
2) subsection 186 (1) of the Code is amended by adding the numbers "1581, 1582, 1583,
1584, 1585, 1586," after the numbers "154 (1)";
39
3) clause 228 (1) 1) of the Code is amended by adding the numbers "1581, 1582, 1583, 1584,
1585, 1586" after the numbers "154 (1)".
Upon entry into force of this Act, the Anti-corruption Act (RT I 1995, 14, 170; 68, 1142;
1998,41142,625) is repealed.
No ..... .
I. General Information
Comments:
3. Additional remuneration paid by the agency in addition to salary shall also be indicated.
Pursuant to § 7 of the Anti-corruption Act, I declare that I own property, discharge obligations
and have sources of income as set out below. I am aware that failure to submit information by
the due date, incomplete submission of information or submission of knowingly false
information brings about liability pursuant to the procedure provided by law.
1. Immovable property (including structures and parts thereof until entry in the land register;
unfinished constructions shall also be declared; in the case of property in joint or common
ownership, the official's share therein shall be indicated):
40
(use) (county, rural municipality, city of location) (land registry jurisdiction) (registered
immovable property number)
1. Debts to banks and other persons in private law; if the amount of debt exceeds the
preceding six months' salary or 50000 kroons, if salary is not paid in the office:
2. Other proprietary obligations the amount of which at the time of declaration exceeds the
preceding six months' salary or 50 000 kroons, if salary is not paid in the office (leasings,
contracts of suretyship, mortgages, etc.):
1. Other regular income (salary and additional remuneration in principal job if the official
does not receive a salary for the office, and the amount thereof; compensations, including
remuneration received from supervisory boards, as well as the supervisory boards shall be
specified and the amount of remuneration; interest; pensions; remuneration received from
employment, research and education; royalties; other income or sources of income together
with the type of income):
41
1. Taxable income (shall be completed on the basis of a natural person income tax return of
the preceding year submitted to the Tax Board; if spouses submitted a joint income tax return,
the part of the official shall be indicated separately) .....
2. Dividend income (shall be completed on the basis of a natural person income tax return of
the preceding year submitted to the Tax Board): .....
Given name
and surname
Relationship
Personal
identification code or
date of birth
Place of service or
employment and
agency (employer)
Residence
and
address
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
42
6.
7.
8.
(signature)
43
Annex 3
(2) In applying of Article 1642 of this Code, an official refers to persons listed in
Article 4 of the Anti-Corruption Act (i. e. officials of state or local government, persons, who
fulfil the duties of an official temporarily, the heads of constitutional institutions,
ambassadors, state prosecutors, judges, notaries, the members of a local councils, police
officers, bailiffs, prison officers, officials of the defence forces, border guard officers, heads of
the state owned legal persons and persons, who decide over the exploitation of state property
or it's expropriation).
For the violation of restrictions of the position, act or activity established by the Anti-
Corruption Act if:
1) this has caused material property loss or any other severe consequence to the
statutory rights and interests of a person, state or local government or if
2) the offender has been imposed an administrative punishment for a similar activity,-
the punishment shall be imprisonment for up to two years with deprivation of the right
of working in a certain position or acting in a certain area of activity or being in public
servIce.
3
Article 162 , Nonperformance of duties related to collecting, retaining and
controlling declarations of economic interests
44
For the nonperformance or undue performance of the duties related to collecting,
retaining and controlling of declarations of economic interests by the executive of an agency
or any other person responsible for collecting, retaining and controlling declarations of
economic interests as specified in the Anti-Corruption Act, if this has caused material
property loss or any other severe consequence to the statutory rights and interests of a person,
state or local government -
the punishment shall be imprisonment for up to two years with deprivation of the right
of working in a certain position or acting in a certain area of activity or being in public
servIce.
(1) For receiving of property, a property right or any other property benefit as a bribe
in person or through a mediator for performing or not performing an act in the interests of the
briber that the official had to do or could have done in the official capacity - the punishment
shall be imprisonment for up to four years with deprivation of the right of working in a certain
position or acting in a certain area of activity.
(3) The bribee shall be exempted from punishment if he or she was the first to inform
voluntarily thereof in writing after receiving of property, a property right or any other
property benefit, but before performing or not performing the act in the interests of the briber.
(1) For bribe mediation - the punishment shall be imprisonment for up to four years.
(3) The bribe mediator shall be exempted from punishment if the bribe mediation has
been extorted from him or her or if he or she was the first to inform voluntarily thereof in
writing after bribe mediation, but before performing or not performing of the act by the bribee
in the interests of the briber.
45
Article 164 2• Corruptive act
(1) Corruptive act in the meaning of this Act is making of ungrounded or unlawful
decisions or performance of ungrounded or unlawful activities or not making of grounded
lawful decisions or nonperformance of grounded lawful activities by an official with the aim
of receiving corruptive income or with any other selfish aim, using his or her official capacity.
(2) For a corruptive act - the punishment shall be a fine or deprivation of the right of
working in a certain position or acting in a certain area of activity or arrest.
(3) For a corruptive act, if this causes material loss - the punishment shall be a fine
with deprivation of the right of working in a certain position or acting in a certain area of
activity or imprisonment for up to three years.
(1) For not presenting of the due declaration of economic interests subject to public
disclosure by the due date or for presentation of incomplete or false information therein -
the punishment shall be a fine or arrest.
(2) For the same act, if this has caused material property loss or any other severe
consequence to the statutory rights and interests of a person, state or local government -
the punishment shall be a fine or imprisonment for up to one year with deprivation of
the right of working in the respective position or acting in a certain area of activity or being in
public service.
Article 1644. Not presenting of the declaration of economic interests not subject
to public disclosure or presentation of false information therein
For not presenting of a due declaration of economic interests not subject to public
disclosure by the due date or for presentation of false information therein if
1) this has caused material property loss or any other severe consequence to the
statutory rights and interests of a person, state or local government or if
2) the offender has been imposed an administrative punishment for a similar activity,
the punishment shall be a fine or imprisonment for up to one year with deprivation of
the right of working in a certain position or acting in a certain area of activity or being in
public service.
46
Article 1645• Presentation of false information to the person or agency or
committee controlling the declaration of economic interests
(2) For the same activity if this has caused material property loss or any other severe
consequence to the statutory rights or interests of a person, state or local government -
the punishment shall be imprisonment from six months up to two years with
deprivation of the right of working in a certain position or acting in a certain area of activity.
(1) For bribing - the punishment shall be imprisonment for up to four years.
(3) The briber shall be exempted from punishment if the bribe has been extorted from
him or her or if he or she was the first to inform voluntarily thereof in writing after bribing,
but before performing or not performing of the act by the bribee in his or her interests.
(3) The person who has committed the act specified in Clause 1 of this Article shall be
exempted from punishment if the bribe has been extorted from him or her or if he or she was
the first to inform voluntarily thereof in writing after bribing, but before performing or not
performing of the act by the bribee in his or her interests.
47
Article 1663 , Unlawful acceptance of payment by an official
For acceptance of a larger fee that the one fixed in law or other legislation by an
official in rendering of services or making of decisions or for acceptance of a fee for free
services if
1) this has caused material property loss or any other severe consequence to the
statutory rights or interests of a person, state or local government or if
2) the offender has been imposed an administrative punishment for a similar activity, -
.the punishment shall be imprisonment for up to two years with deprivation of the right
of working in a certain position or acting in a certain area of activity.
48
\) Annex 4
Half-year 2000
CC Art 161 - the prosecution of 2 accused: one person was convicted (punished by fine)
and another was acquitted.
Art 165 para 2 - the prosecution of 1 accused who was convicted and punished
conditionally
. )
Art 166 para 1 - the prosecution of 7 accused: all were convicted-
6 persons were punished by fine,
1 person was punished conditionally
Year 1999
49
NATIONAL REPORT
FOR
IRELAND
By Lucinda MAC MAHON, Criminal Law Reform Division,
Department ofJustice, Equality and Law Reform
a. General policy
a.1. What general policy does your country have towards corruption (specific
criminal provisions, attention for prevention ...)?
3. A draft Code of Standards and Behaviour for the Irish Civil Service is being
prepared at present by the Department of Finance, which will set out a clear
framework within which civil servants must work and the values which will
continue to be upheld. A guide for the wider public service, entitled "The
Ombudsman's Guide to Standards of Best Practice for Public Servants", has
already been issued by the Office of the Ombudsman.
4. Ireland fully supports the recent developments within the European Union, the
OECD and the Council of Europe towards the prevention of corruption. Ireland
is also a member of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) which was
established in 1999 under the auspices of the Council of Europe.
a.2. Do you consider this policy satisfactory or not? If not, what are the main
deficiencies?
The Bill will thereby render corruption by certain foreign officials and office
holders, as well as corruption by Irish office holders abroad, offences under
Irish law.
c. Repressive legislation
1. Under the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1889 to 1995 the following types of
activity are covered:
2
a special adviser to an office holder
any public official
a Minister or Minister of State of the Government
the Attorney General, Chainnan or Deputy Chainnan ofD<iil Eireann (Lower
House of Parliament) or Seanad Eireann (Upper House of Parliament), Chainnan
of a Committee of either House or of a Joint Committee of both Houses
5.2. Ireland has signed the Council of Europe Civil Law Convention (November
3
1999) and is now examining the Convention with a view to ratification. Some
legislation may, on further consideration, be necessary to give statutory
expression to aspects of the Convention. Any necessary proposals for
legislation will fall to be dealt with in due course prior to ratification of
the Convention.
c.7. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, what are
the main problems?
e. Structures
e.2. Do you consider this structural framework satisfactory? If not, what are
the main problems?
1. Yes.
4
2. International co-operation regarding corruption
a. Supply
(ii) certain conditions attach, for example the speciality rule which
effectively means that a person who has been extradited for one offence cannot
except in certain circumstances be tried in the requesting country for any other
offence committed prior to the date of extradition,
a.2. Who should the applicant apply to? On which conditions and in which form?
a.3. Which particularities should the applicant be aware of when requesting
co-operation in a corruption case?
5
a.4. Which (legal and factual) obstacles do, in your opinion, hamper an efficient
co-operation in practice?
b. Demand
b.l. What are your expectations when you request co-operation from another
country in a corruption case?
b.2. To what extent are these expectations met?
b.3. Which are the main problems and how can these be solved?
6
Index
Paragraph Page
1 Introd uction 3
5 Form of requests 8
8 Service of process 15
14 Confidentiality of requests 26
III United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and 33
Psychotropic Substances - notifications by Ireland under Articles 7
and 17.
2
1. INTRODUCTION
This guide is issued by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in
its role as Ireland's Central Authority for Mutual Assistance in Criminal
Matters. It constitutes a general outline of Irish law in relation to international
judicial cooperation in criminal matters; it does not purport to be an .
interpretation of that law.
Copies of the guide in French, German, Italian and Spanish are available from
the Central Authority. The guide is also available on the Department's internet
site: http:www.irlgov.ie/justice.
3
2. CENTRAL AUTHORITY FOR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL
MATTERS
All requests for mutual assistance to Ireland, unless they are appropriate to
police or customs channels, should be sent to:
The Central Authority for Mutual Assistance
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
72-76 St Stephen's Green
Dublin 2 .
Telephone Numbers: 00353 - 1 - 602 8548
00353 - 1 - 602 8605
Fax Number: 00353 - 1 - 602 8606
E-Mail Number:mutual@justice.ie
Messages, queries etc. relayed by fax after normal office hours to the Central
Authority will be responded to on the following working day. In cases of
exceptional urgency outside office hours, contact may be made through
Mobile Phone Number: 00353 87545235.
4
through Interpol channels to Interpol, Dublin ( police services will be aware of
police nature, they should be sent to the Central Authority, which will
namely, the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Director of Public
Prosecutions, the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, the Garda Siochana, the
Requesting authorities should note that neither the Courts nor the Director of
Public Prosecutions -
5
3. REQUESTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
6
4. AUTHORITIES FROM WHICH REQUESTS MAY BE RECEIVED
Requests should be made by a court, tribunal or any other authority abroad
which has the function of making mutual assistance requests, such as
Ministries or Departments of Justice, Attorneys General and Public
Prosecutors. The requesting authority should ensure that it has authority
Linder the law of its own country or by arrangement to make requests to this
jurisdiction.
7
5. FORM OF REQUESTS
(1) Requests to be made in writing: Requests to the Central Authority for
mutual legal assistance should be in writing and by way of original
documents. In cases of urgency, advance faxed copies of requests may be
accepted with an undertaking that the original request will be forwa-rded
without delay.
(2) Language of requests: All requests should be in either Irish or English. In
cases where requests are translated to Irish or English from the language of
the requesting authority, a certificate to the effect that the request furnished in
the Irish/English language is a complete and accurate translation of the
request should be furnished. Failure to do so may result in delay or in the
request not being executed.
(3) Requests to include the fullest information: In general, and subject to the
requirements of Irish law set out in this guide and any requirements of the
relevant Convention, requests should contain the fullest information, in
particular:
(a) details of the authority making the request, including the name and
telephone number of a contact person
(c) details of the person or persons named in the request including, where
available, address, date of birth and nationality
(f) relevant dates e.g. date of court hearing ( reason for special urgency
or attention should be included in the covering letter of request)
8
(g) a description of evidence sought, including, in the case of bank
accounts, details of the relevant institution, account numbers and
account names
(n) whether the requesting country wishes to have persons present during
the taking of evidence in the proceedings (see also paragraph 9)
9
(0) in the case of a prisoner required abroad to give evidence or assist in
an investigation, information to enable the prisoner's informed consent
to be sought and to satisfy the Irish prison authorities that
arrangements will be made to ensure his or her secure custody. This
information will need to include details of proposed arrangements for
collecting the prisoner from Ireland; details of the type of secure
accommodation in which he or she will be held in the requesting state;
the type of escort available to and from his/her accommodation; the
period during which attendance in the requesting state is required; the
date on which the court or other proceedings for which the prisoner is
required will commence, and are likely to be concluded and whether he
or she will be accorded immunity in respect of previous offences.
Further information regarding the requirements for transfer of particular
prisoners may be sought by the Irish Central Authority.
10
6. SCOPE OF IRISH LAW ON MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE
The law enabling Ireland to provide mutual legal assistance to, and to seek
mutual assistance from, other countries is contained in Part VII of the Criminal
Justice Act 1994. In brief, the law includes provisions -
(i) enabling the enforcement in Ireland of confiscation and forfeiture
orders made in another jurisdiction (Sections 46, 47 and 48 of the
1994 Act)
(ii) (a) empowering the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
to cause any summons or other process issued by a court in
another jurisdiction to be served on a person in Ireland to
appear as a defendant or attend as a witness in that jurisdiction
or to cause any documents recording a decision of a court made
in the exercise of that jurisdiction to be served on a person in
Ireland (Section 49).
(iii) permitting the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to
authorise an Irish court to take evidence in connection with criminal
investigations or proceedings in another jurisdiction (Section 51)
(iv) permitting the issuing of letters of request for the taking of evidence
outside the State for use in Ireland (Section 52).
(v) enabling the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to permit
the transfer to another jurisdiction of a person in detention in Ireland in
order to give evidence in criminal proceedings there or to be identified
11
in or otherwise by his/her presence to assist such proceedings or the
investigation of an offence outside Ireland (Section 53)
(vi) enabling the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to make
arrangements for the transfer from another jurisdiction of a person in
detention outside the State in order to give evidence in criminal
proceedings in this State or to be identified in or otherwise by his/her
presence"to assist such proceedings or the investigation of an offence
in Ireland (Section 54)
Specific provisions of Part VII of the Criminal Justice Act, 1994 for incoming
requests for mutual assistance will be applied as set out in paragraph 7 to 11
following.
12
7. EXTERNAL CONFISCATION AND FORFEITURE ORDERS
Irish law provides that an application may, with the consent of the Minister for
Justice, Equality and Law Reform, be made to the High Court by or on behalf
of the Government of a designated country for the enforcement of a
confiscation or a forfeiture order made in that country. The order made
abroad can be made enforceable in Ireland by way of a corresponding Irish
court order (a confiscation co-operation order or a forfeiture co-operation
order) (Sections 46(1), (2) ; 47 (i), (2)).
13
Provision is also made for the making by the court of a restraint (freezing)
order, on an application by or on behalf of the Government of a designated
country, with the consent of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
of a restraint order is to prohibit any person from dealing with any realisable
order. The court must be satisfied that proceedings either have been or will
For the purpose of enforcement of a restraint order, provision is made for the
manage the property concerned. The Act also empowers a member of the
restraint order, to prevent its removal from the State (Section 24 as modified
by 1996 Regulations).
Note
Those countries which are party to the UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the Council of Europe
Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds
-
from Crime are designated as countries in whose case orders as above may
be made.
14
8. SERVICE OF PROCESS
A summons or other process or document issued by a Court exercising
criminal jurisdiction received by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law
Reform will be served by registered post on the person to whom it is
addressed, except in cases where personal service is requested, in-which
case service will be carried out by the Garda Sfochana (police).
Requesting countries are advised that:
(i) A summons or other process requiring a person to attend as a
defendant in criminal proceedings in another country will not be served
unless provision is made by the law of that country or by arrangement
with the appropriate authority thereof that, if the person concerned
appears as a defendant in compliance with the summons or process,
he/she will not be proceeded against, detained or otherwise restricted
in his/her personal freedom in that country in respect of any offences
committed before his/her departure from the State other than the
offences specified in the summons or process unless that person -
(a) having had for a period of 15 consecutive days from the date of
his/her final discharge in respect of the specified offences an
opportunity to leave the country concerned, has not done so, or
(b) having left that country, has returned to it (Section 49(4)).
15
proceedings concerned an opportunity to leave the country
concerned, has not done so, or
(b) having left that country, has returned to it (Section 49(5)).
]6
9. OBTAINING EVIDENCE IN IRELAND FOR USE OUTSIDE IRELAND
Irish law provides for the taking of evidence (which term includes documents
and other articles) by a District Court in Ireland for use in criminal
investigations or proceedings abroad.
Before assistance can be provided in this regard, the Minister for Justice,
Equality and Law Reform must be satisfied that -
(ii) an offence under the law of the requesting State has been committed,
or that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that such an
offence has been committed, and
17
In taking evidence, the Irish law on privilege will apply. In addition, if a person
from whom evidence is being taken claims privilege under the law applicable
in the requesting country, the evidence will not be taken if that authority
concedes the claim. If the claim is not so conceded, the evidence may be
taken but will not be transmitted if a court in the requesting State, on the
matter being referred to it, upholds the claim (Second Schedule to the
Criminal Justice Act, 1994).
.
18
10. TRANSFER OF A PRISONER IN IRELAND TO GIVE EVIDENCE OR
ASSIST IN AN INVESTIGATION OUTSIDE IRELAND
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform may issue a warrant
authorising the transfer to another jurisdiction of a prisoner in Ireland for the
purpose of-
(a) giving evidence in criminal proceedings, or
Prisoners must give their consent to the transfer. The Central Authority will
make enquiries as to whether the prisoner is willing to attend but no
compulsion can be applied.
(b) the bringing of the prisoner back to Ireland and his/her transfer in
custody to the place where he/she is liable to be detained under the
sentence to which he/she is subject (Section 53(3)).
The requesting authority will need to provide the Central Authority with details
in advance of the arrangements for the return of the prisoner to safe custody
in Ireland.
Irish law requires that provision must be made by the law of the requesting
country, or by arrangement with the appropriate authority, that a prisoner will
not be proceeded agai,nst, sentenced, detained or subjected to any other
restrictions on his/her personal freedom in respect of any offence under the
law of the requesting country or territory committed before his/her departure
19
from Ireland (Section 53(4». A requesting authority, therefore, when making
the request should indicate whether such provision is made in its law or
alternatively furnish an undertaking in this regard from the appropriate
authority.
20
11. SEARCH AND SEIZURE (Search Warrants and Production Orders).
Search warrants: Irish law provides for the issue by an Irish court of a search
warrant (authorising entry, search and seizure) to obtain evidence for use in
criminal investigations abroad. Application for such a warrant is made in
pursuance of a direction given by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law
Reform in response to a request received from the Government of a
designated country or a person acting on the authority of such Government
and made-
(a) on behalf of a court exercising criminal jurisdiction in the requesting
country or a prosecuting authority in that country, or
(b) on behalf of any other authority in that country which appears to the
Minister to be an appropriate authority for the purpose of making
requests for mutual assistance (Section 55(4)).
Essentially, the same powers are available to an Irish court in such cases as
are available in purely domestic cases.
21
It is also necessary for a requesting State to confirm that provision is made in
its law that any evidence provided will not, without the consent of the Minister
for Justice, Equality and Law Reform be used for any other purpose than that
specified in the request. If there is no such provision in law, it is sufficient that
the requesting State gives a commitment that no such other use will be made
of the evidence furnished in response to a request (Section 55(10».
The requesting country must also undertake to return the evidence to the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when it is no longer required for
the requested purpose (unless the Minister indicates that the evidence need
not be returned). The request should specify the authority to which the
evidence should be transmitted (Section 55(10)).
Production Orders: Irish law also provides that a member of the Garda
Siochana, pursuant to a direction given by the Minister for Justice, Equality
and Law Reform, may apply on behalf of a requesting authority (as
mentioned above) for an order for the production of any relevant material
(e.g. documentary evidence) or access to it. The application must be for the
purpose of an investigation into drug trafficking or money laundering or an
investigation into whether a person has benefited from drug trafficking or
some other serious offence (Sections 55(2) and 63).
The requirements mentioned above in relation to the use of and return of the
evidence obtained by way of search warrant also apply in relation to evidence
obtained by way of production order (Sections 55(2) and 55(10».
22
Note
Those countries which are party to the Council of Europe Convention on
Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, the UN Convention against Illicit Traffic
in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, and the Council of Europe
Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds
from Crime, have been designated for the purpose of making requests for the
search and seizure of evidence.
23
12. POLICE TO POLICE ENQUIRIES
Some requests for assistance in investigations can be executed exclusively
on the basis of police to police co-operation. The forms of co-operation which
can be obtained through police channels include -
interviewing witnesses or suspects in criminal investigations where the
person to be interviewed is willing to co-operate and provide an
unsworn statement,
24
13. GROUNDS FOR REFUSAL OF ASSISTANCE
The Central Authority provides a" possible assistance to a requesting party so
that effect may be given to a request. Cases of refusal are expected to be
rare but could arise in circumstances as follows. Refusal may be made on
political, security or national interest grounds, but may also be unavoidable in
certain other cases. For example, in some instances evidence may not be
taken or passed on where a witness has made a substantiated claim to
privilege, or a request for search and seizure of evidence may be refused if
the circumstances of the case do not satisfy the requirements for the exercise
of the power contained in Irish law. In addition it may not be possible to
provide assistance in relation to overseas proceedings where those
proceedings may result in double jeopardy for the accused (e.g. retrial for an
offence for which he or she has already been tried in Ireland or elsewhere).
In the case of requests for the transfer of prisoners, assistance may be
refused or delayed if the prisoner is unwilling to co-operate or is very near the
date of his/her release in Ireland or is required for proceedings in Ireland.
More generally, the rule is that assistance cannot be granted where execution
of the request would be contrary to the Irish Constitution, other Irish law or
established practice.
25
14. CONFIDENTIALITY OF REQUESTS
The contents of a letter of request or the fact that it has been made will not
normally be disclosed outside Government Departments, the Garda
Siochana, the Courts or other official bodies in Ireland concerned with the
26
15. IRISH AUTHORITIES EMPOWERED TO MAKE REQUESTS
(i) Designated Authorities
The following courts and authorities have been designated as competent to
make mutual assistance requests: the District Court, the Circuit Court, the
High Court, a Special Criminal Court, the Court of Criminal Appeal, the
Supreme Court, the Attorney General of Ireland, the Director of Public
Prosecutions and the Chief State Solicitor.
(ii) Onward Transmission of Requests
Requests from these courts and authorities will in the normal course be
passed to the Central Authority for onward transmission to courts and
authorities abroad, or where a State is unwilling to accept requests directly
from the Central Authority, for transmission through diplomatic channels.
(iii) Urgent Irish Requests Addressed to Courts or Tribunals
Section 52 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1994 authorises the courts and
authorities listed above to make requests for the obtaining of evidence
directly to a court or tribunal abroad in cases of urgency.
(iv) Limitation regarding the use of Evidence bv the Irish Authorities
Section 52 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1994 provides that any evidence
obtained by virtue of a letter of request, may not, without the consent of the
requested authority, be used for any purpose other than that specified in the
request.
27
Appendix 1
Reservations
Article 2
The Government of Ireland reserves the right to refuse assistance if criminal
proceedings have been instituted or concluded in Ireland or in a third State
against a person who is the subject of the request for assistance in respect of
the same conduct as that giving rise to proceedings in the requesting State in
respect of that person.
The Government of Ireland reserves the right to make the supply of any
material or evidence, in response to a request for assistance, subject to the
condition that such material or evidence shall not, without its consent, be
used for a purpose that was not specified in the request.
Article 3
The Government of Ireland reserves the right not to take the evidence of
witnesses or require the production of records or documents where its law
recognises in relation thereto privilege, non-compellability or other exemption
from giving evidence.
Article 11 (2)
The Government of Ireland is unable to grant requests made under Article 11,
paragraph 2 for a person in custody to transit through its territory.
Article 21
The Government of Ireland reserves the right not to apply Article 21.
28
Article 22
The Government of Ireland will not notify criminal convictions or subsequent
measures under Article 22 except insofar as the organisation of its judicial
records allows of so doing.
Declarations
Article 5(1)
The Government of Ireland reserves the right to make the execution of letters
rogatory for search and seizure of property dependent on the following
conditions:
(a) that the offence motivating the letters rogatory is punishable under both
the law of the requesting Party and Irish law; and
(b) that execution of the letters rogatory is consistent with Irish law.
Article 15(1)
In respect of the Government of Ireland, references to the "Ministry of Justice"
for the purposes of Article 11, paragraph 2, Article 15, paragraphs 1,3 and 6,
Article 21, paragraph 1 and Article 22 are to the Department of Justice,
Equality and Law Reform.
Article 15(6)
In accordance with Article 15, paragraph 6, the Government of Ireland gives
notice that requests for assistance under the Convention should be sent to
the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Article 16(2)
In accordance with Article 16, paragraph 2, the Government of Ireland of
Ireland reserves the right to stipulate that requests and annexed documents
29
shall be 'addressed to it accompanied by translations into either Irish or
English.
Article 24
In accordance with Article 24, for the purposes of the Convention, the
Government of Ireland deems the following to be judicial authorities:
the District Court
the Circuit Court
the High Court
a Special Criminal Court
the Court of Criminal Appeal
the Supreme Court
the Attorney General of Ireland
the Director of Public Prosecutions
the Chief State Solicitor
30
The Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in
Criminal Matters
Declaration
Article 8(2)
In accordance with Article 8, paragraph 2, the Government of Ireland reserves
the right not to accept Chapters II and III.
31
Appendix II
Reservations
Article 2(2)
In accordance with Article 2, paragraph 2 Ireland declares that Article 2,
paragraph 1 shall apply only to drug trafficking offences as defined in its
domestic legislation and other offences triable on indictment.
In accordance with Article 14, paragraph 3 Ireland declares that Article 14,
paragraph 2 shall apply only subject to the constitutional principles and the
basic concepts of its legal system.
Article 21 (2)
In accordance with Article 21, paragraph 2 Ireland declares that judicial
documents should be sewed only through its central authority.
Article 25(3)
In accordance with Article 25, paragraph 3 Ireland declares that it reserves
the right to require that requests made to it arid documents supporting such
requests be accompanied by a translation into Irish or English.
Declaration
Article 23(1)
The central authority of Ireland designated in pursuance of Article 23,
paragraph 1 is the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, 72-76
St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2.
32
Appendix III
Article 7. paragraph 8
Article 7. paragraph 9
The languages which are acceptable to Ireland for the purposes of Article 7,
paragraph 9 are Irish and English.
33
AN BILLE UM EILLIU A CHOSC (LEASU), 2000
PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL,2000
Introduction
The purpose of this Bill is to strengthen the law on corruption
and enable Ireland to ratify three international agreements,
namely-
Section 1 (Interpretation)
This defines the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1906, as the Act of
1906 so as to avoid repetition of the full title of this Act elsewhere
in the Bill. It also contains standard interpretative provisions. .
There are three main changes to section 1 of the Act of 1906 which
deals with the offence of corruption of 0I;.b<y an agent. First, the
wording of the offence is being revised in order to make it more
comprehensive. The revised offence will apply not only, as at present,
to corruption of an agent, but also to corruption of a third party, for
example a spouse of the agent, with a view to influencing the conduct
of the agent. Second, the definition of "agent" is being extended to
1
cover categories of office holders and officials, both national and
foreign, not presently covered by the Act of 1906. Third, the
maximum penalty for the offence is being increased from 7 years
imprisonment and/or a fine of £50,000 to 10 years imprisonment and
an unlimited fine.
2
AN BILLE UM EILLHJ A CHOSC (LEASU), 2000
PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL,2000
Mar a tionscnaiodh
As initiated
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section
1. Interpretation.
5. Corruption in office.
[No.1 of 2000]
ACTS REFERRED TO
--
2
----~ __________ 7"!7,!a:!!
-, :co
--BILL
entitled
25 1.-(1) In this Act "the Act of 190(," means the IT;!Ten;:ion. of Interpretation.
Corruption Act, 1906.
(2) References in this Act to an act illclude references :,:) ::.=. OjTl~
sion and references to the doing of an lId include referco""-"'" to the
making of an omission.
2.-The Act of 1906 is hereby amend~d by the sut>sUo:;'-c 0f L.e Amendment of:
following section for section 1: se:::tion
19)5. 1 of ACt of
3
-----_._--_._-------- . ---_._.-_._._ ..... _.........__ .-....•..•......-.- ......-...•........ -•.... --..•.....• - ...............
for himself or herself, or for any other person, any gift, consider-
ation or advantage as an inducement to, or reward for, or other-
wise on account of, the agent doing any act or making any omis-
sion in relation to his or her office or position or his or her
principal's affairs or business shall be guilty of an offence. 5
'agent' includes- 30
4
• ' •• "'tr «.,' '$ fbl f " S M·rn ...... 1_ )' » WON
-.--.""---~--~------.-----------.------"-.------ -
.. ..--.--.----.---"-----~.------ ~----
3.-A person may be tried in the State for an offence under the Corruption
25 Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act, 1889, or the Act of 1906, if any occurring partially
in State.
of the acts alleged to constitute the offence was committed in the
State notwithstanding that other acts constituting the offence were
committed outside the State.
35 (2) Subsection (1) shall apply only where the person concerned is
a person referred to in subsection (5)(b) of the said section 1.
5.-(1) A public official who does any act in relation to his or Corruption in
her office or position for the purpose of corruptly obtaining a gift, office.
consideration or advantage for himself, herself or any other person,
40 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable-
5
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding 10 years or to both.
Short title, 7.-(1) This Act may be cited as the Prevention of Corruption
collective citation (Amendment) Act, 2000., .
and construction.
(2) The Prevention of Corruption Acts, 1889 to 1995, and this Act
may be cited together as the Prevention of Corruption Acts, 1889 to
2000, and shall be construed together as one. 25
°i.
6
AN BILLE UM EILUU A CHOSC PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION
(LEASU),2000 (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2000
BILLE BILL
(mar a tionscnaiodh) (as initiated)
da ngairtear entitled
-
Acht do thabhairt eifeacht don Choinbhinsi6n a An Act to give effect to the Convention drawn.
tarraingiodh suas ar bhonn Airteagal K up on the basis of Article K 3(2)(c) of the
3(2)(c) den Chonradh ar an Aontas Eorpach Treaty on European Union on the Fight
maidir Ie Comhrac Eillithe ag Oifigigh. de Against Corruption involving 9fficials of the
chuid na gComhphobal Eorpach no ag Oifig- EuropeanComml:mities or Officials of¥em-
igh de chuid Ballstait den Aontas. Eorpac;h:' . . tier S.tate~~O~.1.~~'~,~fql?.$~~Q"l.v.!l!<?!!.. d_on.~.. ~L,<",,~<
agus a rinneadh sa Bhruiseil ali 261f.la.:.ae ... . ::>Brussels on the. 26th day of, May; 1"991;-the.:,'--
Bhealtaine, 1997, don Choinbhins6n maidir Convention on Combating Bribery of For-
Ie Cur i gCoinne Breabaireacht a Dheanamh eign Public Officials in International Busi-
ar Oifigigh PhoibIf Coigrfche in Idirbhearta ness Transactions drawn up under the aus-
Gno Idirnaisi6nta a tarraingfodh suas faoi pices of the Organisation for Economic Co-
choimirce na hEagrafochta urn Chomhar operation and Development and adopted at
agus Forbairt Eacnamafochta agus a glacadh Paris on the 21st day of November, 1997, and
i bParas an 216 la de Shamhain, 1997, agus the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption
don Choinbhinsi6n Dlf Choiriuil maidir Ie drawn up under the auspices of the Council
hEilliu a tarraingfodh. suas faoi choimfrce of Europe and done at Strasbourg on the
Chomhairle na hEorpa agus a rinneadh i 27th day of January, 1999, and for that pur-
Strasbourg an 276 la d'Eanair, 1999, agus pose to amend certain enactments and to
chun na crfche sin do leasu achtachan airithe provide for related matters.
agus do dheanamh socru i dtaobh nithe
gaolmhara.
An tAire Dli agus Cirt, Camhianannais agus Presented by the Minister for Justice, Equality and
A[hchbirithe Dli a thialaic, Law Reform,
4 Eanair, 2000 4th January, 2000
DUBLIN
PUBLISHED BY THE STATIONERY OFFICE ISBN 0-7076-7972-9
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(II) Part III in so far as it relates to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of
each House, or
(I) Part II in so far as it relates to that House and its members and Clerk and
its committees and their members and clerks,
(II) Part III in so far as it relates to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of
that House, and
shall come into operation on such day as may be specified in the resolution.
(ii) If each House by resolution so declares, Part 11 shall come into operation on such
(I) ParI II in so far as it relates to that House and its members and Clerk and
its committees and their members and clerks,
(II) ParI III in so far as it relates to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of
that House, and
shall cease to be in operation as on and from such day as may be specified in the
resolution.
(ii) If either House by resolution so declares, ParI II shall cease to be in operation as
on and from such day as may be specified in the resolution in so far as it relates to
joint committees of both Houses and their mem bers and clerks.
(3) The Prevention of Corruption Acts, 1889 to 1916, and section 38 may be cited together as
the Prevention of Corruption Acts, 1889 to 1995.
Interpretation.
2.-(1) In this Act, save where the context otherwise requires-
"act" includes omission or failure to act and a reference to the doing of an act includes a reference to
the making of an omission, and any cognate words shall be construed accordingly;
"actual knowledge" means actual, direct and personal knowledge as distinct fr0111 constructive,
implied or imputed knowledge and includes. in relation to a fact, belief in its exis~ence the grounds
for which are such that a reasonable person \\"ho is aware of them could not doubt or disbelieve that
the fact exists;
"additional interests" has the meaning assigned to it by section 13;
"benefit" includes-
( a ) a right, privilege, office or dignity and any forbearance to demand money or money's
\vorth or a valuable thing,
( b ) any aid, vote, consent or influence or pretended aid, vote, consent or influence,
or other advantage and the avoidance of a loss, liability, penalty, forfeiture, punishment or other
disadvantage;
"Clerk" means, in relation to members ofDail Eireann, the Clerk of Da.il Eireann and, in relation to
members of Seanad Eireann, the Clerk of Seanad Eireann;
"commercial price", in relation to the supply of property, whether real or personal, or the supply of a
service, and "commercial consideration", in relation to the lending of property, means-
( b ) where the person by whom the property is supplied or lent or the service is supplied
does not carryon a business consisting wholly or paltly of the supply or lending of
property or the supply of a service of the same kind, the lowest price or consideration
for which an equivalent amount of property of the same kind may be purchased or
taken on loan or a service of the same kind and to the same extent may be procured in
the normal course of business (allowance being made for any discount which is
normally given in respect of the supply or lending of propelty of the same kind or the
supply of a service of the same kind) at or about the time of the first-mentioned supply
or lending of propelty or the first-mentioned supply of a service from a person who
carries on such a business;
(i) the office of chairman of a committee of either House, being an office that stands
designated for the ti"me being by resolution of that House, or .
(ii) the office of chairman of a joint committee of both Houses, being an office that
stands designated for the time being by resolution of each House;
(ii) the date of each anniversary of the first registration date or, if on any such date,
Dail Eireann stands dissolved, the date that is 30 days after the date of the first
(i) the date that is 30 days after the commencement of Part II in so far as it relates to
Seanad Eireann and its members and Clerk and its committees and their members
and clerks or, if on that date Dail Eireann stands dissolved, the date that is 30 days
after the date of the first meeting of Seanad Eireann after the first general election
for members of Seanad Eireann after that dissolution, and
(ii) the date of each anniversary of the first registration date or, if on any such date,
Da-il Eireann stands dissolved, the date that is 30 days after the date of the first
meeting of Seanad Eireann after the first general election for members of Seanad
Eireann after that dissolution;
"relative", in relation to a person, means a brother, sister, parent or spouse of the person or a child of
the person or of the spouse;
"relevant authority" has the meaning assigned to it by section 18:
"special adviser" has the meaning assigned to it by section 19;
"spouse", in relation to a person, does not include a spouse who is living separately and apart from
the person;
"value", in relation to a gift, means the price \vhich the property the subject of the gift would fetch if
it were sold on the open market on the date on which the gift was given in such manner and subject to
such conditions as might reasonably be calculated to obtain for the vendor the best price for the
property, and any cognate words shall be construed accordingly.
(2) (a) Any question whether a person is connected with another shall be determined in
accordance with the following provisions of this paragraph (any provision that one
person is connected \\-ith another person being taken to mean also that that other
person is connected with the first-mentioned person):
(iii) a person is connected with any person with whom he or she is in partnership,
(iv) a company is connected with another person if that person has control of it or if
that person and persons connected with that person together have control of it,
(v) any two or more persons acting together to secure or exercise control of a
company shall be treated in relation to that company as connected with one
another and with any person acting on the directions of any of them to secure or
exercise control of the company.
(b) Inparagraph (a) "control" has the meaning assigned to it by section 157 of the
(3) For the purposes of this Act. a person or a connected person has a material interest in a
matter if the consequence or effect-
(a) of the performance by the person ofa function of his or her office, directorship,
designated position. or position as a special adviser, as the case may be, or
concerning that matter may be to confer on or withhold from the person or the connected person a
significant benefit without also conferring it on or withholding it from persons in general or a class of
persons \\'hich is of significant size having regard to all the circumstances and of which the person or
the connected person is a member.
(4) For the purposes of this Act. a person shall be deemed to have an interest in property if the
person would be regarded as having. for the purposes of the Capital Acquisitions Tax Act, 1976, the
power to make a disposition of that interest.
(5) In this Act-
( a ) a reference to a Part, section or Schedule is a reference to a Part or section of, or a
Schedule to, this Act unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is
intended, and
Regulations.
( b ) make regulations generally for the purpose of gi\'ing effect to this Act and, if in any
respect any difficulty arises during the period of two years after the commencement of
this section in bringing into operation this Act, by regulations do anything which
appears to be necessary or expedient for bringing this Act into operation.
(2) Regulations under this section may contain such incidental, supplementary and consequential
provisions as appear to the Minister to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of the regulations.
(3) The Minister may prescribe-
( a ) for the purposes of the definition of "designated directorship" in section 2, a
directorship of a public body, or
if, but only if, he or she considers that it is necessary in the public interest to do so in order to ensure,
in a case in which, in the opinion of the Minister, a conflict could arise between an interest referred to
in section 17 or, as the case may be, section 18 and the public interest in the performance ofa
function of such a directorship or position, that the function will not be performed without the
disclosure of the first-mentioned interest.
(4) Before making regulations in relation to a matter referred to in subsection (3), the Minister
shall consult with such other Ministers of the Government (ifany) as he or she considers appropriate.
(5) (a) The Minister may, by regulations under this section, vary, having regard to any change
in the value of money occurring after the passing of this Act, any monetary amount
specified in this Act (other than sections 37 and 38).
( b ) If, on any amendment of the law relating to elections, it appears to the Minister to be
expedient-
(i) to amend section 20) for the purpose of assimilating "commercial price" to any
definition of "commercial price" in that law, or
(ii) to amend section 15 (7) for the purpose of assimilating the definition of
"donation" to any definition of "donation" in that law,
the Minister may for those purposes by regulations amend the definition mentioned
first in subparagraph (i) or, as may be appropriate, the definition mentioned first in
subparagraph (ii).
( c ) Where regulations under this subsection are proposed to be made, a draft of the
regulations shall be laid before each House and the regulations shall not be made until
a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by each House.
(6) Every regulation under this Act (other than subsection (5)) shall be laid before each House as
soon as may be after it is made and. if a resolution annulling the regulation is passed by either House
within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the regulation is laid before it, the
regulation shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously
done th~reunder.
Expenses.
4.-Any expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration ofthis Act and, to such extent as
may be sanctioned by the Minister, any other expenses incurred in the administration of this Act shall
be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
PART II
MEMBERS
( b ) if the person is a member on a subsequent registration date, at any time when he or she
was a member during the period between that registration date and the last previous
registration date.
(2) \Vhere a person who is a menlber on a registration date did not have a registrable interest at
any time during the appropriate period specified in subsection (1), he or she shall, not later than 30
days after that date, prepare and furnish to the Clerk a statement in writing of that fact.
(3) It shall not be necessary to specify in a statement under this section the amount or monetary
value of any interest or the remuneration of any trade, profession, employment, vocation or other
occupation included in the statement.
The Register.
6.-(1) As soon as may be after a registration date, each Clerk shall, as respects that date, establish a
register (which shall be known as the Register of Interests of Members of Dail Eireann or the
Register ofInterests of Members of Seanad Eireann, as may be appropriate, followed, in each case,
by a reference to the year in which the registration date concerned occurs).
(2) When a statement is furnished to a Clerk under subsection (1) or (2) of section 5-
( a ) he or she shall, within 60 days after the registration date to which it r-elates or as soon
as may be thereafter. enter it or a copy of it in the register established as respects that
date by that Clerk under subsection (1), and
(3) Each Clerk shall, within 60 days after each registration date or as soon as may be thereafter,
furnish to the Commission and cause to be laid before Dail Eireann or Seanad Eireann, as may be
appropriate, and published in Iris Oifigiitil a copy of the register established by him or her under
subsection (1) in relation to that registration date.
(4) (a) Each Clerk may correct errors in the register established by that Clerk or amend such a
register to take account of statements furnished to him or her under section 29 (1) in so
far as they relate to registrable interests.
( b ) A Clerk shall, as soon as may be after the correction of an error under paragraph (a)
or the receipt by him or her of a statement referred to in paragraph (a)-
( b ) if he or she proposes to vote, but does not speak, in the proceedings, make the
declaration aforesaid in writing and furnish it before voting to the Clerk, or the clerk to
the committee. concerned, as may be appropriate.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), a person (being a member or a connected person) has a
material interest in the subject matter of proceedings if the consequence or effect of any decision by
the House or the committee or joint committee concerned, or by the Government or an office holder,
concerning that matter may be to confer on or \vithhold from the person a significant benefit without
also conferring it on or withholding it from persons in general or a class of persons which is of
significant size having regard to all the circumstances and of\\"hich the person is a member.
(4) Subsection (2) does not apply to an interest of a mem ber that is included in a statement
which or a copy ofwhich has been laid before the House under seC/ion 6.
(5) A declaration under subsection (2) shall-
( a ) in case an official report of the proceedings concerned is published. be included in the
repOIi, and
( b ) in case such a repOli is not published, be published in such manner as the Clerk, or the
clerk to the committee, concerned may direct.
( b ) shall prepare a statement in writing of the reasons for his or her opinion and furnish a
copy of it to-
(4) A member who considers that a member (other than a member who is or, at the relevant
time, v..as an office holder) may have contravened section 5 or 7 may make a complaint in writing in
relation to the matter to the Committee of that House.
(5) A complaint may not be made under this section in respect of a person who has ceased to be
a member.
Investigations by Comminees.
9.-(1) Where a complaint is referred or made to a Committee under section 8, or a Committee
considers it appropriate to do so in the case of a member (other than a member who is or, at the
relevant time, was an office holder). it shall carry out an investigation to determine whether the
member concerned has contravened section 5 or 7, as the case Jllay be.
(2) Where a Committee, either during or at the conclusion oran investigation under this section,
becomes of opinion that the member the subject of the investigation has not contravened the section
of this Act to which the investigation relates, being either sectio11 5 or 7, but may have contravened
the other of those sections, it may carry out an investigation under this section to determine whether
the person has contravened that other section.
(3) Where-
( a ) a complaint is referred or made to a Committee under section 8, or the Committee is
carrying out an investigation under this section whether following such a complaint or
otherwise, and
( b ) at any time before the Committee has complied with section lOin relation thereto, the
person the subject of the complaint or investigation ceases to be a member,
then-
(i) the Committee shall take no steps or no further steps in relation to the matter
unless the person requests the Committee in writing to carry out an investigation
of the matter under subsection (1) or, as the case may be, complete such an
investigation, and
(4) Subject to subsection (3), a Committee shall not carry out an investigation under this section
in relation to-
ea) a person who has ceased to be a member, or
( b ) a person who is or, at the relevant time, was an office holder.
(5) Where-
( a ) in relation to a person who is a member but is not an office holder, a complaint had
been, or been deemed to be, referred or made to a Committee, or a matter that a
Committee had considered it appropriate to investigate had been, or been deemed to
be, otherwise before it,
( b ) following a dissolution of Dail Eireann, the Committee has ceased to exist, and
( c ) the Committee had neither-
the complaint or matter shall be deemed, for the purposes of this section, to have been referred or
made under section 8 to, or, as the case may be, to be before. the Committee of the House of which
the person is a member, and this section shall apply and have effect accordingly in relation to the
complaint or matter.
Reports by Committees.
10.-( 1) Subject to section 31, where a Committee carries out an investigation under section 9, it
shall prepare a report in writing of the results of the investigation, and-
( a) shall furnish a copy of the report to the member concerned and, if the investigation
follmved a complaint under section 8, the person who made the complaint, and
(b) ifit determines that the member has contravened section 5 or 7, it shall cause a copy of
the rep0I1 to be laid before the House.
(2) A report under subsection (1) shall set out the findings of the Committee concerned together
with its determination in relation to the follo\,iing matters, namely-
ea ) \vhether there has been a contravention of secTion 5 or 7 by the member concerned and
whether the contravention is continuing,
( b ) in case the determination is that there has not been a contravention of section 5 or 7 by
the member, whether the Committee is of opinion that the complaint \\'as frivolous or
vexatious or that there were no reasonable grounds for it, and
( c ) in case the determination is that there has been a contravention of section 5 or 7 by the
(i) if the determination is that the contravention is continuing, the steps required to
be taken by him or her to secpre compliance by him or her with section 5 or 7, as
the case may be, and the period oftime within which such steps should be taken,
(iii) whether the contravention was, in all the circumstances, a seriolls or a minor
contravention, and
(iv) whether the member acted in good faith and in the belief that his or her action was
in accordance with guidelines published or advice given in writing by a
Comm ittee under section J2,
and may refer to such other matters, if any, as the Committee considers appropriate.
(3) \\There a Committee adjourns or postpones proceedings in relation to an investigation under
section 9, it may, if it considers it appropriate to do so, prepare an interim report in writing in relation
to the investigation and furnish a copy thereof to the persons specified in subsection (1) (a).
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a Committee may measure the costs and expenses
aforesaid.
(3) Any costs or expenses ordered by a Committee under subsection (1) to be paid by a person
may be recovered from that person by the person to whom they are ordered to be paid as a simple
contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
( b ) may, at the request of a member, give advice to the member in relation to any
provision of this Act or as to the application, in relation to any particular case, of
section 5 or 7.
(2) When a request is made under subsection (1) (b) in relation to a particular case, the section
concerned of this Act shall not, as respects the member who made the request, apply in relation to
that case during the period from the making of the request to the time when advice is given by a
Committee in relation to the case or it declines to give such advice.
(3) A Committee shall, within 21 days of the receipt by it of a request for advice under
subsection (1) (b), furnish the advice to the member concerned or notify him or her of its decision to
decline to do so.
(4) A person shall act in accordance with guidelines and advice published or given to the person
under this section unless, by so doing. the act concerned would constitute a contravention of another
provision of this Act.
(5) In this section "member" does not include a member \\"ho is an office holder.
PART III
OFFICE HOLDERS
13.--(1) A person who is an office holder on a registration date shall prepare a statement in writing,
in such form as may be determined by the Minister or in a form to the like effect, of his or her
additional interests (if any) and containing appropriate information in relation to such matters (if any)
respecting those interests as may be specified in the first-mentioned form, being additional interests
of the person-
( a) if the person is an office holder on the first registration date, at any time during the
period from the passing of this Act to that date. and
( b ) if the person is an office holder on a subsequent registration date, at any time when he
was an office holder during the period between that registration date and the last
previous registration date.
(2) It shall not be necessary to specify in a statement under subsection (1) the amount or
monetary value of any additional interest or the remuneration of any trade, profession, employment,
vocation or other occupation included in the statement.
(3) The Clerk shall, as soon as may be after the receipt by him or her of a statement under
subsection (1), furnish a copy thereof to the Commission and (if it is a statement of a Minister of the
Government or a Minister of State) the Taoiseach.
(4) A statement under this section of a person who is an office holder on any registration date
shall be furnished by the person to the Clerk not later than 30 days after that date.
(5) In this section "additional interest", in relation to an office holder, means any interest
specified in the Second Schedule of which the office holder has actual knowledge of-
which could materially influence the office holder in or in relation to the performance of the
functions of his or her office by reason of the fact that such performance could so affect those
interests as to confer on or withhold from the office holder or the spouse or child a substantial
benefit.
has a material interest in a matter to which the function relates shall, before or, if that is not
reasonably practicable, as soon as may be after such performance, prepare and furnish-
(i) in the case of the Taoiseach, to the chairman of the Commission,
(ii) in the case of any other Minister of the Government or a Minister of State, to the
Taoiseach and the Commission, and
(iii) in the case of any other office holder, to the Commission, a statement in writing
of those facts and of the nature of the interest.
(2) Where an office holder or a person acting on behalf of an office holder proposes to make a
request to another office holder ("the second holder") in relation to the performance of a function by
the second holder and the office holder by or on whose behalf the request is made ("the first holder")
has actual knowledge that he or she or a connected person has a material interest in a matter to which
the function relates, the first holder shall, before or at the time of the making of the request, furnish to
the second holder a statement in writing of those facts and of the nature of the interest.
(3) Where the knowledge or belief of an office holder that-
( a ) another office holder who is a member of the Government, or
( b ) a person who in relation to that other officer is a connected person,
has a material interest in a matter to which a function of the Government relates derives solely from
information in a statement made by that other office holder at or for the purposes of a meeting of the
Government, subsection (1) shall not, as respects that interest, apply to the first-mentioned office
holder, but the Taoiseach shall, before or as soon as may be after the performance of the function,
cause a statement in writing in relation to that interest to be prepared and furnished to the
Commission.
(4) References in this section to the performance ofa function of the office of an office holder
are references to the performance of the function by the office holder personally or by another person
15.--(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, where a gift the value of which exceeds £500 is
given to an office holder by virtue of his or her office-
( a) the property the subject of the gift shall be deemed to be a gift given to the State and
shall vest in the Minister,
( b ) the office holder shall, as soon as may be, inform the Secretary to the Government of
the gift and shall retain custody of the property on behalf of the State until
arrangements are made in relation thereto under paragraph (c) and the office holder
shall dispose of the propelty in accordance with those arrangements when so directed
by the Secretary to the Government, and
( c ) the Secretary to the Government shall arrange, in accordance with the general
directions of the Government, for-
(i) custody of the property by or on behalf of the State (including the giving of it on
loan to a person). or
and shall dispose, in accordance with those general directions, of any proceeds of such
a loan or sale (including by their payment into the Exchequer or disposal for charitable
purposes)
is given to the office holder by vil1ue of his or her office unless the gift is given-
(i) as a donation, or
(ii) by a friend or relative of the recipient and for personal reasons only, or
(iii) by virtue of an office (other than that by reference to which a person is an office
holder) or position held or the status enjoyed by the recipient.
(3) The Secretary to the Government shall, in accordance with the general directions of the
Government-
( a ) determine, for the purposes of subsection (1), the value of property the subject of a gift
given to an office holder by virtue of his or her office, and
( b ) determine, for the purposes of subsections (1) and (2), the question whether a gift is
(i) he or she, or
(ii) the spouse of the office holder, or
(I) property or a service at a price that is less than the commercial price of
the property or service, as the case may be,
(II) a loan of property free of charge or for a consideration that is less than the
commercial consideration for the loan, or
(1) as a donation,
(II) by a friend or relative of the person to whom the offer or supply is made
and for personal reasons only,
(III) by virtue of an office (other than one by reference to which a person is an
office holder) or position held or status enjoyed by the person to \\'hom it
is offered or supplied,
or
(ii) the offer or supply of which is not intended or calculated to confer, and does not
confer, directly or indirectly, a benefit on the office holder concerned.
( c ) The Government shall cause a draft of any proposed guidelines under paragraph (a) to
be given to the Commission and shall, before drawing up the guidelines, consider any
submissions made to them by the Commission in relation to the draft.
( d) Office holders shall act in accordance with guidelines published to them under this
subsection.
(5) Where, for any reason, the Secretary to the Government is unable to perform his or her
functions under this section or the position of Secretary to the Government is vacant, those functions
may be performed by such other person as the Taoiseach may determine.
(6) Section 19 (2) of the State Property Act, 1954, shall not apply to a gift to which this section
applies but where land vests in the Minister by virtue of subsection (1), the land shall become and be
State land for the purposes of that Act and may be dealt with accordingly.
(ii) the interests of which he or she has actual knowledge of his or her spouse or a
child of the person or of his or her spouse,
during the appropriate period specified in section 20 (1) which could materially
influence the person in or in relation to the performance of the functions of that office
by reason of the fact that such performance could so affect those interests as to confer
on or withhold from the person or the spouse or child a substantial benefit, and
( b ) in any case where such a function falls to be performed and he or she has actual
knowledge that he or she or a connected person has a material interest in a matter to
which the function relates shall, before or as soon as may be after such performance,
prepare and furnish to the Taoiseach and the Commission a statement in writing of
those facts and of the nature of the interest.
(2) (a) Section 20 shall apply to a statement under subseclion (1) (a) as if the references in
that section to sections 17 (1) (a), 18 (2) (a) and 19 (3) (a) (i) included references to
subsection 0) (a) and with any other necessary adaptations.
( b ) Subsection (2) of section 29 shall apply to the interests specified in subsection (1) (a)
and to a person who holds the office of Attorney General as if the references in that
subsection to sections 17 (1) (a), 18 (2) (a) and 19 (3) (a) 0) included references to
subsection 0) (a) and with any other necessary adaptations.
(3) References in this section to the performance ofa function of the office of Attorney General
are references to the performance of the function by the holder of that office personally or by another
person in pursuance of a direction gi\'en to the person, in relation to the particular matter concerned,
by such holder personally or a person acting on behalf of and with the personal knowledge of such
holder.
(4) Where a person who holds the office of Attorney General is a member-
( a) paragraph (a) of subsection (1) shall not apply to the person as respects the interests,
during the period of the person's membership, of the persons specified in that
paragraph, and
( b ) paragraph (b) of that subsection shall not apply to the person during the period of the
Designated directorships.
17.-(1) A person who holds or held a designated directorship of a public body specified in
suhparagraphs (8) to (2), or standing prescribed under subparagraph (13), of paragraph J of the
First Schedule-
( a ) shall, subject to section 20 (3), in each year during any part of which he or she holds or
held the directorship, prepare and furnish to the Commission and to such officer of the
body as may be determined by the Minister a statement in writing of-
(ii) the interests of which he or she has actual knowledge of his or her spouse or a
child of the person or of his or her spouse,
during the appropriate period specified in section 20 (1) which could materially
influence the person in or in relation to the performance of the functions of the
directorship by reason of the fact that such performance could so affect those interests
as to confer on or withhold from the person or the spouse or child a substantial benefit,
and
( b ) in any case where such a function, or a function of any other office or position held by
the person in that public body, falls to be performed and he or she has actual
knowledge that he or she or a connected person has a material interest in a matter to
which the function relates-
(i) shall, as soon as may be, prepare and furnish to the other directors of the body a
statement in writing of those facts,
(ii) shall not perform the function unless there are compelling reasons requiring him
or her to do so. and
(iii) shall, ifhe or she proposes to perform the function, prepare and furnish to the
other directors of the body and to the Commission, before or, if that is not
reasonably practicable, as soon as may be after such performance, a statement in
writing of the compelling reasons aforesaid.
(2) There shall be deemed to be included in the terms on which a person holds a designated
directorship referred to in subsection 0) a term that the person shall comply with that subsection.
(ii) the interests of which he or she has actual knowledge of his or her spouse or a
child of the person or of his or her spouse,
during the appropriate period specified in section 20 (1) which could materially
influence the person in or in relation to the performance of the functions of the
position by reason of the fact that such performance could so affect those interests as
to confer on or withhold from the person or the spouse or child a substantial benefit,
and
( b ) in any case where such a function falls to be performed and he or she has actual
kno\vledge that he or she or a connected person has a material interest in a matter to
which the function relates-
(i) shall, as soon as may be, prepare and furnish to the relevant authority a statement
in writing of those facts,
(ii) shall not perform the function unless there are compelling reasons requiring him
or her to do so, and
(iii) shall, ifhe or she proposes to perform the function, prepare and furnish to the
relevant authority, before or, if that is not reasonably practicable, as soon as may
be after such performance, a statement in writing of the compelling reasons
aforesaid.
(3) (a) A person who, during any period, holds or held or occupies or occupied an office or
position specified in paragraph (b) shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act to be a
person who, during that period, occupies or occupied a designated position in a public
body.
(v) such other (if any) offices or positions (other than the office of judge of any court)
established by or under statute as may (if, but only if, the Minister considers it
necessary in the public interest to do so) be prescribed.
( c ) Subsection (.:/) shall not apply to a person who holds or held an office specified in
subparagraphs (i) to (ir) of paragraph (b).
(4) There shall be deemed to be included in the terms of the employment of a person in a
Special advisers.
19.--(1) In this section "special adviser" means a person who-
(a) occupies or occupied an excluded position (within the meaning of the Civil Service
Commissioners Act, 1956), having been selected for appointment to that position by
an office holder personal1y otherwise than by means of a competitive procedure, or
( b ) is or was employed under a contract for services by an office holder, having been
selected for the award of the contract by an office holder personal1y otherwise than by
means of a competitiv.e procedure,
and whose function or principal function as such a person is or was to provide advice or other
assistance to or for the office holder.
(2) The period for which a person acting as a special adviser occupies the excluded position
concerned or is employed under the contract for services concerned shal1 end not later than the date
on which the office holder to whom he or she is acting as a special adviser ceases to hold the office
by reference to which he or she is an office holder.
(3) (a) If the remuneration of a person as a special adviser exceeds a prescribed amount,
then-
(i) subject to section 20 (3), in each year during any part of which the person is a
special adviser, he or she shal1 prepare and furnish to the office holder concerned
and the Commission a statement in writing of-
(II) the interests of which he or she has actual knowledge of his or her spouse
or a child of the person or of his or her spouse,
during the appropriate period specified in section 20 (1) which could material1y
influence the person in or in relation to the performance of his or her functions as
a special adviser by reason of the fact that such performance could so affect those
interests as to confer on or withhold from the person or the spouse or child a
substantial benefit,
(ii) in any case where such a function falls to be performed and he or she has
knowledge that he or she or a connected person has a material interest in a matter
to which the function relates, he or she-
(1) shall, as soon as may be, prepare and furnish to the office holder and to
the Commission a statement in writing of those facts,
(II) shal1 not perform the function unless there are compel1ing reasons
requiring him or her to do so, and
(III) shall, if he or she proposes to perform the function, prepare and furnish to
and
(iii) the person shall undertake not to engage in any trade, profession, vocation or
other occupation, whether remunerated or otherwise, which might reasonably be
seen to be capable of interfering or being incompatible with the performance by
the person of his or her functions as a special adviser.
(4) An office holder shall, in respect of a person who acts or acted as a special adviser to him or
her, lay the following documents before each House of the Oireachtas, that is to say-
( a ) a copy of the contract. or a statement in writing of the terms and conditions, under
which the person acts or acted as a special adviser,
( b ) a copy of any statement under subsection (3) (a) (i) of the interests of the person
furnished to the office holder,
( d) if subsection (3) applies to the person, a statement of the qualifications of the person
relevant to his or her functions as a special adviser.
(5) Section 13 (3) of the Civil Sel"\'ice Commissioners Act. 1956, does not apply to the
appointment to an established position (within the meaning of that Act) ofa person who acts or has
acted as special adviser.
(6) There shall be deemed to be included in the terms on \\"hich a person who is acting as a
special adviser to an office holder occupies the excluded position concerned or is employed under the
contract for services concerned-
( a ) a term that the period for which the person occupies the excluded position or is
employed under the contract for services shall end not later than the date on which the
office holder ceases to hold the office by reference to which he or she is an office
holder, and
( b ) if subsection (3) applies to the person, a term that he or she shall comply with that
subsection.
( a ) in case, as may be appropriate, the person was appointed to the directorship, position
or special adyisership concerned before the date of the passing of this Act and the
statement is the first such statement so furnished by the person since that date, be in
( b ) in case the person was so appointed on or after the date of such passing and the
statement is the first such statement so furnished by the person since such
appointment, be in respect of the period from the date of such appointment to the date
of the statement, and
( c ) in any other case, be in respect of the period from the date of the last previous such
statement so furnished by the person to-
( b) if the appointment is made after the commencement of the provision aforesaid and
after the I st day of October in any year, such time in the next following year,
as the Minister may determine and any subsequent such statement of the person shall be so furnished
by the person not later than 30 days after the anniversary of the day on which the last previous such
statement \\"as so furnish.ed by him or her.
(4) It shall not be necessary to specify in a statement under section 17 (1) (a), 18 (2) (a), 19 (3)
(a) (i)or 19 (2) the amount or monetary value of any interest or the remuneration of any trade,
profession, employment. vocation or other occupation included in the statement.
PART V
THE COMMISSIO~
( b ) the Ombudsman,
( c) the Chairman ofDail Eireann,
(ii) in the case oftheOnlbudsman, the Director of the Office of the Ombudsman,
(iii) in the case of the Chairman ofDail Eireann, the Deputy Chairman ofDail
Eireann,
(iv) in the case of the Clerk ofDail Eireann, the Clerk Assistant ofDail Eireann, and
(v) in the case of the Clerk of Seanad Eireann, the Clerk Assistant of Seanad Eireann,
( d) If a member of the Commission ceases to hold the office by viliue of which he or she
became a member of the Commission, he or she shall thereupon cease to be a member
of the Commission.
(4) (a) The Comptroller and Auditor General and the Secretary and Director of Audit of the
Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General shall not take part in any proceedings
of the Commission relating to the Comptroller and Auditor General or a member of the
staff of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
( b ) The Ombudsman and the Director of the Office ofthe Ombudsman shall not take part
in any proceedings of the Commission relating to the Ombudsman or a member of the
staff of the Office of the Ombudsman.
( c ) The Chairman of Dail Eireann, the Deputy Chairman of Dail Eireann, the Clerk of
Dail Eireann, the Clerk Assistant of Dail Eireann, the Clerk of Seanad Eireann and the
Clerk Assistant of Seanad Eireann shaH not take part in any proceedings of the
Commission relating to the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of either House or to a
(d) Where a member of the Commission is, by virtue of paragraph (a), (b) or (c) unable to
take part in proceedings of the Commission, subsection (3) shall not apply in relation
to such inability, and the Minister shall appoint such person as he or she may
determine to be a member of the Commission for the purpose of taking part in those
proceedings but for no other purpose and the first-mentioned member shall be deemed,
in relation to those proceedings, not to be a member of the Commission.
(5) The quorum for a meeting of the Commission shall be three or such other number (being not
less than three).as may be determined from time to time by the Commission.
(6) (a) The Commission shall appoint one of its members to be chairman of the Commission
and the member so appointed shall hold the office of chairman for such period as may
be determined by the Commission.
( b ) If the chairman of the Commission ceases during his or her term of office as such
chairman to be a member of the Commission, he or she shall also cease to be the
chairman of the Commission.
(b) ifand for so long as the chairman of the Commission is not present or if the office of
chairman is vacant. the members of the Commission who are present shall choose one
of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
(8) A decision at a meeting of the Commission (other than a meeting held for the purposes of an
investigation under section 23) may be that of a majority of the members present and voting on the
question and, in the case of an equal division of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall have a
second or casting vote.
(9) The Commission may act (otherwise than in relation to an investigation under section 23)
notwithstanding one or more vacancies among its members.
(10) Such functions of the Commission (other than functions under section 23) as may be
specified by it may be performed, under the supervision and subject to the general direction of the
Commission, by members of the staff of the Commission duly authorised in that behalf by the
Commission.
(11) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Commission shall determine, by standing orders or
otherwise, the procedure and business of the Commission.
(12) The Minister shall make available to the Commission such reasonable facilities and
services (including clerical, secretarial and executive services) as the Minister, after consultation with
the Commission, may determine.
(13) Subject to such conditions as the Minister may determine, there shall be paid to the
Commission out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas such amounts as the Minister may, after
consultation with the Commission. determine in respect ofthe reasonable expenses of the
Commission and its members.
may make a complaint in writing in relation to the matter to the Clerk and, subject to subsection (2),
the Clerk shall refer the matter to the Commission and shall furnish a copy of the complaint to the
Commission.
(2) The Clerk shall consider a complaint under subsection (1) and, if the Clerk is of opinion that
it is frivolous or vexatious, he or she-
( a ) shall not refer it to the Comm ission, and
( b ) shall prepare a statement in writing of the reasons for his or her opinion and furnish it
to-
( b )a person may have contravened Parrll, III or If! at a time when he or she was an office
holder. or
( c ) that a person who is an office holder may have contravened Part JJ before becoming
an office holder,
(III) a person who is or was a special adviser assigned to the Minister of the
Government by whom the complaint concerned is made or to a Minister
of State at the Department of State administered by that Minister of the
Government.
(c) Where a public body specified in subparagraphs (8) to (12) of the said paragraph 1 or
standing prescribed for the time being under subparagraph (13) of the said paragraph
1 considers that a person who-
(i) holds or held a designated directorship of the body, or
may have contravened Part IV, it may make a complaint in writing in relation to the
matter to the Commission.
(d) Where the appropriate authority (within the meaning of the Civil Service Regulation
Act, 1956, but excluding a Minister of the Government) in relation to a civil servant
(within the meaning aforesaid) considers that the civil servant may have contravened
Part IV, the authority may make a complaint in writing in relation to the matter to the
Comm ission.
Inyestigations by Commission.
(ii) a person who is an office holder and who may have contravened Part 11 before
becoming an office holder, or
(iii) a person to whom section 22 (4) (b) (i) applies and who may have contravened
Part IV-
(I) the person referred to in subparagraph (i) contravened Part 11, III or IV at
(2) Before the Commission decides whether to carry out under subsection (J) an investigation of
a matter that-
( a ) relates to a person who holds or held a designated directorship of, or occupies or
occupied a designated position in, a public body, and
( b ) was not the subject of a complaint referred or made to it under section 22,
(ii) give to any such Minister of the Government as aforesaid and to the body a
statement in writing of the reasons why it considers it appropriate that the
investigation should be carried out,
and it shall decide not to carry out the investigation unless, having considered any representations
made to it by that Minister of the GO\'ernment or the body, it is satisfied that it is appropriate to carry
it out and that an adequate investigation cannot or will not be carried out by or on behalf of that
Minister of the Government or the body or any other authority.
(3) Where the Commission, either during or at the conclusion of an investigation under this
section, becomes of opinion that the person the subject of the investigation has not contravened the
provision of this Act to which the investigation relates but may have contravened another provision
of Part IJ. III or IV, it may carry out an investigation under this section to determine whether the
person has contravened that other pro\'ision, but subsection (2) shall not apply in relation to the
investigation.
Reports by Commission.
24.-( 1) Subject to subsection (2) and section 3 J, where the Commission carries out an investigation
under section 23, it shall prepare a repOIi in writing of the result of the investigation and shalI furnish
a copy of the repOIi to-
ea ) the person the subject of the investigation,
( b ) if the investigation followed a complaint under section 22, the person who made the
complaint, and
( c ) (i) in case the person the subject of the investigation is or was an office holder and
the Commission has determined that he or she has contravened Part IJ, IIJ or IV,
the Committee. and
(II) if, at the time of the alleged contravention concerned, the person occupied
a position in a Department of State or office administered by a Minister
of the Government other than the Minister, that Minister of the
Government.
(2) Where the Commission, either during or at the conclusion of an investigation under section
23, is of opinion that the person the subject of the investigation may have committed an offence
relating to the performance of his or her functions as an office holder, a holder of a designated
dire~torship of, or occupier of a designated position in, a public body or special adviser, as the case
may be or that the person may have cOI)travened Part II before becoming an office holder-
( a ) it shall prepare a report in writing in relation to the matter and furnish it together with
any relevant document or other thing in its possession to the Director of Public
Prosecutions who shall notify the Commission as to whether he or she has taken
proceedings for an offence in respect of any matter mentioned in the report or has
decided not to take any such proceedings and of the final outcome of any such
proceedings (including any appeal, whether by way of case stated or otherwise,
rehearing or retrial), and
( b ) it shall add to its repOli under subsection (1) a copy of its report under paragraph (a)
and a statement of the notification or notifications aforesaid.
(3) A report under subsection (1) shall set out the findings of the Commission together with its
determinations in relation to the following matters, namely-
( a ) whether there has been a contravention of Par! 11. III or IV by the person concerned
and whether the contravention is continuing,
( b ) in case the determination is that there has not been a contravention of Part 11,111 or IV,
by the person, whether the Commission is of opinion that the complaint was frivolous
or vexatious or that there were no reasonable grounds for it, and
( c ) in case the determination is that there has been a contravention of Par! ll, III or IV by
the person-
(i) if the determ ination is that the contravention is continuing, the steps required to
be taken by him or her to secure compliance by him or her with Part ll, III or IV,
as the case may be, and the period oftime within which such steps should be
taken,
(iii) whether the contravention was, in all the circumstances, a serious or a minor
matter, and
(i\') whether the person acted in good faith and in the belief that his or her action was
in accordance with guidelines published or advice given in writing by a
and may refer to such other matters (if any) as the Commission considers appropriate.
(4) Where at any time a repOli under subsection (1) is furnished to a Committee, the Committee
shall cause a copy of the report to be laid before the House concerned.
(5) Where a report under subsection (1) is furnished to a Minister of the Government and the
repOli includes determinations that there has been a contravention of Part IV and that the
contravention was a serious matter, he or she shall cause a copy of the report to be laid before each
House.
(6) Where the Commission-
( a) adjourns or postpones proceedings in relation to an investigation under section 23, or
( b ) during such an investigation, furnishes a repoIi to the Director of Public Prosecutions
under subsection (2) (a) and the Director of Public Prosecutions notifies the
Commission under subsection (2) (a) that he or she has taken proceedings for an
offence in respect of a matter mentioned in the repOIi,
the Commission may, if it considers it appropriate to do so, prepare an interim report in writing in
relation to the investigation and furnish copies thereof to such of the persons specified in subsection
(1) as it thinks fit.
( b ) may, at the request of a person (other than a member who is not an office holder) to
whom a provision of Part 11, III or IV applies, give advice to the person in relation to
any provision of this Act or as to the application. in any particular case, of any such
prOVIsion.
(2) When a request is made under subsection (1) (b) in relation to a particular case, the provision
concerned of Part 11, III or IV shall not. as respects the person who made the request, apply in
relation to that case during the period from the making of the request to the time when advice is
given by the Commission in relation to the case or it declines to give such advice.
(3) The Commission shall, within 21 days of the receipt by it of a request for advice under
subsection (1) (b), furnish the advice to the person concerned or notify him or her of its decision to
decline to do so.
(4) A person shall act in accordance with guidelines or advice published or given to the person
under this section unless. by so doing, the act concerned would constitute a contravention of another
provision of this Act.
(2) For the purposes of subsectio17 (1), the Commission may measure the costs and expenses
aforesaid.
(3) Any costs or expenses ordered by the Commission under subsection (1) to be paid by a
person may be recovered from that person by the person to whom they are ordered to be paid as a
simple contract debt in any cOUli of competent jurisdiction.
( b ) may prepare such other reports for the Minister as it considers appropriate.
(2) (a) The Commission shall furnish a copy of a report under subsection (1) (a) to the
Minister not later than 6 months after the end of the year to which it relates and the
Minister shall, not later than two months after the receipt of the report, cause a copy
thereof to be laid before each House.
(b) The Minister may, ifhe or she considers it appropriate to do so, cause a copy ofa
report under subsection (1) (b) to be laid before each House.
(3) In this section "report" does not include a report under section 24.
PART VI
MISCELLANEOUS
28.-(1) Where a copy of a repOIi of a Committee or a copy of a report of the Commission furnished
to a Committee is laid before either House, the Committee may, if it considers it appropriate, having
( b ) the censuring of the office holder or other member concerned by the House,
( c ) the suspension of the office holder or other member concerned from the service of the
House-
(i) for such period not-exceeding 30 days on which the House shall have sat as may
be specified in the resolution concerned, and
(ii) in addition, if the report aforesaid includes a determination that the office holder
or other member is continuing to contravene this Act and the Committee is
satisfied that the contravention has continued up to the date of the motion for the
resolution concerned under subsection (1), until such time (if any) after the
expiration of the period specified pursuant to subparagraph (i) in the resolution
as he or she takes the steps specified in the resolution (being the steps specified in
the report) to secure compliance by him or her with this Act.
(3) \\There a repOIt referred to in subsection (1), a copy of which has been laid before either
House, includes a determination that the office holder or other member concerned acted in good faith
and in the belief that his or her action was in accordance with guidelines published or advice given in
writing under section 12 or, as the case may be, section 25, a Committee shall not recommend that
the action specified in paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (2) be taken by the Hous~.
(4) The action referred to in subsection (2) (c) shall not affecteither the amount of or the
payment of any allowance or annual or other sum to which the office holder or other member
concerned would, but for such action, be entitled under the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) Act,
1938, PaIt III of the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act, 1938, or section 3 of the Oireachtas
(Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act, 1992.
( b) Where a person fails to comply with section 5 or 13, the person may at any time
furnish to the Clerk a statement in writing of the registrable interest or additional
interest concerned.
( e) When the Clerk receives a statement under paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (e), he or she
shall if it relates to an additional interest, furnish a copy of it to the Commission
and (if it is a statement of a Minister of the Government or a Minister of State)
the Taoiseach.
(2) (a) Where the interests specified in section 170) (a), 18 (2) (a) or 19 (3) (a) (i) of a
person to whom that section applies or of the spouse of such a person or ofa child
either of such a person or of the spouse of such a person change the person may at
any time furnish a statement in writing of the change to the person or persons to
whom statements under that provision are required to be furnished.
( b) Where a person fails to comply with sec/ion 17 (1) (a), 18 (2) (a) or 19 (3) (a) (i),
the person may at any time furnish a statement in writing of the interests
concerned to the person or persons to whom statements under that provision are
required to be furnished.
(c) Where a person to whom section 17 (1) (a). 18 (2) (a) or 19 (3) (a) (i) applies is
advised under section 25 or it appears from guidelines published under section 25
that an interest of the person or an interest of his or her spouse or a child of the
person or of his or her spouse is an interest to which section 17 (1) (a), 18 (2) (a)
or 19 (3) (a) (i). as the case may be, applies. the person shall, as soon as may be
after the receipt of the advice or, as the case may be, the publication of the
guidelines, prepare and furnish to the person or persons to whom statements
under that provision are required to be furnished a statement of the interest.
(3) A statement under this section (other than a statement indicating the cesser or disposal of an
interest) shall be in a form determined under section 5 (1),130) or 20 (2), as may be appropriate, or
in a form to the like effect and shall contain appropriate information in relation to such matters (if
any) respecting the interest concerned as may be specified in the appropriate form determined as
aforesaid.
(4) Section 6 (4) (b) and subseCTion (3) sha11 apply to a statement of a registrable interest
furnished to a Clerk in pursuance of a determination of a Comm ittee or the Commission under
section 10 (2) (c) or 24 (3) (c) and subsection (1) (e) and subseclion (3) shall apply to a statement of
an additional interest furnished to a Clerk in pursuance ofa determination of the Commission under
section 24 (3) (c).
Voluntary statements.
30.-Where a person to whom seclion 5,13,16,17,18 or 19 applies has an interest that is not
Discontinuance of investigations.
31.--(1) A Committee may at any time discontinue an investigation under section 9 of a complaint
referred or made to it under section 8 if it becomes of opinion that the complaint concerned is
frivolous or vexatious.
(2) The Commission may at any time discontinue an investigation under section 23 of a
complaint referred or made to it under section 22 (other than subsection (4) thereof) if it becomes of
opinion that the complaint concerned is frivolous or vexatious.
(3) If a Committee decides to discontinue an investigation under section 9, or the Commission
decides to discontinue an investigation under section 23, it shall prepare and furnish to-
( a ) the person who made the complaint concerned, and
a statement in writing of the reasons for its decision and, in the case of such a decision by a
Committee, it shall, in addition, prepare and furnish such a statement to the Clerk.
(4) Section 11 shall apply with any necessary modifications in relation to a case where an
investigation is discontinued under subsection (1) and section 26 shall apply with any necessary
modifications in relation to a case \vhere an investigation is discontinued under subsection (2).
( b ) direct in writing any other person whose evidence is required by the Committee or the
Commission, as the case may be, to attend before the Committee or the Commission,
as the case may be, on a date and at a time and place specified in the direction and
there to give evidence and to produce any document or thing in his or her possession
or power specified in the direction,
(c) direct any person (other than a person referred to in paragraph (a) in attendance
before the Committee or the Commission, as the case may be, to produce to the
Commission or the Committee, as the case may be, any document or thing in his or her
( d ) direct in writing any person (other than a person referred to in paragraph (a)) to send
to the Committee or the Commission, as the case may be, any document or tl1ing in his
or her possession or power specified in the direction, and
( e ) give any other directions for the purpose of the proceedings concerned that appear to
him or her to be reasonable and just.
(3) The reasonable expenses of witnesses directed under subsection (2) (b) to attend before a
Committee or the Commission shall, subject to sections II and 26, be paid out of moneys provided
by the Oireachtas.
(4) A person who-
( a ) having been directed under subsection (2) to attend before a Committee or the
Commission and, in the case ofa person so directed under paragraph (b) of that
subsection, having had tendered to him or her any sum in respect of the expenses of
his or her attendance which a witness summoned to attend before the High Court
would be entitled to have tendered to him or her. without just cause or excuse disobeys
the direction,
( c ) fails or refuses to send to the Committee or the Commission, as the case may be, any
document or thing legally required by the Committee or the Commission, as the case
may be, under paragraph (d) of subsection (2) to be sent to it by the person or without
just cause or excuse disobeys a direction under paragraph (d) of subsection (2), or
( d) does any other thing in relation to the proceedings before the Committee or the
Commission, as the case may be, which, if done in relation to proceedings before a
court by a witness in the court, would be contempt of that court,
( b ) giving the person the sU,bject of the investigation a statement of the contravention of
this Act alleged, the names of the witnesses whom it is proposed to call to give
evidence before the Committee or the Commission, as the case may be, relating to
such contravention, a copy of each statement intended to be used at the Committee or
the Commission, as the case may be, and an indication in writing of the nature and
source of any information relating to the matter which has come to notice in the course
of the investigation of the alleged contravention which may be favourable to the
person aforesaid and of which he or she may be unaware,
( c ) enabling the person the subject of the investigation and, in the case of a complaint, the
complainant or a person representing the complainant to be present at the relevant
sitting of the Committee or the Commission, as the case may be, and enabling the
person the subject of the investigation to present his or her case to the Committee or
the Commission, as the case may be, in person or through a legal or other
representative,
( e ) enabling any signature appearing on a document produced before the Committee or the
Commission, as the case may be, to be taken, in the absence of evidence to the
contrary, to be that of the person whose signature it purports to be,
(f) the examination by or on behalf of the Committee or the Commission, as the case may
be, and the cross-examination by or on behalf of the person the subject of the
investigation concerned (on oath or otherwise as it may determine) of witnesses before
the Committee or the Commission, as the case may be, called by it,
(g) the examination by or on behalf of the person the subject of the investigation and the
cross-examination by or on behalf of the Committee or the Commission, as the case
may be (on oath or otherwise as the Committee or the Commission, as the case may
be, may determ ine), of \\'itnesses before the Comm ittee or the C0111m ission, as the case
may be. called by the person the subject of the investigation,
( h ) the determination by the Committee or the Commission, as the case may be, whether
evidence at the Committee or the Commission, as the case may be, should be given on
oath,
(j) the making of a sufficient record of the proceedings of the Committee or the
Commission, as the case may be.
Independence of Commission.
33.-The Commission and its members shall be independent in the performance of their functions
under this Act.
by a person to whom the statement is furnished under this Act (lithe first-mentioned
person ") to--
as the first mentioned person considers appropriate in a case where that person is of
opinion that the information is such as to show that there may exist a conflict between
an interest specified in the statement, or an undisclosed interest, of the person by
whom the statement is furnished as aforesaid and the public interest,
(ii) in the public interest, to a Minister of the Government, the Secretary to the
Government, a Committee, the Commission or a person standing determined for
the time being under section 18 as a relevant authority, or
(iii) pursuant to an order of a court for the purpose of proceedings in that court,
or
( d ) the disclosure. by or with the consent of the person to whom the information relates, of
information contained in a report of a Committee under section 10 or the Commission
under section 24 that has not been laid before either House.
(2) Where an offence under this Act is committed by a body corporate and is proved to have
been so committed with the consent or connivance of or to be attributable to any neglect on the part
of any person, being a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the body corporate, or a person
who was purporting to act in any such capacity, that person, as well as the body corporate, shall be
guilty of an offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished as ifhe or she were
guilty of the first-mentioned offence.
(i) in section 1-
(1) by the substitution for "any member, officer or servant of', in each place
where it occurs in subsection (1) and (2), of "an office holder or his or her
special adviser or a director of, or occupier of a position of employment
in,", and
(II) the substitution for "public body", where it secondly occurs in subsection
(1) and (2), of "office holder or public body",
and
(ii) in section 2, by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (a):
and paragraphs (b)to (e) of this subsection shall apply only if the conviction is
on indictment: and",
and
(iii) in section 7, by the substitution of the following definitions for the definitions of
"public body" and "public office";
'director', 'office holder', 'public body' and 'special adviser' have the
meanings assigned to them by the Ethics in Public Office Act, J995:",
and
"(3) In this Act 'agent' also includes an office holder or a director (within the
meaning, in each case, of the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act, 1889, as
amended) of, and a person occupying a position of employment in, a public
body (within the meaning aforesaid) and a special adviser (within the meaning
aforesaid). ",
and
(iii) in section 4, by the substitution of the following subsection for subsections (2)
and (3):
"(2) In this Act 'director', 'office holder', 'special adviser' and 'public body' have
and the said section 1, as amended by this section, of the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act, 1889,
is set out in the Table to this section.
TABLE
I. (I) Every person who shall by himself or by or in conjunction with any other person, corruptly solicit
or receive, or agree to receive, for himself, or for any other person, any gift, loan, fee, reward, or advantage
whatever as an inducement to, or reward for, or otherwise on account of an office holder or his or her special
adviser or a director of, or occupier of a position of employment in, a public body as in this Act defined, doing
or forbearing to do anything in respect of any matter or transaction whatsoever, actual or proposed, in which the
said office holder or public body is concerned, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour.
(2) Every person who shall by himself or by or in conjunction with any other person corruptly give,
promise, or offer any gift, loan, fee, re\\·ard. or advantage whatsoever to any person, whether for the benefit of
that person or of another person, as an inducement to or reward for or otherwise on account of an office older or
his or her special adviser or a director of. or occupier of a position of employment in, any public body as in this
Act defined, doing or forbearing to do anything in respect of any matter or transaction whatsoever, actual or
proposed, in which such office holder or public body as aforesaid is concerned, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanour.
Section 2.
FIRST SCHEDULE
PUBLIC BODIES
1. Each of the following shall be a public body for the purposes of this Act:
(1) a Department of State (including, as respects any particular Department of State, any office
or body not otherwise standing specified in or under this Schedule in relation to which functions are
vested in the Minister of the Government having charge of that Department of State),
(2) the Office of the President,
(3) the Office of the Timaiste.
(4) the Office of the Attorney General,
(S) the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General,
(6) the Office of the Ombudsman,
(7) the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas,
(8) a local authority (within the meaning of the Local Government Act, 1941),
(9) a health board,
(10) a body, organisation or group established-
( a) by or under any enactment (other than the Companies Acts, 1963 to 1990), or
SECOND SCHEDULE
REGISTRABLE INTERESTS
1. Each of the following interests shall be a registrable interest for the purposes of this Act:
(1) a remunerated trade, profession, employment, vocation or other occupation of the person
concerned (other than that of office holder or member or an occupation to which Part IV applies) at
any time during the appropriate period, in relation to that person, specified in section 5 (1) or 20 the
remuneration from which to the person concerned during that period exceeded £2.000,
(2) a holding by the person concerned of shares in, or bonds or debentures of, or other like
investments in, a particular company or other enterprise or undertaking if the aggregate value of the
holding exceeded £ 10,000 at any time during the appropriate period aforesaid,
(3) a directorship or shadow directorship of any company held by the person concerned at any
time during the appropriate period aforesaid,
(4) any interest in land ofthe person concerned, being an interest the value of which exceeded
£ 10,000 at any time during the appropriate period aforesaid, including-
( a ) the interest of the person in any contract entered into by him or her for the purchase of
land, whether or not a deposit or part payment has been made under the contract, and
(i) any option held by him or her to purchase land, whether or not any consideration
has been paid in respect thereof, or
(ii) land in respect of which such an option has been exercised by the person but
wh ich has not yet been conveyed to the person,
(i) a gift given to the person by a relative or friend of the person or of his or her
spouse or of a child of the person or his or her spou?e for purely personal reasons
only, unless the acceptance of the gift by the person could have materially
influenced him or her in the performance of his or her functions as a member,
office holder, Attorney General, holder of a designated directorship, occupier of a
designated position or special adviser, and
(ii) a gift given to the person, or gifts given to the person by the same person, during
the period aforesaid, as respects which the value, or the aggregate value, of the
property the subject of the gift or gifts did not exceed £500 at any time during the
period aforesaid,
( b ) (i) property supplied or lent or a service supplied to the person, once or more than
once by the same person during the period aforesaid, for a consideration or
considerations or at a price or prices less than the commercial consideration or
considerations or the commercial price or prices by more than £500, and
(ii) property lent or a service supplied to the person, once or more than once by the
same person during the period aforesaid, free of charge if the commercial
consideration or considerations or the commercial price or pri~es was or were
more than £500.
(6) travel facilities, living accommodation, meals or entertainment supplied during the
appropriate period aforesaid to the person concerned free of charge or at a price that was less than the
commercial price or prices, but excluding-
(a) travel facilities, living accommodation, meals or entertainment provided-
or
(iii) in the case of a member, by the Inter Parliamentary Union (or such other (if any)
similar bodies as may be specified by the Committee in guidelines published by it
under section 12) or any organisation of states or governments of which the State
or the Government is a member or a body of or associated with any such body or
organisation,
(7) a remunerated position held by the person concerned as a political or public affairs lobbyist,
consultant or adviser during the appropriate period aforesaid,
(8) any contract to which the person concerned was a party or was in any other way, directly or
indirectly, interested for the supply of goods or services to a Minister of the Government or a public
body during the appropriate period aforesaid if the value of the goods or services supplied during the
period aforesaid exceeded £5,000 or, in case other goods or services \",ere supplied under such a
contract as aforesaid to a Minister of the Government or a publ ic body during the period aforesaid, if
the aggregate of their value and the value aforesaid exceeded £5,000.
2. (1) In paragraph 1 (2), "holding" does not include money in a current, deposit or other similar
account \\"ith a financial institution.
(1) In paragraph 1 (3), "shadow directorship" means the position held by a person who is a
shadow d:rector within the meaning of the Companies Acts, 1963 to 1990, or, in the case of a public
body that is not a company (within the meaning ofthe Companies Act, 1963) and is specified in
subparagraph (8), (9), (10), (IJ) or (12), or stands prescribed for the purposes of subparagraph (13),
of paragraph J of the Firs! Schedule, the position held by a person in accordance with whose
instructions or directions the members of the body or the members of the board or other body that
controls, manages or administers that body are accustomed to act.
ACTS REFERRED TO
. 10. The Lord Chancellor may m!l.ke rules fixing a sca.le of costs to
applicable on an arbitration under this Act, and the arbitration
may, notwir.hstanding anything in the Lands Clauses Acts, de
amount of costs, alld shall have power to disallow as costs in the
tion the costs of any witness whom thcy cOllsider to have beell'
unnece:ssnrily, nnd any other costs which they consider to have l)eeu caused
or incurred unnecessarily, and, if they think the circumstances such as to
justify
own them in so doing, to order that each of the parties ehall bear their
co"ts.
.,
CHAPTER 640;
.till Act to amend the Law relating to the Prevention. of
. Corruption, .' [22nd De'cembe! 1916.J
'BE it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and
with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and ..
Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled,
and by the authority of the same, as follows:" I ".
Prevention oj Con'uption A.ct, 1916. Ca. 64. '203
5~o~~ title, 2. This ) ... Ct may be cited as the Local _-\.ULho2"i~ies (TreastU·y
?o\iers) _-ict, 1906.
OR..:i.PTER 34.
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[4th _-\.ugl.lst 1906.J
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it enacted by the fu:::lg's most ~1J.ent by and }Iajesty,
8.: t me ach-ice and consent or ilie h.ords Snirimru and
Te!:!lp oral , and Co::n.mons, 1:2 Lhis present Par'na..r:ne:l't asseT'"bled:
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CH_I\.PTER 69. ;.
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\TTHEREAS it is expedient more effectually to provide for the
preven-::lOD. and punishment of bribery n.nd corruption of and
L>\' I:lem bel's, c-=~er::, or seryants of corporation!;, councils, boards'
cO!JJ.:::lissions, a:ld other public bodies : ~
:Be it therefo::-e enacted by the Queen's most Excellent MajestY.
L.y a!ld wi:h ,"":le ad,ice ana consent of the Lords Spil-itual and
Te::::?oral, an':: Commc.IJ.S, in this present Parliament :l.s:embled,
c~:Ju ·;:13" T.ne 2..L::20~ty· of the same, as follo\\·s : ~
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Act, lS·S9.
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A ~DllCatl0n
__ ," 0:• 8. Iu the application of this Act to Scotland the sheriff and
_~c: to Sco!- sheriff substitute shall ha,e jurisdiction to try any offence under
this Act; and
! The expression" misdemeanor" sha'!l mean" crime and offence;"
and
I 50 £; 51 'Vic:.
c. 20. not to
2.pp}y to t:-=.:!l
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Act, ISS" soaJ no" apply
Act
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The expressio!l "municipal borough" shall mean any . "burrrh."
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CHAPTER 70.
b Act to 2:::)";)1'V a sum out of the Consolidated F'und to
"the sernce~ o:f~ the year ending on the thll'~rfu'st day of
"\ofarch o~e thousand eight hundred. and nihety, and
-to approT.ll':ate the SUD'Plies £'ra~ted in this Session of
Pa:rliame~t. ...... ~ [30th August 1889.J
'liost G=2.~ious So~e.!e:2'n, ._.
, E. -rour aiestv's most -cutiful a:1d loyal subjects, the CoIil.-
W, r:oODS of ~be t-:-nited "kingdom ci Great Britain and Ireland.
y;
a. General policy
a.1. What general policy does your country have towards corruption (is it an issue
or not; focus on repression and/or prevention,........)?
Draft Government Decree on legislative tasks and other measures aimed to improve the
efficiency of fighting corruption:
"By adopting the principles and recommendations set forth in the relevant documents of
United Nations, the Council of Europe as well as the European Union on curbing corruption
the Government wishes to make definite steps to establish a new set of operating principles
for governmental bodies to make it more transparent and facilitate accountability, thus
improving the transparency of public life while also fulfilling the expectations of the
Hungarian society and meeting international commitments. In order to reach the
aforementioned goals the Government hereby issues the following decree:
1. The Government deems it highly undesirable that the undertaking of business functions by
organizations and individuals performing public duties and services influence public
decisions. Therefore, the Government hereby orders the relevant ministers to review the
conflict-of-interest regulations pertaining to organizations and employees thereof directed
or supervised by them that perform public services with special respect to the
representatives of local governments, mayors, law enforcement agencies and officers and
public servants. The operating principles and regulates should strictly separate public and
private life and the set of rules enabling the employer to weigh possible conflicts of
interests shall be narrowed down.
2. The regulations regarding the financing of political parties - with special respect to
donations from individuals - shall be revised to enable tighter control of the sources of the
assets and financial support of political parties. The current regulations shall be revised in
such a manner that would eliminate any possibility to circumvent the regulations
regarding political donations and proper registration thereof. The Government deems it
undesirable to have political parties operating fully or in part on financial support of shady
origin. Therefore new regulations shall be established to make sure that the political
parties can only accept donations from individuals that are able to disclose or prove the
legal nature of the origin of donated funds. The regulations enabling the verifiability of
the origin of donations shall be integrated in the audit process aimed to supervise the
finances of political parties.
1
3. In order to maintain the transparency of public life the Government wishes to establish an
auditing system which on the one hand makes it mandatory to disclose the personal wealth
and assets of the representatives [of the House], judges and state attorneys as well as
individuals holding positions that require the highest level of national security clearance
publicly whereas on the other hand makes the general public aware of not only the
personal wealth of the individuals in question but also the increment thereof along with its
origin. In order to enforce the principles set forth above the regulations to be implemented
shall widen the circle of individuals obliged to report on personal assets and enable the
public to verify the origin of any increment in the assets reported by such individuals. It
shall be considered what groups of public servants should also fall under the obligation of
reporting on present personal assets and the origin of increments, if any, in order to
decrease the criminal risk of corruption. The Government deems it desirable to have the
report on personal assets as well as the contribution of the individual in question to
reporting on the origin of the increment(s) ofhislher personal assets on a regular basis as a
prerequisite to employ such individual in any public service position involving increased
exposure to corruption.
4. Under the auspices of fight against organized crime, organized corporate crime and
corruption the Government dedicates special attention to criminal accusations and
subsequent legal proceedings against individuals protected by immunity on the basis of
holding public service position of high importance. The Government believes, that - in
order to protect public peace of the democratic society - in high-profile cases that may
jeopardize public trust in public service institutions it is unjustifiable to provide legal
options that may hinder full-scale investigation of such cases. Therefore, to maintain
public trust in individuals holding positions of high importance, the Government wishes
to:
a) implement rules that limit immunity in case of high-profile cases involving organized
crime, organized corporate crime or corruption and as a result the accountability of
such persons can be decided upon within the framework of criminal proceedings;
b) consider, what types of crimes should be classified into the categories mentioned
above;
c) weigh in the course of the codification process, whether the new regulation dealing
with the categories set forth above should exclude or mandatorily suspend immunity
or merely set such a short deadline [to decide on immunity] that serves the purposes of
crime investigation;
d) implement a legal framework that makes it possible for the individual entitled to
suspend or uphold immunity to get informed on the criminal proceedings or the facts
of the underlying case before the beginning of the criminal proceedings, the latest.
5. The Government deems it important that - before making governmental decisions as well
as during preparation and codification phase of legal statutes, in addition to interests
defined within the framework of governmental operations - the exercisability of the
interests of the civil society as well as those of the economic players be provided by a
legal framework. The Government strives to make the process of preparing and codifying
legal statutes fully transparent in order to reveal the interests and adverse interests as
defined by governmental bodies and various social or economic players as well as the
results of reconciling such interests that eventually lead to the final wording of such
statutes. In order to enforce the Government's intention the regulations regarding existing
reconciliation mechanisms shall be revised and it is justifiable to legislate a "lobby act"
that would make sure that:
2
a) the relationships between the participants of the decision-making process, that is
governmental bodies responsible for preparation and codification of legal statutes as
well as registered organizations entitled to represent interests and adverse interests as
defined by social or economic players are predictable and in order from a legal point
of view;
b) the public can be aware of all parties participating in preparatory work.
6. Within the framework of the fight against organized crime, organized corporate crime and
corruption the Government wishes to underline the importance of providing regular and
exhaustive media coverage of relevant high-profile cases. To provide such coverage the
Government reckons on the active contribution of the media players (with special
attention to the media institutions providing public services) and the same time calls
governmental bodies to put a strong emphasis on helping the representatives of media to
perform such tasks. The ethical and responsible coverage of crimes that may erode public
trust is of the utmost importance. As a consequence, the Government wishes to put
forward the following principles:
a) The media coverage - acting for public interest - must also playa role in preventing
crimes of this nature in order to increase the ability of the society to defend itself
against the same. This makes it necessary to work out regulations and policies
regulating the activities ofthe press and the media in general to ensure that -in
addition to factual reports on the crimes - the coverage of such crimes also reveal the
causes and environmental factors leading to such crimes.
b) It is unjustifiable to carry on the current media policy of not disclosing the true
identity of the person(s) being accused of crime(s) in media reports due to the
obligation to protect privacy and uphold presumption of innocence. New media
policies must be introduced for informing the public that put the emphasis on
protecting the interests of juveniles and those in danger as well as those of the criminal
investigations while upholding the rights to privacy of those involved. On the other
hand all such media coverage must solely be based on the facts at hand with regard to
both the person(s) being accused and the institution(s) that can be connected to such
person(s).
c) The need to ensure that media coverages are based on facts only shall not lead to
creation and distributionlbroadcasting ofunresponsible rumours. In order to avoid this,
the relevant minister shall revise the Act 2. of 1986 on the press as well as the Act 1.
of 1996 on radio and television broadcasting to evaluate whether the regulations
enacted to define and enforce legal responsibilities of individuals falling under the
jurisdiction of the fore-mentioned Acts are sufficient or not [to enforce law-abiding
behaviour] .
d) In the course of proper media coverage of crimes undermining public trust the crime
investigation and other governmental bodies shall increasingly guard crime
investigation interests. In order to achieve this goal, the relevant ministers shall review
and, if needed, propose amendments to current regulations (by also considering the
rules of criminal proceedings) to make sure that any public communication on behalf
of the authorities do not affect the interests of criminal investigation adversely.
7. The Government orders the relevant ministers to review their former anti-corruption
activities, evaluate the results and experiences and - in order to fight this phenomenon in a
more effective way - work out action plans to implement tighter control of the activities
performed by the authorities and employees thereof falling under their jurisdiction as well
3
as provide education and training for such employees for crime prevention purposes. The
action plans shall be based on the principles as follows:
a) It is very important to specify tasks aimed to make decisions more transparent and
auditable. To achieve this, an internal controlling mechanism shall be implemented
that make the decisions made by the particular authority along with their causes
obvious and accountable for those performing the audit.
b) The process of making decisions by an authority shall be complemented by work
organization solutions that may reduce the risk of corruption associated with such
decisions. In order to achieve this it is advisable to work out rules and regulations that
- by also meeting the requirements of relevant legal statutes - force collective efforts
in preparation and making of decisions specially prone to corruption. These
requirements shall be enforced in regard to public administration proceedings directly
affecting citizens as well as to the decision making process carried out by officials
having direct contact with the members of the general public.
c) The action plans shall put an emphasis on the education of those taking part in the
preparation and making of decisions exposed to corruption in order to make such
individuals aware of the nature, possible causes and consequences of corruption. Such
education shall take into account the peculiarities of the particular workplaces and
jurisdictions, that is, the subject matters, form and organizational framework of the
education shall be specified. The Government deems it desirable to organize
corruption-prevention courses on a regular basis that could be attended by both the
individuals working in public administration and the employees of the supervising
organizations.
d) The Government wishes to grant anti-corruption experts the ability to obtain and
advance their knowledge of the subject matter on organized workplace tours and
education sessions abroad. Within the framework of this, the exchange of experts is
highly desirable. In order to achieve this goal the relevant organizations shall strive to
make full use of the assistance and scholarships to be offered by the European Union
as well as other opportunities readily available through international cooperation and
further extend international cooperation.
e) In order to make high profile decisions that have a higher risk of corruption associated
with them transparent and auditable, they shall be given great pUblicity. The general
public shall be enabled to get a clear insight into the process of preparing and making
the decisions, the decisions themselves, the individuals involved in the process as well
as the causes and reasoning of the decisions. Therefore the action plans shall put
special emphasis on the communication activities of the organizations concerned as
well as their relationship to the media, especially on how to provide the basis for a
factual information supply that can be docurpented by the media. The Government
deems it desirable that - in addition to considering the aforementioned principles - the
authorities in question inform the media on a regular basis on high profile decisions
and the causes thereof.
8. The Government hereby orders the body governing judicial institutions and the Attorney
General's Office to review their former activities aimed to prevent corruption jeopardizing
the operation of judicial organizations as well as those of the state attorneys and check
control mechanisms used to supervise judicial work of courts and state attorneys. In order
to fight the phenomenon more efficiently - and based on their previous experiences - they
shall prepare an action plan to implement tighter control of the activities performed by the
employees of courts and state attorney's offices as well as provide education and training
for such employees for crime prevention purposes.
4
9. The Government wishes the put an emphasis on the fulfillment of obligations undertaken
in international treaties for fighting against corruption as well as on the complexity of
fight against corruption and especially on the concordance of actions and measures
planned. Therefore, it orders the Minister of Justice and the Minister of the Interior to
a) review legal statues in effect to establish whether they meet the requirements as
stipulated in international treaties along with the ones required by the legal
harmonization process between Hungary and the European Union, and as a result,
specify codification directives aimed to interpret the requirements of international
treaties in a consistent way and - based on such interpretations - implement domestic
regulations that are able to meet international expectations in a complex manner;
b) ensure the concordance of measures concentrated mainly in the field of law
enforcement that are necessary for the codification and the operation and co-operation
of governmental bodies commissioned to investigate and curb corruption in order to
fight corruption in a more efficient way;
10. The Government hereby urges the development and introduction of educational programs
in public schools to facilitate the development of behavioural patterns to refuse
corruption. It is justifiable to teach - adjusted to meet the educational standards of various
school types within the framework ofthe National Core Curriculum - the basics of how to
realize the risk of corruption and how to rebut or avoid it as well as the Hungarian legal
regulations regarding corruption. Such education shall serve - partly through intensified
education of divinity and ethics - the moral development of students in such a manner that
the refusal of corruption and the striving to achieve corruption-free social relationships
would become a definite goal for the next generation. The relevant governmental, clerical
and other social organizations shall also contribute to the enlightenment of those
participating in low, middle or high level education.
11. The Government deems it desirable, that the professions and occupations particularly
exposed to risk of criminal interference - especially corruption - compile a professional
Code of Conduct to define basic ethical requirements for those pursuing such profession
or occupation that would even be able to meet the ethical requirements ofthe society in
cases beyond reach of legal statutes or other legislative efforts. Such Codes shall serve as
a basis and norm to take steps against unethical conduct or behaviour. The Government
therefore deems it necessary to adopt the following measures:
a) It shall be reviewed whether such professions or occupations do have a Code of
Conduct and if they do, are they really up to today's requirements. The Government
wishes to make sure that such codes of professional conduct define in-depth
regulations concerning professional ethics rather than simply echoing the requirements
as stipulated in relevant legal statutes.
b) In case of insufficiency or lack of rules regulating professional conduct, a Code of
Conduct shall be compiled based on the range of expectations to be met by also taking
into account the traditions of the particular profession as well as the expectations of
the general public.
12. It shall be reviewed - by also considering the constitutional requirement ofthe availability
of information of public interest - whether the circle of information classified by relevant
statutes as business secrets can be narrowed. Within the framework of this review it shall
be weighed whether the tender documentation as well as contracts or other agreements
made with the winner(s) of public tenders for concessions, public procurement, sale of
5
• state assets as well as distribution of subsidies be made public - in its entirety - or not.
Upon reviewing the above, a proposal shall be made for necessary amendment(s) to
relevant statutes.
13. The Government deems it necessary to have the National Trade Commission routinely
analyze the unit price figures for procured goods and services as publicized in the reports
on public procurement tenders and inititiate an investigation ifthere is a suspicion of
illegal price fixing or other unethical business conduct.
In concordance with the fulfillment oftasks undertaken within the framework ofthe legal
harmonization process the Government deems it necessary to re-codify the Act on public
procurement. In the course of this legislative work, further steps shall be taken to ensure
the transparency of public procurement processes. The review of the Act on public
procurement shall be done based on the following:
a) the rules of obligation to provide information regarding the fulfillment of contracts
signed in association with public procurement tenders as well as the legal
consequences of possible unjustifiable amendments of such contracts affecting the
result of the base process adversely from a budgetary point of view shall be worked
out and a proposal shall be prepared to establish an organization enforcing the
aforementioned rules;
b) it shall be considered whether the option to set the lower limit of fines that may be
imposed in legal proceedings based on the severity of the violation of law Act can be
incorporated in the Act on public procurement or not.
14. The legal options enacted in certain member states ofthe Union that classify certain
payments (such as commission fees, brokerage and referral fees, etc.) made in
international business transactions under various titles tax-deductible shall be reviewed in
order to make a legislative decision whether such model would be adequate to mitigate the
risks of international and domestic corruption and fight it effectively with special respect
to the ability to reveal and punish the corruption interweaving business operations. If the
experiences at hand show that the introduction of such model makes the fight against
corruption more effective then appropriate steps shall be taken to prepare the legislation
thereof.
15. In order to curb frequent abuses in the distribution of goods subject to excise tax such as
liqueurs and tobacco the relevant regulation shall be reviewed to consider whether it is
advisable to uphold the present situation characterized by the coexistence of the range of
goods subject to excise tax and another range of goods of similar [usage] value that is
either not subject to excise tax or falls into another tax bracket or subject to another tax
payment method. If it is justifiable to uphold such duality, then solutions shall be
proposed that would result in reduced risk of abuses with special respect to the usage of
gas products burned as fuel. The measures to be adopted shall strive to synchronize the
operations and actions of the police, the customs and financial authorities as well as those
ofthe consumer protection authorities that are going to be performed to curb the abuses
committed in distribution and usage of the range of goods in question. It shall be analyzed
what kind of role do the limited distribution options of such goods play in abuses. If the
experiences indicate a correlation between the limited supply and the violations oflaw,
then in order to eliminate such adverse effect a solution shall be proposed to adopt
measures that would result in a healthier balance of supply and demand.
6
16. The Government deems it desirable that the officials fulfill their obligation to report on
corruption and bribery attempts and contribute to the investigation of corruption cases
they have become aware in a more consistent way. In order to achieve this goal, the
Government deems it necessary to establish legal accountability so that officials who may
become aware of corruption but fail to report it can be tried.
17. The Government regards the fight against corruption as a collective effort therefore it
wishes to provide more effective ways for the cooperation between authorities obliged to
act against corruption and the citizens ready to contribute to such efforts. In order to
facilitate such cooperation the citizens shall be given the opportunity to report corruption
cases to relevant authorities over the Internet and consult them, if necessary. Further
technical option of such interaction with the citizens shall also be considered.
18. It is justifiable to revise the current criminal statistics system in order to get a more
realistic picture of the nature and prevalence of corruption crimes that have become
known. Therefore it is advisable to also analyze the corruption-related crimes presently
being found in the criminal statistics system such as crimes against the order of elections
(public referendum or initiative), abuse of power, connivance and certain cases thereof.
19. Of corruption-related crimes, the passive bribery is regarded by the Government as the
most dangerous one. Likewise, such crimes committed against public service officials
pose the greatest risk in terms ofthe perpetrators. The Government strives to give such
crimes a harsher judgement and wishes to enable law enforcement agencies to enforce
legal accountability of such crimes for a period longer than it is applied today. Therefore
the Government deems the following measures necessary:
a) The punishment of such crimes that can be imposed by the courts shall be revised to
make the criminal sanctions stricter therefore signifying the increased risk such crimes
pose to the society.
b) The increased risks of passive bribery committed by the players of the economy shall
also be taken into account. The imposable punishments that convey the intentions of
the criminal law regarding business-related bribery shall also reflect this stricter
judgment. In the course of revising punishments an effort shall be made to
differentiate between the legal consequences based on the level of risk a particular
corruption crime may pose to the society.
c) Considering the fact, that corruption and crimes of similar nature are hard to fully
investigate and generally take longer to become known, a longer period of time shall
be granted to the authorities performing the investigation to enforce the law. In the
course of revising the punishments as stipulated by law the upper limit of criminal
punishments shall be specified in order to extend the term of limitation, without
touching the regulations regarding such terms.
d) In order to step up the effectiveness of measures against individuals committing
passive bribery a legal option shall be established that would allow the the briber to
evade criminal responsibility by [first] reporting the bribery to the authority and make
it possible to identify the official that has been bribed. It shall be considered, whether
it is advisable to grant immunity to the bribed individual- in exceptional cases, with
regard to the nature and significance ofthe case, provided that the identification of the
briber is of high importance to the investigating authority and the money or other form
of monetary advantage taken as a bribe is simultaneously surrendered to the same
authority.
The legal option to be introduced shall ensure that the person who has been granted
7
immunity is questioned by the authority as a witness. On the other hand such person(s)
shall not have the right to refuse confession on the grounds that he/she would thus
accuse himselflherself of committing a crime.
20. The Government wishes to act against legal entities (business organizations) the operation
of which can be linked to crimes committed by a natural person - who generally plays a
decisive role in decision mechanisms of such legal entity - in a more efficient and
consistent way.
21. The Government hereby expresses its belief that any authorized person committing
corruption or any similar crime in the course ofhislher professional conduct becomes
unworthy to pursue such profession or occupation. Therefore - within the framework of
reviewing relevant regulations - a solution shall be worked out that would make it
mandatory for the courts to bar such persons committing corruption or any similar crime
from pursuing their profession due to having become unworthy to do so.
22. In order to ensure factual coverage and protect the presumption of innocence that the
suspect( s) are entitled to have, the Government deems it advisable to publicize the the
content of final court decisions made in criminal trials of corruption or similar cases. The
groups of corruption or similar crimes for which the courts decisions are to be made
public as well as the content of such public reports shall be thoroughly considered and
defined. In the course of formulating the rules of publication the following principles shall
be considered:
a) The Government deems it unnecessary to publicize the court decision in its entirety,
therefore any report made public shall eventually summarize the content of the
decision in plain language.
b) The report summarizing the content ofthe court decision shall contain the name of the
defendant, the legal description of the crime in case of conviction or the legal
description of the charges in case of acquittal and the legal consequences to be
suffered by the defendant. In addition, the public report shall also incorporate the most
important facts of the case as established in the court, the reasons provided by the
court and the circumstances relevant to making the decision to punish, as the case may
be.
c) The summary of the court decision shall be made public in the official bulletin Magyar
K6zlOny within a short period of time of the decision taking effect.
d) The Government deems is advisable to make the court - the decision of which is going
to take effect - also responsible for the publication of the decision. As a consequence,
the Government hereby calls upon the body governing the courts to participate in the
codification work of the regulations regarding such publication.
23. It shall be considered what other legal options are available to restrain illegal profit-taking
from corruption. The codification work shall focus on working out regulations that can
effectively block mala fide property transfers and establish a legal procedure to enforce
8
such regulations. Within this framework it shall be considered to provide a legal option
for the relevant authority to presume the illegal nature of any increment in personal wealth
in exceptional cases where the corruption or similar crime has ties to organized crime. On
the other hand, by verifying the legal nature of such increment the accused person shall be
able to refute such presumption.
24. In order to fight corruption and similar crimes in a concerted and more efficient way the
Government deems it desirable to concentrate the investigation of all corruption cases
within the organization of the state attorney's offices. Therefore the Government calls
upon the State Attorney to make a proposal- by considering the above - for a solution
that would involve the transformation of the organization within his jurisdiction and incur
the least possible expenses.
25. The Government wishes to introduce regulations that would allow the relevant authorities
to make use of the assets confiscated in corruption cases (or cases involving similar
crimes) directly and purposefully to fight corruption. In the course of reviewing
regulations it is advisable to strive for establishing a central monetary fund that would
enable the authorities fighting against corruption to make use such funds directly in order
to improve their operations. This option shall also be made available (through public
tenders) to civil organizations participating in the fight against corruption.
26. The Government puts special emphasis on the coordination and supervision of the anti-
corruption codification process and other relevant measures as well as on regular and
periodic analysis of the impacts thereof and expresses its will to inform the public
continuously.
In order to achieve the goals specified above the Government calls upon the Minister of
Justice to coordinate the anti-corruption strategy of the Government in conjunction with the
Minister ofthe Interior. He shall supervise the tasks to be carried out by the governmental
bodies and report to the Government on the progress six months after passing the present
degree and on a yearly basis thereafter.
When appointing the candidates, due efforts shall be made to make sure that the Anti-
Corruption Board is going to consist of well-respected members of international organizations
as well as the country's public and business life and the membership of the Board shall not
exceed 15 individuals. In order to strengthen the control of the society over the fight against
corruption the Government deems it desirable to exclude individuals presently holding
governmental positions or being employed by governmental bodies. These latter individuals
would only contribute to preparatory
a.2. Do you consider this policy satisfactory or not? If not, in your opinion what are the
main deficiencies?
9
Yes, it is satisfactory
b. Statistics
b.t. To what extent and from which sources are statistical data available concer:ning:
corruption
international co-operation in corruption cases
the link between corruption and organised crime
the link between corruption and money laundering?
• The database which provide for these specific infonnation is under construction at the
Chief Prosecutor's Office.
• The source of statistical data on criminal cases is the monthly issued criminal statistics
journal.
b.2. Can you provide these data? If they are not available, can you make an estimation?
c. Repressive legislation
c.l. Which types of behaviour can be sanctioned as forms of corruption (bribery, trading
· In
In . fl uence, ....?)
Active and/or passive corruption? In the public and lor the private sector?
• Active and passive corruption, public and private sector can be sanctioned alike.
c.2. Are those legal provisions only applicable if nationals are corrupted or is their scope
of application more extensive (foreigners, members of international organisations,...)?
10
• •
•
•
•
•
passive bribery in the private sector
bribery of officials of international organisations
bribery of members of international parliamentary assemblies
bribery of judges and officials of international courts
trading in influence
• profiteering with influence in international relations
• imprisonment
• fine
• labour in the public interest
• at this time administrative sanctions are not available for the offence of bribing a foreign
public official
• The only administrative penalties currently available in relation to legal persons are
imposed pursuant to various statutes for the violation of those statutes. The most
comprehensive example is Act CXLV of 1997 on the Registration of Companies, Public
Company Information and Court Registration Proceedings. Penalties are imposed under
this act where, for instance, a company enters unlawful data in the Register of Companies.
The penalties include a fine between 50,000 and 500,000 HUF, suspension ofthe
company's resolution for a specific period or a declaration that such resolution is null and
void.
c.4. To whom are these legal provisions applicable (physical persons and/or legal
persons)?
• Physical persons
c.6. Does the law contain particular provisions relating to the burden of proof in
corruption cases (reversal, division, protection of whistleblowers,.•. )?
• The sanction is more severe in case of perpetrator is an official person of senior position,
or competent to take measures in important affaires or official in an important affair and if
one violates his official duty for the favour, exceeds his competence or otherwise abuses
his official position or ifhe commits the act as part of a criminal conspiracy or in a
business-like manner
• The perpetrator shall not be punishable ifhe gave or promised the favour upon the
initiative of the official person because he could fear unlawful disadvantage in case of his
reluctance
• 11
.)
c.7. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? Unot, in your opinion what
are the main problems?
• No, because the Hungarian legal system, does not provide for either criminal or non-
criminal liability of legal persons for bribery. The Hungarian authorities are aware of the
problem and are studying the introduction of appropriate solutions.
d. Preventive measures
d.l. What kind of prev~ntative measures exist in your country (auditing standards,
financial disclosure obligations, codes of conduct, ...)?
• Act XVIII of 1991 on Accounting contains reporting and bookkeeping obligations, as well
as disclosure, publication and audit requirements. Its aim is to provide an authentic and
true overall picture in respect of the income producing capability, the development of the
t) assets, the financial situation and the future plans of the entities falling under the effect of
the Act.
Subsection 15(2) of the Act on Accounting states that an "economic organisation" shall
enter into its books all the economic events of the year and the effect these events have on
its assets and liabilities. An "entrepreneur" (entrepreneurs are defined as all legal entities
and economic organisations without legal entity that perform on their own behalf and at
their own risk business-like activities for the purpose of making a profit. These include
credit institutions, financial enterprises, investment enterprises and insurance
companies.) is required to keep double-entry books and ensure that the books reflect
economic events that become know after the end of the accounting year but before the
preparation of the balance-sheet.
Pursuant to subsection 15(13) economic organisations are obliged to follow the principle
of content over form, and, therefore, must ensure that the recordings of transactions reflect
their true nature.
Pursuant to Act CX! of 1996 on the Offering of Securities, Investment Services and on the
Stock Exchange, companies whose shares are traded on the Stock Exchange have a more
detailed and frequent information providing obligation. Companies that issue bonds or
other securities are also subject to more onerous data providing obligations.
The tax provisions contain detailed regulations concerning accounting, verification and
registration of incomes and losses of enterprises. The Act on Corporate Tax and Dividend
Tax contains accounting regulations that are much stricter than those under the Act on
Accounting.
12
• The penalties of deprivation of liberty for the foreign bribery offence are sufficient to
enable mutual legal assistance. There is no limit concerning imprisonment in either Act
XXXVIII on International Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters or in the Council of
Europe Convention
• Pursuant to subsection 11(2) of Act XXXVIII of 1996 on International Legal Assistance
in Criminal Matters, extradition is permitted in respect of offences that are punishable by
"at least 1 year" imprisonment under the laws of Hungary and the requesting state
• The NEBEK (International Law Enforcement Centre) has the competence to authorise
certain forms of legal assistance even without a previous authorisation from judicial
authorities. This accelerates and provide uniform standards for international cooperation
between police authorities.
• Does not require participation by officers of hungarian or foreign authorities in an official
process abroad.
a.2. Who should the applicant apply to (which authority, person in charge at this instant,
address, phone and fax number)? On which conditions and in which form?
• According to the general rules of procedure the applicant can tum to any authority which
are all obliged to forward it to the competent authority.
a.3. Which particularities should the applicant be aware of when requesting co-
operation from your country?
a.4. Which (legal and factual) obstacles do, in your opinion, hamper an efficient co-
operation in practice (bank secrecy, double incrimination, language, policy
priorities,... )? Which practical remedies can you suggest?
b. Demand
b.l. What are your expectations when you request co-operation from another country in
a corruption case?
• Mostly but it depends on specific cases and individuals. To have a personal contact is
always useful.
It
I
b.3. Which are the main problems and how can these be solved?
14
• The language because it takes time to have a certified translation.
• To set up a special unit for certified translation especially for these cases.
15
NATIONAL REPORT
FOR
GERMANY
a.l What general policy does your country have towards corruption?
Since the middle of the nineties the public show a growing interest in regards to corruption
crime. The public debate on the issue of corruption has also caused politics and therefore
legislation to consider new methods. Since 1997 various regulations and modifications to the
law have been made on the preventive as well as on the suppressive level in order to fight
corruption crime.
The answers below will give more details on individual measures, programmes and concepts
to fight corruption crime.
a.2. Do you consider this policy satisfactory or not? If not, in your opinion what are the
main deficiencies?
The measures taken by the legislators so far definitely contribute to an improvement of the
possibilities to fight corruption. Despite all new measures, new ways that lead to an increase
in efficiency must be found again and again. This also represents a challenge to legislation.
The answers below will indicate the individual demands.
b. Statistics
b.l. To what extent and from which sources are statistical data available concerning:
- corruption
- international co-operation in corruption cases
- the link between corruption and organised crime
- the link between corruption and money laundering?
The corruption cases registered by the police are recorded by the annual Police Crime
statistics.
Since 1994 the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation has annually prepared a 'Situation
Report on Corruption in the Federal Republic of Germany' (see enclosure no. 1) as well.
Said report lists a variety of statistics (such as the number of crimes, the number of suspects,
,e the aims of the corruption cases, the duration of corruptive connections, kind and amount of
benefits received) on all police investigations into corruption conducted within Germany in
1
the year in question. So-called state situation reports prepared by each State Office of
Criminal Investigation provide the data basis of that report. Subsequently the Federal Office
of Criminal Investigation evaluates all 16 state reports on corruption and prepares the federal
report on corruption from that data.
Detailed statistical data are depicted under Item b.2.
There are no statistics available on the connection between offences of corruption and money
laundering.
b.2. Corruption
All existing statistical data concerning crimes of corruption are comprised in the Annual
Report on Corruption in the Federal Republic of Germany. The following statistical data shall
be depicted here as samples:
The development of the number of proceedings from 1994 to 1999 is depicted in the chart
below:
1200
1.072
1.034
The 1,034 investigative proceedings revealed a total of6,743 individual corruption crimes.
The chart below depicts the development of the number oflegal offences from 1994 to 1999:
2
15.968
A total of2,535 suspects were detennined in 1999, who are distributed as follows:
The chart below depicts a survey of the years from 1994 to 1999:
15.968
1o_u.~u ....
14.0()OJ.-t----
3
The link between corruption and organised crime
The judicial assistance is handled by the court authorities. Each year the Federal Office of
Criminal Investigation handles the international police information exchange in
approximately 50 to 70 proceedings based on corruption crimes. These concern requests from
German authorities as well as requests from foreign authorities. See Item 2 for more details.
There is no statistical data available. However, it must be assumed that money laundering also
plays an important role in corruption crime, since the subjects have to cover up and attempt to
legalise the profits they achieved illegally.
c. Repressive legislation
c.l. Which types of behavior can be sanctioned as forms of corruption? Active and/or
passive corruption? In the public and/or the private sector?
The German Criminal Code penalises corruption in the private sector (§§299 and 300,
German Criminal Code) as well as in the public sector (§§331-335, German Criminal Code).
While §299 of the German Criminal Code contains active as well as passive corruption, it is
differentiated between active corruption (§333 and §334 of the German Criminal Code) and
passive corruption (§331 and §332, German Criminal Code) for the public sector. In the
public sector German criminal law diferentiates between acceptance of benefits/granting of
benefits (§§331 and 333, German Criminal Code) and bribery/receiving a bribe (§§332 and
334, German Criminal Code). The difference is that in regards to the facts of
bribery/receiving a bribe (§§332 and 334, German Criminal Code) an illegal act must have
been committed by the takerlbribed person.
Furthermore the bribe of a member of Parliament, i.e. the purchase or sale of a vote for an
election, is illegal according to §108e.
4
The legal text of the crimes summarised in Gennany under the tenn of 'corruption crimes' is
enclosed (enclosure no. 2).
c.2. Are those legal provisions only applicable if nationals are corrupted or is their scope
of application more extensive?
With publication of the 'Act on the protocol of 27 September 1996 on the agreement on the
protection of financial interests of the European Communities, ED-Corruption Act' (see
enclosure no. 5) and the 'Act on the agreement of 17 December 1997 on the fight against
bribery of foreign officials in international transactions' (Act on the Fight Against
International Bribery; see enclosure no. 4) in the Federal Law Gazette of 1998 Part II No. 37,
issued on 21 Sep 1998, foreign officials are treated the same as domestic officials. Therefore
according to the ED-Corruption Act the corresponding Gennan Criminal law is applicable to
active as well as passive corruption of foreign .
The criminal law implies the following penalties (see enclosure no. 2):
Besides confinement and pecuniary penalties § 73 and the following sections of the Gennan
Criminal Code also provide for the possibility of forfeiture and confiscation. According to
stipulations of the Gennan Code of Criminal Procedure it is possible to confiscate the
pecuniary benefit gained from an illegal act; the court may then order forfeiture in subsequent
proceedings.
Besides criminal sanctions there is also the possibility of disciplinary proceedings for officials
in civil service. According to the severity of the offence the disciplinary law provides for
disciplinary measures such as reprimandes, fines, cuts in salary, blocked promotions and in
extreme cases tennination of employment.
Should pecuniary damages occur due to corrupt acts or such by the civil service or a damaged
finn, recompensation can be claimed in accordance with civil law.
Some Gennan states have introduced corruption registers on state level, so-called 'black lists'.
Finns (legal persons) that were convicted of corruption are entered into said registers and are
excluded from public tendering for a certain period oftime (tender disqualification).
5
c.4. To whom are these legal provisions applicable?
The criminal sanctions mentioned in c.3. are only applicable to physical persons.
The possibility of disciplinary proceedings additionally exists for suspects (officials) in public
servIce.
Legal persons can merely be punished by being entered into a corruption register (only
possible in a few German states).
Principally German criminal law applies to acts committed in-country. Exceptions are
covered by § 5 of the German Criminal Code No. 12-14 a (see enclosure no. 2).
According to the International Corruption Act and the EU-Corruption Act, §§332, 334-335 of
the German Criminal Code also apply to acts committed abroad (see enclosure no. 4 and 5).
c.6. Does the law contain particular provisions relating to the burden of proof in
corruption cases?
There is no reversal of burden of proof for corruption crimes which is a basic rule of German
criminal law .
There are no special legal provisions for the protection of 'whistle blowers'. If there is a
concrete danger to the life of a witness, protective measures can be taken.
c.7. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion what
are the main problems?
The creation of a federal corruption register ('black list'), listing firms prosecuted for
corruption and excluding them from public tendering (tender disqualification) for a certain
period of time, would be advantageous to a more effective punishment of legal persons. So far
such registers only exist in individual German states. Frist considerations on federal level
have already been started.
There are no legal provisions for telephone monitoring in corruption cases and also no "crown
witness provisions". Which both might be useful for purposes of criminal prosecution.
6
d. Preventive measures
The Federal Republic of Gennany consists of 16 Gennan states that each have their own
administration. The Federal Office of Criminal Investigation is therefore unable to make a
concluding statement on the efforts to fight corruption in the whole Federal Republic of
Gennany. Initiatives on state level can only be mentioned selectively.
On the federal level the 'Guideline of the Federal Government on the Prevention of
Corruption in the Federal Administration' was published on 17 June 1998. The guideline
contains 20 rules for the prevention of corruption and is mandatory for all offices of the
Federal Administration. See enclosure no. 3 for the contents of said guideline.
Guidelines of similar content were also set in each state and are authoritative for the
individual state administration. Furthennore particularly the larger authorities (such as the
Federal Office of Criminal Investigation) publish their own infonnation and guidelines on the
prevention of corruption for their employees.
Within the framework of corruption prevention the collaboration with other authorities whose
tasks include the prevention of corruption is sought in several Gennan states. For instance in
the State of Baden-Wurttemberg there is a 'coordinating group for the fighting of corruption' ,
in which a variety of authorities such as the Chief Public Prosecution, the State Audit Office,
the State Cartel Authority, the City Convention, the Municipal Examination Institute and
others are involved. It is the goal of that coordinating group to improve the coordination of
measures through the cooperation of all authorities involved in the prevention and fighting of
corruption.
A unifonn code of conduct for officials of public service is provided by the Gennan civil
service law. The conduct expected in accordance with the civil service law, however, is only
of an abstract nature. Concrete codes of conduct (such as a regulation on the acceptance of
gifts etc.) are usually issued within the individual authorities.
For the private sector the code of conduct how to fight corruption in business issued by the
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have become significant to a certain extent.
d.2. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion what
are the main deficiencies?
Principally the guidelines on the prevention of corruption issued on the federal and state
levels and the measures contained therein are to be considered as being sufficient. What is
merely lacking at times is a consequent realisation of the measures required in the guidelines,
such as more training and additional training, a consequent use of administrative and
departmental supervision, rotation etc.
In addition to the guidelines on the prevention of corruption the following items would be
helpful for an improved prevention of corruption:
7
Firms prosecuted for corruption should be listed in such a register and shall be excluded from
public tendering for a limited period. Such corruption registers only exist in some German
states without being connected to each other.
The demands furthermore include the establishment of central contacting and consultation
offices at the police authorities or prosecutors' offices, providing competent points-of-contact
in cases of suspected corruption (also for anonymous information).
There is no legal duty for authorities and public service offices to report suspected corruption
to the criminal prosecution authorities, but it is authorised by current law. If administrative or
disciplinary investigations
have revealed a well-founded suspicion of corruption, the criminal prosecution authorities
should be informed accordingly.
The prevention and fighting of corruption falls within the responsibilities of a variety of
authorities and institutions. In order to avoid duplicate work and to collect the existing
information, collaboration based on individual requirements between the different institutions
such as the audit offices, cartel offices, internal revenue services, non-governmental
organisations such as Transparency International etc. is needed. Until now collaboration
between the different authorities and institutions has only taken place selectively; however, it
should become a constant establishment in the fight against corruption.
e. Structures
e.l. Has your country established specialised services, specifically assigned with the
combat against corruption? If so, what are the institutional context, the composition, the
functions and the powers of these services?
Here we must differentiate between the federal and the state fight against corruption.
Due to the federal system of the Federal Republic of Germany the police and the prosecution
are the responsibility of each individual state.
(Art. 30 German basic law: Holding state authority and performing state duties are federal
states affairs, ... )
All 16 states have their own state police force (security as well as criminal investigation) and
their own prosecution.
For that reason neither the police nor the prosecution in Germany have a central special
services center that would be responsible Germany-wide concerning crimes of corruption.
In the field of corruption the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation holds the position of the
central function office for the state offices.
8
reparation of infonnation exchange within that specific area of criminal
investigations (national/international)
coordination and accompanying evaluation of own investigations and those of
other authorities
development/optimization of concepts to fight corruption
The Federal Office of Criminal Investigation has no original responsibility for investigation in
the field of corruption crime, i.e. investigative proceedings can only be carried out upon
request or on instructions.
The fight against corruption (repression and prevention) IS regulated differently In each
Gennan state.
1. Non-central processing
Nonnally, the investigative proceedings in the states are undertaken non-centrally by the
locally competent offices of criminal investigation. The fight against corruption is usually
assigned to the field of white-collar crime.
2. Central processing
Some Gennan states have a central corruption processing office. That office usually is in the
State Office of Criminal Investigation, where a special organisational unit has been installed
to fight corruption. Those offices have original jurisdiction for all crimes of corruption in their
state.
The state prosecutors' offices are in the process of establishing more and more specialised
prosecutors' offices competent for all corruption crimes either within their area of jurisdiction
or within the whole state. That makes it easier for the police to work in the field of corruption
crimes, since they now have constant and competent points-of-contact in the prosecutors'
offices.
No infonnation can be given on the structure and manpower of the individual special offices,
as they differ from state to state.
e.2. Do you consider this structural framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion what
are the main problems?
Due to the federal system central processing of corruption crimes does not exist in Gennany,
neither by the police nor by the prosecution.
The fight against corruption is handled very differently within the individual states. An
effective and consequent pursuit of corruption crime
9
is possible in those states that have central processing of corruption crimes by special police
or prosecutor's offices. Offensive investigations
are carried out in those offices, that means that they do not limit themselves to known cases of
corruption but also 'search for' new cases, which reflects in the statistics as a high number of
investigations.
That modle has turned out to be useful.
a.1. To what extent can your country offer international co-operation in corruption
cases (exchange of police information, mutual assistance in criminal matters,
extradition ...) ?
In Germany the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation (BKA) is the central office in its
function as Interpol and is the point of contact for international co-operation in police affairs.
Requests from other Interpol-countries are processed at the BKA. If the the BKA does not
have the desired information, the request is forwarded to the competent state office.
The exchange of mutual assistance with foreign countries is based on the law providing for
international mutual assistance in criminal matters. That law becomes applicable if there is no
special agreement with the country in question (i.e. the Convention applying the Schengen
Agreement or bilateral agreements). Principally the correspondence with foreign states is
reserved to the federal administration. According to § 59 of the international mutual
assistance in criminal matters, in connection with No. 123 of the Guidelines on
Correspondence with Foreign Services, any police correspondence with foreign countries is to
be forwarded to the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation (§ 3 BKAG; see enclosure no.
6).
Thus the requests from foreign police stations are processed according to the above
regulations and the desired measures, such as warrants for arrest, searches for wanted persons,
establishment of identity, information provided by public registers as well as information
provided by criminal police files.
Within the scope of police co-operation no measures for criminal proceedings, such as
interrrogations or searches, may be carried out for other countries. This requires a request for
judicial assistance which cannot be transmitted via Interpol.
An exception can only be found in the European Agreement on Mutual Assistance. The
request for judicial assistance needs several formal requirements that are set down in the
European Agreement on Mutual Assistance and the Guidelines on Correspondence with
Foreign
Services. For instance it must be put in by the prosecution of the requesting country and is to
be forwarded through the Ministry of Justice of the Federal Republic of Germany to the
competent prosecutor's office or the competent judge.
Sections 2-58 (see enclosure no. 7) of the International Mutual Assistance Act regulate the
extradition, transit and execution of foreign information such as searches and confiscation,
insofar as no more specialised regulation in relation to the requesting country applies.
10
Police requests for judicial assistance can only be put in via Interpol by the Gennan Federal
Office of Criminal Investigation to those countries where an international agreement justifies
the duty that requests for judicial assistance put in by police authorities must be processed
(agreements such as with Israel, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and Italy).
a.2. Who should the applicant apply to (which authority, person in charge at this instant,
address, phone and fax number)? On which conditions and in which form?
For requests within the range of police co-operation the applicant can apply to the National
Central Office of Interpol at the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation in Wiesbaden.
If the application concerns a request for carrying out measures for criminal proceedings
within Gennany, a request for judicial assistance must be forwarded by the competent
prosecutor's office via the country's Ministry of Justice to the Gennan Ministry of Justice.
In accordance with No. 1231125 of the Guidelines on the Correspondence with Foreign
Services the police application should contain certain data on the investigative proceedings.
These are infonnation on the investigative authority, infonnation on the accused and on the
crime he or she is charged with. Other than that the request requires no special fonnat. The
request may be sent infonnally via Interpol to the Interpol Central Office.
a.3. Which particularities should the applicant be aware of when requesting co-
operation from your country?
Within the scope of international exchange of police infonnation the applicant should pay
attention to the guidelines set down in the Guidelines on the Correspondence with Foreign
Services as mentioned above. The request must contain the general data in accordance with
No. 125 of said guidelines.
Extradition is only possible if there is an agreement for extradition with the requesting
country and if there is a warrant for arrest or a judgement against the wanted person.
Furthennore the crime must be punishable by Gennan law and limitation of time has not yet
become effective. Extradition is excluded concerning Gennan citizens.
However, there is an intention to modify the Gennan Basic Law to the effect that Gennan
citizens can be extradited within the European Union or to international law courts.
If the wanted person risks capital punishment or if the extradition contradicts essential
principles of Gennan law (such as the threat of torture), the request will be denied.
a.4. Which (legal and factual) obstacles do, in your opinion, hamper an efficient co-
operation in practice (bank secrecy, double incrimination, language, policy priorities...)?
Which practical remedies can you suggest?
Problems are encountered when putting in requests of judicial assistance to certain countries
(such as Switzerland). When an appeal is filed, the documents are retained for up to two years
or their release is even refused completely. In such cases legal assistance is first refused with
the argument that the documents or money supposedly are not connected to the given facts in
11
Germany. In addition to that the trustee or attorneys frequently gear the case to a tax offence,
making judicial assistance no longer possible.
b. Demand
b.1. What are your expectations when you request co-operation from another country in
a corruption case?
When submitting a request to another country, observing the principle of equality, we expect
to receive from the country we apply to police information or judicial assistance to the same
extent as we ourselves have already granted to the country in question.
In addition to that it is important that the country applied to responds quickly to the request.
In general those expectations are met and the country applied to responds in a timely manner
and by providing all required information. However, sometimes it also happens that the
country applied to fails to respond even after repeated requests without giving any
explanation, and that we must do without the required information.
The utilisation of gained information in court requires the permission of the country applied to
and is therefore difficult for the proceedings in Germany if said permission is withheld.
b.3. Which are the main problems and how can these be solved?
As in other crime fields the different legal provisions and opinions are an obstacle to
international cooperation. A first step of importance would mean harmonization of legislation
on EU-Ievel.
12
BUNDESKRIMINALAMT
LAGEBILD KORRUPTION
BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND
1999
(KURZFASSUNG)
Bundeslagebild Korruption 1999 (Kurzfassung)
1 VORBEMERKUNGEN
Mit diesem Bericht wird dem Beschluss des AK II vom 01.102.04.1998 Rechnung ge-
tragen, das Bundeslagebild Korruption ab dem Jahr 1999 jahrlich fortzuschreiben,
und nicht mehr. in Form von Doppellagebildern wie in den Jahren 1995/1996 und
1997/1998 herauszugeben. Durch die jahrliche Fortschreibung des Bundeslagebildes
Korruption kann nunein aktuelleres Bild der. Korruptionslage in der Bundesrepublik
Deutschland aufgezeigt, und auf neue Formen der Korruptionskriminalitat schneller
fa reagiert werden.
Vorab ist ·zu erwahnen, dass die Zahlen dieses Bundeslagebildes nicht mit den An-
gaben der "Polizeilichen Kriminalstatistik" (PKS) unmittelbar vergleichbar sind.
Die Datenbasis fUr dieses Lagebild bilden weiterhin die von den jeweiJigen Landes- .
kriminalamtem erstellten Landeslagebilder Korruption.
Auch im Berichtsjahr 1999 ist die vollstandige Einbeziehung von Daten zu Verfahren,
die ohne polizeiliche Mitarbeit bei den Staatsanwaltschaften anhangig waren, nicht
moglich. Hier bedarf es noch weiterer Gespr.ache mit den zustandigen Gremien. Dies
gilt auch fUr Daten aus Verfahren der Zollbehorden.
Bundeskriminalamt 1
Bundeslagebild .Korruption 1999 (Kurzfassung)
Der Begriff der "Korruption" wird im Strafrecht selbst nicht erlautert. Er umfasst viel-
mehr verschiedene Strafrechtsnormen, die wie folgt beschrieben werden konnen:
2
Bundeslagebild Korruption 1999 (Kurzfassung)
Die zuvor genannten Straftatbestande gehen oft mit weiteren Delikten, wie z.B. Be-
trug, Untreue, Strafvereitelung im Amt, Verletzung von Dienstgeheimnissen,
Falschbeurkundung und VerstoBen gegen strafrechtliche Nebengesetze einher.
Zur Erleichterung des Verstandnisses wird im folgenden Text der Begriff des Vf?r-
teilsgewahrers/Korrumpierenden durch "Geber"und der Begriff des Vorteilsneh-
mers/Korrumpierten durch "Nehmer" ersetzt.
Strukturelle Korruption: Hier handelt es sich urn Faile, bei denen die Korruptions-
handlung auf der Grundlage langerfristig angeJegter kor-
ruptiver Beziehungen bereits im Vorfeld der Tatbegehung
bewusst geplant wurde. Es liegen demnach konkrete bzw.
geistige Vorbereitungshandlungen vor, die eine Spontani-
tat der Handlung ausschlieBen.
Bundeskrim inalamt 3
Bundeslagebild Korruption 1999 (Kurzfassung)
--_._----------------------- ----
2 LAGEUBERBLICK
Mit diesem Bericht ist es nunmehr moglich, Tendenzen und Entwicklungen der Kor-
ruptionskriminalitat Ober einen Zeitraum von sechs Jahren darzustellen. Wie in den
Vorjahren auch, kann lediglich Ober das polizeiliche Hellfel9 beri?htet werden, da
nach wie vor keine Moglichkeit besteht, die Erkenntnisse der Justiz und des 20lls in
das Lagebild einzubeziehen. Ober die Relation Hellfeld zu Dunke.lfeld liegen keine
konkreten Angaben vor. Die Tatsache, dass eine Vielzahl der Verfahren erst durch
Errnittlungen der Polizei entstehen unq nicht durch Anzeigen Dritter, lasst jedoch
darauf schlieBen, dass viele Korruptionshandlungen irn Verborgenen bleiben. Grund
dafUr sind u.a. die begrenzten persone"en Kapazitaten der Polizei fOr die Aufdek-
kung und Bekampfung der Korruptionskrirninalitat.
Nach einer deutlichen Steigerung zwischen 1996 und 1997 urn 142,2 % und urn
weitere 8 % zwischen 1997 und 1998 ist fUr 1999 erstrnals ein ROckgang der Verfah-
renszahl urn 3,5 % auf 1.034 Verfahren zu verzeichnen.
4
Bundeslagebild Korruption 1999 (Kurzfassung)
Einen Oberblick Ober diese Situation gibt das folgende Schaubild wieder:
1200
1.072
1m Gegensatz ,zu den Jahren 1997 und 1998, in denen der Anteil der Verfahren si-
tuativen Ursprungs rOcklaufig war, steigt dieser von zuletzt 9 % im Jahr 1998 auf nun
18,5 % in 1999, und erreicht damit in etwa das Niveau aus dem Jahr 1994 (21,3 %).
Nach dem ROckgang der Verfahren mit BezOgen zur Organisierten Kriminalitat von
noch 12,8 % (33 Verfahren), in 1994 auf nur noch 0,7 % (7 Verfahren) in 1998, ist
1999 erstmalig wieder ein leichter Anstieg der Verfahren mit OK-BezOgen auf 1,1 ro
oder 11 Verfahren zu verzeichnen.
Bundeskriminalamt 5
Bundesiagebild Korruption 1999 (Kurzfassung)
e
Straftaten
Hier werden die "reinen" Korruptionsstraftaten den direkt damit verbunden 'anderen
Straftaten gegenObergestel/t. Andere Straftaten sind solche, die innerhalb desselben
Verfahrens in direktem Zusammenhang zu den Korruptionsstraftaten stehen. Hervor-
zuheben sind hier vor aI/em Betrugshandlungen, die durch die Korrumpierung von
Amtstragern ermoglicht wurden (z.B. Submissionsbetrug).
1.. _IJlLJU'
6
Bundeslagebild Korruption 1999 (Kurzfassung)
Der Grund fOr das auffallend hohe Straftatenaufkommen im Jahr 1995 liegt darin,
dass in di~c;;em Jahr rund 6.500 Straftaten aile in aus zwei Einzelverfahren in die. Sta-
tistik eingingen. Auch 1994 stammten ca. 7.100 Straftaten aus lediglich 8 Verfahren.
Wahrend 1995 bei den ermittelten Tatverdachtigen mit 1.330 Personen ein ROck-
gang von 14,6 % gegenOber 1994 mit insgesamt 1.557 Person en zu verzeichnen
war, stieg deren Zahl 1996 auf 1.639 Tatverdachtige (plus 23,2 %). Dieser Anstieg
setzte sich in den Jahren 1997 mit 1.971 Tatverdachtigen (plus 20,3 %) und 1998 mit
2.040 Tatverdachtigen (plus 3,5 %) fort. FOr 1999 ist ein emeuter deutlicher Anstieg
von 24,3 % auf 2.535 Tatverdachtige festzustellen. Auffallend ist die Veranderung
des Verhaltnisses zwischen "Gebem" und "Nehmem" - wahrend 1994 und 1995. "je-
weils doppelt so viele "Geber" wie "Nehmer" gemeldet wurden, stelltsich dieses Ver-
haltnis seit 1996 relativ ausgeglichen dar.
Unter "Sonstige" wurden Personen erfasst, deren Tatbeitrag nicht unmittelbar zuzu-
ordnen war, wie z.8. Vermittler, Gehilfen oder Geldboten.
8
Bundeslagebild Korruption 1999 (Kurzfassung)
B~i der Verteilung der "Nehmer" nach Beherden und Betrieben ergibt sich ein ahnli-
ches Bild wie in den Vorjahren. So stammt die Mehrzahl der "Nehmer" (31,1 %) aus
dem Gesundheitssektor, gefolgt von 18 % aus der Baubranche. Weitere 13,9 % der
"Nehmeru stammen aus Kommunalbeherden. Der im letzten Jahr festgestellte An-
stieg der uNehmeru aus Polizeibeherden setzt sich 1999 nicht fort. GegenOber 12,3 %
im Jahr 1998 sinkt dieser Anteil 1999 auf 9,1 %.
21,7 % der uNehmer" konnten lediglich unter der Rubrik uSonstige" ertasst werden.
Wie bereits in den Lagebildern 1994 bis 1998 sind auch 1999 die Mehrzahl der
uNehmeru (39,6 %) in einer sachbearbeitenden Funktion tatig. Einer leitenden Funkti-
on kennen 24,5 % der' uNehmer" zugeordnet werden. Bei 1,4 % der tatverdachtigen
. uNehmer" handelt es sich urn BOrgermeister.
Auch bei der Dauer der Aufgabenwahrnehmung hat sich im Vergleich zu den Vorjah-
ren nichts geandert. Ober 70 o/~ (72,7 %) der tatverdachtigen uNehmeru sind Ober 5
Jahre in ihrem Aufgabenbereich tatig, der uberwiegende Teil hiervon so~ar Ober 10
Jahre.
u
Die Verteilung der uGeber stellt sich anders dar. Bei 29,9 % handelt es sich urn Per-
son en ohne erkennbaren Bezug auf eine bestimmte Branche ("Privatpersonen U) . Der
Anteil der Straftater nimmt gegenOber dem Vorjahr (0,7 %) auf 1,6 % zu.
Eine Zuordnung zu einer bestimmten Branche ertolgt 1999 bei 68,5 % aller uGeber";
Die meistgenannten Branchen sind der Hoch- und Tiefbau (31,2 %) sowie das
Handwerk (14,1 %). Der in den letzten Jahren stark angestiegene Anteil der "Geber"
aus der Gesundheitsbranche sinkt 1999 auf 4,7 %.
Bu ndeskri m inalamt 9
Bundeslagebild Korruption 1999 (Kurzfassung)
Verfahrensbezogene Erkenntnisse
BezOglich des Ursprungs der Verfahren ergibt sich fOr 1999 das gleiche Bild wie in
den Vorjahren. Die Mehrheit der Verfahren kam durch eine Anzeige von Amts wegen
zustande (428 Verfahren), gefolgt von Anzeigen durch andere Behorden (70 Verfah-
ren). Die restlichen Anzeigen verteilen sich u.a. auf anonyme Hinweisgeber (54 Ver-
fahren), die jeweils betroffene Stelle (34 Verfahren) und auf nicht tatbereite "Nehmer"
(26 Verfahren).
Bei den Sachbearbeitenden Dienststellen setzt sich der Trend, immer mehr Ve'rfah-
ren von Spezialdienststellen zur Korruptionsbekampfung zu bearbeiten, fort. Wurden
1998 noch 32,8 % aller Verfahren bei solchen Spezialdienststellen gefOhrt, liegt die-
ser Anteil1999 bei.52,5 %. Der Anteil der bei Fachdienststellen zur Bekampfung der
Wirtschaftskriminalitat bearbei~eten' Verfahren steigt 1999 von 24,2 % (1998) auf
32,4 %. Die .restlichen Verfahren wurden durch Sonderkommissio-
nen/Ermittlungsgruppen (4,9 %), von Spezialdienststellen zur Bekampfung der Orga-
nisierten Kriminalitat (2,2 %) und sonstigen Dienststellen (8 %) .bearbeitet.
Bewertung
1m Berichtszeitraum 1999 ist sowohl bei der Verfahrenszahl als auch bei der Strafta-
tenzahl ein ROckgang festzustellen. Wahrend der ROckgang der Verfahrenszahl mit
3,5 % relativ gering ausfallt, ist der ROckgang der Korruptionsstraftaten um 39 %
doch als erheblich anzusehen ..
Ein Grund fOr den ROckgang der Verfahrenszahl konnte die fortschreitende Abarbei-
tung der bundesweiten sogenannten "Herzklappenverfahren" sein. 1991 wurden .al-
leine durch die Lander Berlin undo Nordrhein-Westfalen 208 "Herzklappenverfahren u .
gemeldet. 1998 war eine ahnlich hohe Zahl dieset Verfahren zu verzeichnen. Be-
rOcksichtigt man also den ROckgang der uHerzklappenverfahren u, relativiert sich der
geringe ROckgang der fOr 1999 gemeldeten Verfahren. Somit ist trotz des geringen
zahlenmaBigen ROckganges keinesfa]ls von einem Abflauen der Korruptionskrimina;.
litat zu .sprechen. Dies bestatigt sich auch im starken Anstieg der ermittelten Tatver-
dachtigen um 24,3 %. .
FOr den. relativ starkeri ROckgang der Korruptionsstraftaten von 11.049 (1998) auf
6.743 Straftaten (minus 39 %) bei fast gleich hohen Verfahrenszahlen liefem die
Landeslagebilder Korruption jedoch keine direkte Erklarung. Der ROckgang der
'iHerzklappenverfahren u ist hierfOr nicht ursachlich, da es sich um keine Verfahren mit
besonders hohen Fallzahlen handelte.
Eine Erklarung fOr den ROckgang des Straftatenaufkommens konnte sich' aus dem
Meldeverhalten der sachbearbeitenden Dienststellen ei-geben. Bei der Auswertung
der an das Bundeskriminalamt Obermittelten Meldungen von Fallen mit erheblicher
U
oder Oberregionaler Bedeutung fallt auf, dass unter dem Punkt "Straftaten oft ledig-
lich die entsprechende Rechtsnorm genannt wird, nicht aber die jeweiligen Einzel-
fallzahlen. GrOnde dafOr konnten u.a. in der Tatsache liagen, dass zum Zeitpunkt der
. Weiterleitung der Meldung die genauen Einzelfallzahlen noch nicht feststehen. Die in
den Richtlinien fOr den Meldedienst vorgesehenen Nachtragsmeldungen bleiben oft-
mals aus. Nachfragen in Einzelfallen bestatigen dies.
Bundeskriminalamt 11
Bundeslagebild Korruption 1999 (Kurzfassung)
3 SCHLUSSBEMRKUNG
Trotz des leichten Ruckganges der Errnittlungsverfahren urn 3,5 % zeigt dieses La-
gebild, dass Korruption nach wie vor einen festen Platz in unserer Verwaltung und
Wirtschaft inne hat. Dies belegt auch die starke Steig~rung von uber 24 % bei der
Zahl der Tatverdachtigen. Auch das seit ·Mitte der 90er Jahre festzustellende zuneh-
mende Interesse der Offentlichkeit bezuglich Korruptionsdelikten, in·sbesondere der
Medien, setzte sich 1999 fort, angefUhrt von der Affare urn Karl-Heinz Schreiber und
dem Veliahren urn den Blutspendedienst des Bayerischen Roten Kreuzes.
Bei der Korruption lassen sich die typischen Merkmale der sogenanhten "Kontrollkri-
minalitat" erkennen, was bedeutet, dass eine Aufhellung des Dunkelfeldes von· der
Intensitat der Kontrolle abhangig ist. Diese Kontrolle darf sich jedoch nicht auf die
Strafverfolgungsbehorden beschranken, sondem muss bereits bei den betroffenen.
Behorden und Institutionen beginnen.
Nach wie vor konnen keine Aussagen zum Dunkelfeld und damit zum tatsachlichen
AusmaB dieser Kriminalitatsform getroffen werden. Ebensowenig sind exakte Pro-
gnosen zur zukunftigen Entwicklung dieses Deliktsbereiches moglich. Jedoch lassen
die bei Polizei und Staatsanwaltschaften zu verzeichnenden Anstrengungen wie die
Bildung von Spezial- oder Schwerpunktdienststellen, sowie die Intensivierung von
Kontrollen und die zunehmende offentliche Sensibilisierung die Vermutung zu, dass
in den nachsten Jahren mit ahnlich hohen Verfahrenszahlen zu rechnen ist.
12
(2)
"-'/' -...-
~ "
\...: l.j":)
t.. 6.~II (~~) (orr
Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Federal Republic of Germany
Bundesministerium der Justiz
Federal Ministry of Justice
(1) Any public official or person under a special obligation in respect of the public service who
demands, allows himself to be promised or accepts an advantage for himself or a third person for
performance of an official duty shall be punished by imprisonment not exceeding three years or by a
fine. .
(2) A judge or an arbitrator who demands, allows himself to be promised or accepts an advantage
for himself or a third person in return for his having performed, or his performing in future, a judicial act
shall be punished by imprisonment not exceeding five years or by a fine. An attempt shall incur criminal
liability.
(3) Criminal liability shall not be incurred pursuant to Subsection 1 if the perpetrator allows himself
to be promised or accepts an advantage that he has not demanded and the competent authority,
acting within the scope of its powers, either previously approved acceptance or the perpetrator
promptly reports it to the authority and the latter approves acceptance.
(1) Any public official or person under a special obligation in respect of the public service who
demands, allows himself to be promised or accepts an advantage for himself or a third person in return
for his having performed, or his performing in future, an official act, and by so doing violates or would
violate his official duties, shall be punished by imprisonment of six months to five years. In less serious
(Oi ,"
". \
2
cases the sentence shall be imprisonment not exceeding three years or a fine. An attempt shall incur .
criminal liability.
(2) A judge or an arbitrator who demands, allows himself to be promised or accepts an advantage
for himself or a third person in return for his having performed, or his performing in future, a judicial act,
and by so doing violates or would violate his judicial duties, shall be punished by imprisonment cif one
to ten years. In less serious cases the sentence shall be imprisonment of six months to five years.
(3) If the perpetrator demands, allows himself to be promised or accepts an advantage in return for
a future act, Subsections 1 and 2 shall already apply if he has indicated his willingness to the other
person
1. to violate his duties in performing the act, or
2. to allow himself to be influenced by the advantage in the exercise of his discretion in a case where
performance of the act is at his discretion.
(1) Whoever offers, promises or grants, for the person concerned or a third person, an advantage
to a public official, a person under a special obligation in respect of the. public service or a, soldier of the
Federal Armed Forces for performance of an official duty shall be punished by imprisonment not
exceeding three years of by a fine.
(2) Whoever offers, promises or grants an advantage to a judge or an arbitrator, for the judge or the
arbitrator concerned or a third person, in return for his having performed, or his performing in future, a
judicial act shall be punished by imprisonment not exceeding five years or by a fine.
(3) Criminal liability shall not be incurred pursuant to Subsection 1 if the competent authority, acting
within the scope of its p.9wers, either previously approved acceptance of the advantage by the recipient
or approves acceptance following a prompt report thereon by the recipi.ent.
(1) Whoever offers, promises or grants, for the person concerned or a third person, an advantage
to a public official, a person under a special obligation in respect of the public service or a soldier of the
Federal Armed Forces in return for his having performed, or his performing in future, an official act, so
that the person concerned has violated, or would violate, his official duties, shall be punished by
imprisonment of three months to five years. In less serious cases the sentence shall be imprisonment
not exceeding two,years or a fine.
(2) Whoever offers, promises or grants a judge or an arbitrator an advantage, for the judge or the
arbitrator concerned or a third person, in return for
1. his having performed a judicial act, thereby violating his judicial duties, or
2. his performing a judicial act in future, so that he would violate his judicial duties
shall be punished in the cases referred to in number 1 with imprisonment of three months to five years,
and in the cases referred to in number 2, with imprisonment of six months to five years. An attempt
shall incur criminal liability.
(3) Where the perpetrator offers, promises or grants the advantage in return for a future act,
Subsections 1 and 2 shall already apply if he attempts to make the other person .
,. violate his duties in performing the act, or
2. allow himself to be influenced by the advantage in the exercise of his discretion in a case where
performance of the act is at his discretion.
Section 335: Particularly serious cases of Taking a brib~ and Offeri~·g a bribe
2, an offence pursuant to Subsection 332 Subsection 2, also in conjunction with Subsection 3, the
sentence shall be imprisonment of not less than two years.
(2) -A particularly serious case within the meaning of Subsection 1 shall, as a rule, be deemed to
exist if
1. the offence relates to an advantage on a large scale,
2. the perpetrator recurrently accepts advantages that he has demanded in return for his performing
an official act in the future, or
3. the perpetrator acts commercially or as a member of a gang that has come together for recurrent
commission of such offences.
Omission to perform an official act or a judicial act shall be deemed equivalent to performance of an
official act or a judicial act within the meaning of Sections 331 to 335.
Remuneration of an arbitrator shall only be deemed an advantage within the meaning of Sections 331
to 335 if the arbitrator demands, allows himself to be promised or accepts it from one party behind the
back of the other or if it is offered, promised or granted to the arbitrator by one party behind the back of
the other.
(1) Section 73d shall be applied in the cases referred to in Section 332, also in conjunction with
Sections 336 and 337, if the perpetrator acts commercially or as a member of a gang that has come
together for recurrent commission of such offences.
(2) Sections 43a and 73d shall be applied in the cases referred to in Section 334, also in
conjunction with Sections 336 and 337, if the perpetrator acts as a member of a gang that has come
together for recurrent commission of such offences. Section 73d shall also be applied if the perpetrator
acts commercially.
(1) Within the meaning of this Code, the following shall be deemed to be
[... J
2. a public official:
any person who, under German law,
a) is a civil servant or judge,
b) exercises some other official capacity under public law, or
c) has otherwise been appointed to carry out functions of public administration with an authority
or other agency, or on its behalf, irrespective of the organisational form selected to carry out
the functions;
3. a judge: .
any person who, under German law, is a professional or honorary judge;
4. a person specially entrusted with public service functions:
any person who, without being a public official, is employed by, or works for,
a) an authority or other agency exercising functions of public administration, or
b) an organisation or other association, operatrng' unit or enterprise carrying out functions of
public administration for an authority or other agency, and is formally obliged by statute to fulfil
, his/her duties conscientiously;
[... J ~.
4
(1) From three months' to five years' imprisonment or a fine shall be imposed on any person who
conceals or disguises the origin of an item which derives from an illegal act specified in the second
sentence, committed by another, or who prevents or places in jeopardy the detection of the origin, the
location, forfeiture, confiscation or seizure of such an object. Illegal acts in the meaning of the first
sentence shall be:
1. major crimes,
2. minor crimes pursuant to
a) section 332 subsection 1, also in conjunction with subsection 3, and section 334,
b) section 29 subsection 1 first sentence No.1 of the Narcotics Act (Betaubungsmittelgesetz) and
section 29 subsection 1 No.1 of the Commodities Control Act (GrundstoffOberwachungsgesetz),
3. minor crimes pursuant to section 373 and, if the offender acts on a commercial basis, pursuant to
section 374 of the Tax Code (Abgabenordnung), in each case in conjunction with section 12
subsection 1 of the Act to Implement the Common Market Organisations (Gesetz zur DurchfOhrung der
Gemeinsamen Marktorganisationen)' . .
4. minor crimes
a) pursuant to sections 180 b, 181 a, 242, 246, 253, 259, 263 to 264, 266, 267, 269, 284, 326
subsections 1, 2 and 4, as well as section 328 subsection 1, 2 and 4,
b) pursuant to section 92 a of the Act on Aliens (Auslandergesetz) and section 84 of the Asylum
Procedure Act (Asyfverfahrensgesetz),
committed on a commercial basis by a member of a gang formed for recurrent commission of such
offences, as well as
5. minor crimes committed by a member of a criminal association (section 129).
In cases falling under the second sentence No.3, the first sentence shall also apply to an item which
has been the subject of tax evasion.
(2) The same punishment shall be imposed on any person who, in respect of the item referred to in
subsection 1,
1. acquires such item for himself or herself or for a third person, or
2. possesses or uses such item for himself or herself or for a third person, knowing at the time of
receipt the origin of such item.
(4) In particularly serious cases the punishment shall be imprisonment from six months to ten years. A
particularly serious case shall generally be one in which the offender acts on a commercial basis or as
a member cif a gang formed for recurrent commission of money laundering.
(5) Whoever in the cases falling under subsection 1 or 2 recklE?ssly fails to realise that the item derives
from an unlawful act as specified in subsection 1, shall be punished by imprisonment of up to two years
or a fine. .
(6) The offence shall not be punishable under subsection 2 if a third person has previously acquired the
item without
, committing a criminal offence
. in doing so.
a
(7) Item's to which the criminal offence relates may be confiscated. Section 74 shall be applicable.
Sections 43 a and 73 d shall be applied if the offender acts as a member of a gang formed for
recurrent commission of money laundering. Section 73 d shall also be applied if the offender acts on a
commercial basis.
(8) The items referred to in subsections 1, 2 and 5 shall be on an equal footing with items deriving from
offences committed abroad of the nature specified in subsection 1, provided the offence is punishable
at the place of commission as well.
5
(9) Punishment under subsections 1 to 5 shall not be imposed on any person who
1. voluntarily reports the offence to the competent authority, or arranges voluntarily for such a report to
be made, provided that the offence had not yet been discovered at this time, wholly or in part, and the
offender was aware of this, or on reasonable consideration of the facts must have anticipated this, and
2. in the cases falling under subsection 1 or 2 under the conditions referred to in No. 1 causes the item
to which the criminal offence relates to be seized.
Punishment under subsections 1 to 5 shall not be imposed on any person who is punishable in respect
of the predicate offence.
(10)The court may at its discretion mitigate punishment (section 49 subsection 2) in the cases
falling under subsection 1 to 5 or dispense with punishment under these provisions if the offender by
voluntarily disclosing his or her knowledge has substantially helped to make it possible for the offence,
or an unlawful act of another, as specified in subsection 1, to be detected, gOing beyond his or her own
contribution thereto.
(1) Whoever undertakes to buy or sell a vote for an election or ballot in the European Parliament or
in a representative body of the Federation, of the Lander, of the municipalities or associations of
municipalities shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding five years or with a fine.
(2) In addition to imposing a sentence of imprisonment for a criminal offence under Subsection 1
the court may deprive the convicted offender of the capacity to acquire rights ensuing from public
elections and of the right t6 vote or cast a ballot in public matters.
Section 299:Taking a bribe and Offering a bribe in the course of commercial activity
(2) The same sentence shall apply to whoever, in the course of commercial activity and for the
purposes of competition, offers, promises or .grants an advantage to an employee or agent of a
commercial enterprise or to a third person in return for his giving, in an unfair manner, preference to
him or to another in the acquisition of goods or commercial services.
Section 300: Particularly serious cases of Taking a bribe and Offering a bribe in the course of
commercial activity
(1) In particularly serious cases the sentence for an offence pursuant ·to Section 299 shall be ..
imprisonment from three months to five years. A particularly serious case shall, as a rule, be deemed
to exist if
1. the offence relates to an advantage on a large scale, or
2. the perpetrator acts commercially or as a member of a gang that has come together for recurrent
commission of such offences.
.. 6
(1) Taking a bribe and offering a bribe in the course of commercial activity pursuant to Section 299
shall only be prosecuted upon application being made, unless the prosecuting authority deems ex
officio intervention to be required in view of the particular public interest in criminal prosecution. -
(2) Besides the victim, any person engaged in commerce, any association and any chamber
referred to in Section 13 Subsection 2 numbers 1, 2 and 4 of the Act Against Unfair Competition shall.
have the right to make an' application for criminal prosecution pursuant to Subsection 1.
(1) Section 73d shall be applied in the cases referred to in Section 299 Subsection 1 if the
perpetrator acts commercially or as a member of a gang that has come together for recurrent
commission of such offences.
(2) Sections 43a and 73d shall b'e applied in the cases referred to in Section 299 Subsection 2 if the
perpetrator acts as a member of a gang that has come together for recurrent commission of such
offences. Section 73d shall also be applied if the perpetrator acts commercially.
German criminal law shall apply, regardless of the law of the place of commission, to offences
committed on a vessel or an aircraft authorised to fly the Federal flag or display the nationality mark of
the Federal Republic of Germany.
German criminal law shall apply, regardless of the law of the place of commission, to the following
offences committed abroad:
12. offences committed by a German public official or by a person under a special obligation in respect
of the public service while on duty or in connection with his duties;
13. offences committed by a foreigner acting as a public official or as a person under a special
obligation in respect of the public service;
(1) German criminal law shall apply to offences committed abroad against a German if the offence
attracts criminal liability at the place of commission .or if such place is not subject to any criminal
jurisdiction.
(2) German criminal law shall apply to other offences committed abroad if the offence attracts
criminal liability at the place of commission or if such place is not subject to any criminal jurisdiction
and if the perpetrator .
1. was a German at the time of the offence or became one subsequently, or
2. was an alien at the time of the offence, was found inside Germany and, although the Aliens Act
would permit his extradition for the type of offence involved, has not been extradited because a request
was not made for extradition, or was refused, or because extradition cannot be executed ..
·. 7
Extended Forfeiture
(1) If an unlawful act has been committed in violation of a law that refers to this
provision, the court shall also order forfeiture of objects of the perpetrator or accessory if
circumstances justify the assumption that such objects have been obtained for or from
unlawful acts. The first sentence above shall also apply if the sole reason why the object
does not belong or appertain to the perpetrator or accessory is that he obtained it for or
from an unlawful act. Section 73, subsection (2), shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(2) If, after the act, forfeiture of a particular object has become wholly or partially
impossible, sections 73a and 73b shall apply analogously.
(3) If, after forfeiture has been ordered pursuant to subsection (1) above, a new
decision is to be taken on forfeiture of objects of the perpetrator or accessory because
of another unlawful act that the perpetrator or accessory committed prior to the order,
the court shall take into account the order previously made.
(4) Section 73c shall apply mutatis mutandis.
, .:.
LO$3/.r(rJ3) CO'r
Bundesrepublik Deutschland
. -
This directive entered into force with its publication in the Federal
Gazette on 14 July 1998.
of 17 June 1998
The present Directive is adopted un~er Article 86 sentence 1 of the Basic Law:
1. Scope
The measures taken by all government offices for the prevention of corruption
are governed by the present Directive; deemed government offices for this pur-
pose are the supreme federal authorities, authorities of direct and indirect federal
administration, the federal courts, the federal special funds and institutional
beneficiaries supported predominantly by the Federation. Account shall be taken
of any special characteristics of these offices connected with their organisation
and specific tasks.
Sensitive and particularly sensitive fields of activities, that is fields that are vul-
nerable and particularly vulnerable to corruption, shall be identified in all gov-
ernment offices.
Whether to carry out risk analysis in particularly sensitive areas shall be carefully
considered. Work routines shall be adapted in line with the risk analysis findings.
Greater scrutiny shall be ensured in sensitive areas of activity through the in-
volvement of more staff or organisationa! units in second checks. If this is not
possible owing to legal provisions or to insuperable practical difficulties, the sys-
tem of second checks may be restricted to random checks or, by way of com-
pensation, other preca!Jtionary measures (e.g. more intensive administrative and
substantive supervision) shall be envisaged.
r
4. Rotation of staff
The precautionary measure of staff rotation shall be the aim in particularly sen-
sitive areas and in the channels overseeing these areas.
As a general rule, the term of office shall be specified. Where the term is ex-
tended for compelling reasons, the.se reasons shall be placed on record and
other preventive action taken by way of compensation.
Contact persons for· the prevention of corruption shall be appointed, their number
depending on the tasks and size of the offices concerned. One such person may
be responsible for several offices. Contact persons may be charged with the
following tasks:
6. Internal review
Office management shall charge an organisational unit with carrying out internal
reviews, for a limited period or on a permanent basis, whenever risk analysis
findings or special occasions require such; the staff in such units shall be given
suitable training for"this task. The object of internal reviews is the random
checking and monitoring of current and completed transactions and operations
and of decisions taken. In the event of flaws in corruption prevention it shall
recommend suitable changes to the organisation section and the organisational
unit concerned.
Under internal reviews, office management and the contact person for corruption
prevention shall be informed accordingly upon any sus'picion of corruption.
7. Selection of staff
Staff shall be made aware of the risk of corruption when they take their oath of
office or are placed under obligation, and instructed of the consequences of cor- .
rupt behaviour. In addition, staff shall be given a generally valid ((ode of Conduct
enabling them to respond appropriately to any incidents in which corruption is
suspected to have occurred.
9. Training
.
All basic and further training schemes shall be examined with a view to estab-
lishing whether participants have been adequately informed of corruption in all its
manifestations, of risk situations, of corruption prevention measures and of the
consequences - in terms of criminal law, civil service law and labour law - arising
in cases of corruption.
e·
13. Separation of planning, award and billing
The provisions of the German Codes for Awarding Public Works Contracts, Pub-
lic Services Contracts and Contracts for Professional Services relating to contract
award shall be strictly adhered to in the interest of preventing corruption.
The office concerned shall ensure that the reasons justifying any divergence from
the norm of public tender or open procedure are placed on record in each given
instance (Sections 3, 3 a and 30 of the VOBIA and VOUA respectively and
Section 18 of the VOF); in respect of public contracts worth more than the
amount set forth in Section 3 no 4 sub-paragraph p of the VOUA the reasons
shall be examined by a superior or by an organisational unit not taking part in the
actual procurement.
Public procurement shall be regularly monitored for inadmissible influencing fac-
tors as part of supervisory and substantive supervision.
17. Placing contractors under an obligation as provided for by the Act on the
Engagement of Persons placed under an Obligation
The prior consent of the highest administrative authority shall be obtained for the
acceptance of any gifts or hospitality from third parties outside the office con-
cerned for staff events or facilities. This shall qlso apply to any voluntary material
promotion (sponsoring) for the benefit of activities, events and facilities of the of-
fice concerned.
19. Special measures
Where government offices give subsidies to offices outside the federal admini-
stration for purposes of promoting these offices, they shall oblige the recipients to
apply this Directive when they reql)ire the recipient to apply the VOUA and
VOBIA in accordance with the provisional administrative rules pertaining to Sec-
tion 44 of the federal budgetary regulations.
The present Directive shall enter into force on the day of its promUlgation in the
Federal Gazette:)
§1
Gleichstellung von auslandischen mit inlandischen Amtstragern bei
Bestechungshandlungen
FOr die Anwendung des § 334 des Strafgesetzbuches, auch in Verbindung mit
dessen §§ 335, 336, 338 Abs. 2, auf eine Bestechung, die sich auf eine kOnftige
richterliche Handlung oder Diensthandlung bezieht und die begangen wird, urn sich
oder einem Dritten einen Auf trag oder einen unbilligen Vorteil im internationalen
geschaftlichen Verkehr zu verschaffen oder zu sichern, stehen gleich:
1. einem Richter:
(1) Wer in der Absicht, sich oder einem Dritten einen Auftrag oder einen unbilligen
Vorteil im internationalen geschaftlichen Verkehr zu verschaffen oder zu sichern,
einem Mitglied eines Gesetzgebungsorganes eines auslandischen Staates oder
einem Mitglied einer parlamentarischen Versammlung einer internationalen
Organisation einen Vorteil fOr dieses oder einen Dritten als Gegenleistung dafOr
anbietet, verspricht oder gewahrt, dass es eine mit seinem Mandat oder seinen
Aufgaben zusammenhangende Handlung oder Unterlassung kOnftig vornimmt,
wird mit Freiheitsstrafe bis zu fOnf Jahren oder mit Geldstrafe bestraft.
(2) Der Versuch ist strafbar.
§3
Auslandstaten
Das deutsche Strafrecht gilt, unabhangig vom Recht des Tatorts, fOr folgende Taten,
die von einem Deutschen im Ausland begangen werden:
§4
Anwendung des § 261 des Strafgesetzbuches
In den Fallen des § 261 Abs. 1 Satz 2 Nr. 2 Buchstabe a des Strafgesetzbuches ist §
334 des Strafgesetzbuches auch in Verbindung mit § 1 anzuwenden.
EU-Bestechungsgesetz - EU-BestG
§1
Gleichstellung von auslandischen mit inlandischen Amtstragern bei
Bestechungshandlungen
(1) FOr die Anwendung der §§ 332, 334 bis 336, 338 des Strafgesetzbuches auf eine
Bestechungshandlung fOr eine kOnftige richterliche Handlung oder
Diensthandlung stehen gleich:
1. einem Richter:
1. § 263 Abs. 3 Satz 2 Nr. 4 und § 264 Abs. 2 Satz 2 Nr. 2 und 3 des
Strafgesetzbuches und
2. § 370 Abs. 3 Satz 2 Nr. 2 und 3 der Abgabenordnung, auch in Verbindung mit §
12 Abs. 1 Satz 1 des Gesetzes zur DurchfOhrung der Gemeinsamen
Marktorganisationen,
Die §§ 332, 334 bis 336 des Strafgesetzbuches, auch in Verbindung mit § 1 Abs. 1,
gelten unabhangig vom Recht des Tatorts auch fUr eine Tat, die im Ausland
. begangen wird, wenn
1. der Tater
aa) als Amtstrager im Sinne des § 11 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 des Strafgesetzbuches oder
bb) als Gemeinschaftsbeamter im Sinne des § 1 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 Buchstabe b, der
einer gemaB den Vertragen zur GrOndung der Europaischen
Gemeinschaften geschaffenen Einrichtung mit Sitz im Inland angehort,
2. die Tat gegenOber einem Richter, einem sonstigen Amtstrager oder einer nach §
1 Abs. 1 gleichgestellten Person, soweit sie Deutsche sind, begangen wird.
§3
Anderung des Strafgesetzbuches
"14a. Abgeordnetenbestechung (§ 108e), wenn der Tater zur Zeit der Tat Deutscher
ist oder die Tat gegenOber einem Deutschen begangen wird,".
§ 3 Bundeskriminalamtgesetz (BKAG): Internationale Zusammenarbeit
(1) Das Bundeskriminalamt ist Nationales Zentralburo der Bundesrepublik Deutschland fUr die
Internationale Kriminalpolizeiliche Organisation.
(2) Der zur Verhutung oder Verfolgung von Straftaten erforderliche Dienstverkehr der Polizeien
des Bundes und der Lander mit den Polizei- und Justizbeh6rden sowie sonstigen insoweit
zustandigen 6ffentlichen Stellen anderer Staaten obliegt dem Bundeskriminalamt. Besondere
bundesgesetzliche Vorschriften, insbesond~re die Vorschriften uber die intemationale
Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen sowie abweichende Regelungen durch Vereinbarungen des
Bundesministeriums des Innern mit den zustandigen obersten Landesbeh6rden oder durch
Vereinbarungen der zustandigen obersten Landesbeh6rden mit den zustandigen auslandischen
Stellen im Rahmen der vom Bund abgeschlossenen Abkommen und die internationale
Zusammenarbeit der Zollbeh6rden bleiben unberuhrt.
(3) Absatz 2 Satz 1 gilt nicht fUr den Dienstverkehr der Polizeien der Lander mit den
zustandigen Beh6rden der Nachbarstaaten und der Mitgliedstaaten der Europaischen Union,
soweit dieser sich auf Kriminalitat von regionaler Bedeutung im Grenzgebiet bezieht oder soweit
Gefahr im Verzug ist. Die Lander unterrichten das Bundeskriminalamt unverzuglich uber den
Dienstverkehr nach Satz 1 . Bei abgrenzbaren Fallgestaltungen im Rahmen regionaler
SchwerpunktmaBnahmen k6nnen die Polizeien der Lander im Einvemehmen mit dem
Bundeskriminalamt den erforderlichen Dienstverkehr mit den zustandigen Beh6rden anderer
Staaten fUhren.
e e e
Gesetz iiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen (IRG) 3.
e
Gesetz iiber die internationale Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen
(IRG)
Vom 23. Dezember 1982
(BGBI. 1982 I S. 2071)
533
@
- 3.
Gesetz iiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen (IRG)
§3
Auslieferung zur Verfolgung oder zur Vollstreckung
Erster Teil
Anwendungsbereich (1) Die Auslieferung ist nur zulassig, wenn die Tat' auch nach deut-
schem Recht eine rechtswidrige Tat ist, die den T atbestand eines Strafge-
§1 setzes verwirklicht, oder wenn sie bei sinngemaBer Umstellung des Sach-
Anwendungsbereich verhalts auch nach deutschem Recht eine soIche Tat ware.
(1) Der Rechtshilfeverkehr mit dem Ausland in strafrechtlichen Ange- (2) Die Auslieferung zur Verfolgung ist nur zulassig, wenn die Tat
legenheiten richtet sich nach diesem Gesetz. nach deutschem Recht im H6chstmaB mit Freiheitsstrafe von mindestens
(2) Strafrechtliche Angelegenheiten im Sinne dieses Gesetzes sind auch einem Jahr bedroht ist oder wenn sie bei sinngemaBer Umstellung des
Verfahren wegen einer Tat, die nach deutschem Recht als Ordnungswid- Sachverhalts nach deutschem Recht mit einer solchen Strafe bedroht
rigkeit mit GeldbuBe oder die nach auslandischem Recht mit einer ver- ware.
gleichbaren Sanktion bedroht ist, sofern tiber deren Festsetzung ein auch (3) Die Auslieferung wr Vollstreckung ist nur zulassig, wenn wegen
fur Strafsachen zustandiges Gericht entscheiden kann. der Tat die Auslieferung zur Verfolgung wlassig ware und wenn eine
(3) Regelungen in volkerrechtlichen Vereinbarungen gehen, soweit sic freiheitsentziehende Sanktion w vollstrecken ist. Sie ist ferner nur zulas-
unmittelbar anwendbares innerstaatliches Recht geworden sind, den Vor- sig, wenn w erwarten ist, daB die noch zu vollstreckende freiheitsentzie-
schriften dieses Gesetzes Vor. hende Sanktion oder die Summe der noch zu vollstreckenden freiheits-
entziehenden Sanktionen mindestens vier Monate betragt.
534
535
j:~'.~i
:}:~-'
3_Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsa!n (IRG)
§4
Gesetz tiber o!ll!ntern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen (IRG)
zusichert, daB die Todesstrafe nicht verhangt oder nicht vollstreckt wer-
3.-
Akzessorische Auslieferung den wird.
1st die Auslieferung zulassig, so ist sic wegen einer weiteren Tat auch
dann zuIassig, wenn fiir diese §9
1. die Voraussetzungen des § 3 Abs. 2 oder 3 nicht vorliegen oder Konkurrierende Gerichtsbarkeit
2. die Voraussetzungen des § 2 oder des § 3 Abs. 1 deshalb nicht vorl ie- 1st fiir die T:lt auch die deutsche Gerichtsbarkeit begriindet, so ist die
gen, weil die weitere Tat nur mit cineI' Sanktion iIll Sinne des § 1 J\hs. 2 Auslieferung nicht zui:issig, wenn
bedroht ist. I. ein Cericht oder cine Behi)rde im Geltungsbercich dieses Gesetzes
gegen den Verfolgten wegen der Tat ein U neil oder cine Entscheidung
§5 mit entsprechender Rechtswirkung erlassen, die Eroffnung des Haupt-
Gegenseitigkeit verfahrens abgelehnt (§ 204 der StrafprozeBordnung), einen Antrag auf
Die Auslieferung ist nur zulassig, wenn auf Grund der yom ersuchen- Erhebung der offentlichen Klage verworfen (§ 174 der StrafprozeBord-
den Staat gegebenen Zusicherungen erwartet werden kann, daB dieser nung), das Verfahren nach Erfullung von Auflagen und Weisungen einge-
einem vergleichbaren deutschen Ersuchen entsprechen wiirde. stellt (§ 153 a der StrafprozeBordnung) oder nach Jugendstrafrecht von
der Verfolgung abgesehen oder das Verfahren eingestellt hat (§§ 45, 47
§6 des Jugendgerichtsgesetzes) oder'
Politische Straftaten, politische VerfoIgung 2. die Verfolgung oder Vollstreckung nach deutschem Recht verjahrt
oder auf Grund eines deutschen Straffreiheitsgesetzes ausgeschlossen ist.
(1) Die Auslieferung ist nicht zulassig wegen einer politischen Tat oder
wegen einer mit einer solchen zusammenhangenden Tat. Sie ist zulassig,
§ 10
wenn der Verfolgte wegen vollendeten oder versuchten Volkermordes, Auslieferungsunterlagen
Mordes oder Totschlags oder wegen der Beteiligung hieran verfolgt wird
oder verurteilt worden ist. (1) Die Auslieferung ist nur zulassig, wenn wegen der Tat ein Haftbe-
(2) Die Auslieferung ist nicht zulassig, wenn ernstliche Grunde fur die fehl, cine Urkunde mit entsprechender Rechtswirkung oder ein voll-
Annahme be~tehen, daB der Verfolgte im Fall seiner Auslieferung wegen streckbares, eine Freiheitsentziehung anordnendes Erkenntnis einer
seiner Rasse, s~iner Religion, seiner Staatsangehorigkeit, seiner Zugeho- zusrandigen Stelle des ersuchenden Staates und eine Darstellun~ der
rigkeit zu einer bestimmten sozialen Gruppe oder seiner politischen anwendbaren gesetzlichen Bestimmungen vorgelegt worden sind. Wird
Anschauungen verfolgt oder best raft oder daB seine Lage aus einem dieser um Auslieferung zur Verfolgung mehrerer Taten ersucht, so geniigt hin-
Griinde erschwert werden wiirde. sichtlich der weiteren Tatcn anstelle cines Haftbefehls oder ciner Urkun-
de mit entsprechender Rechtswirkung die Urkundc einer zustandigen
§7 Stelle dcs crsuchenden Staatcs, aus dcr sich die dem Verfolgten zur Last
Militarische Straftaten gelcgte Tat crgibt.
(2) Geben besondere U mstande des Falles AniaB zu der Priifung, ob
Die Auslieferung ist nicht zulassig wegen einer Tat, die ausschlie61ich
der Verfolgte der ihm zur Last gelegten Tat hinreichend verdachtig
in der Verletzung militarischer Pflichten besteht.
erscheint, so ist die Auslieferung Ferner nur zulassig, wenn eine Darstel-
lung der Tatsachen vorgelegt worden ist, aus denen sich der hinreichende
§8
T atverdacht ergi bt.
T odesstrafe
(3) Die Auslieferung zur Vollstreckung einer Strafe oder einer sonsti-
1st die Tat nach dem Recht des ersuchenden Staates mit der Todesstrafe gen Sanktion, die in einem dritten Staat verhangt wurde, ist nur zulassig,
bedroht, so ist die Auslieferung nur zulassig, wenn der ersuchende Staat wenn
536
537
1. das vollstreckbare, eine Freiheitsentziehung anordnende Erkenntnis 3. der Verfolgte, nachdem er den ersuchenden Staat verlassen hatte,
und eine U rkunde des dritten Staates, aus der sich sein Einverstandnis dorthin zuruckgekehrt ist oder von einem dritten Staat zuruckuberstellt
mit der Vollstreckung durch den Staat ergibt, der die Vollstreckung i.iber- worden ist. Das Recht des ersuchenden Staates, den Verfolgten zur Vor-
nommen hat, bereitung cines Ersuchens nach § 35 zu vernehmen, bleibt unberi.ihrt.
2. eine U rkunde einer zustandigen Stelle des Staates, der die Vollstrek- (3) Eine bedingte Freilassung ohne eine die Bewegungsfreiheit des Ver-
kung i.ibernommen hat, nach der die Strafe oder sonstige Sanktion dort folgten einschriinkende Anordnung steht dem endgultigen AbschluB des
vollstreckbar ist, Vcrfahrcns nach Absatz 1 Nr. 3, Abs. 2 Satz 1 Nr. 2 gleich.
3. eine Darstellung der anwendbaren gesetzlichen Bestimmungen so-
wle § 12
Bewilligung cler Auslieferung
4. im Fall des Absatzes 2 cine Darstellung im Sinne dieser Vorschrift
vorgelegt worden sind. Die Auslieferung darf, auBer im Fall des § 41, nur bewilligt werden,
wenn das Gericht sie fur zulassig erklart hat.
§11
Spezialitat §13
Sachliche Zustandigkeit
(1) Die Auslieferung ist nur zulassig, wenn gewahrleistet ist, daB der
Verfolgte (1) Die gerichtlichen Entscheidungen erlaBt vorbehaltlich der §§ 21, 22
und 39 Abs. 2 das Oberlandesgericht. Die Entscheidungen des Oberlan-
1. in dem ersuchenden Staat ohne deutsche Zustimmung aus keinem
desgerichts sind unanfechtbar.
vor seiner Oberstellung eingetretenen Grund mit Ausnahme der Tat, de-
rentwegen die Auslieferung bewilligt worden ist, bestraft, einer Beschran- (2) Die Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht bereitet die Ent-
kung seiner personlichen Freiheit unterworfen oder durch MaBnahmen, scheidung uber die Auslieferung vor und fuhrt die bewilligte Ausliefe-
die nicht auch in seiner Abwesenheit getroffen werden konnen, verfolgt rung durch.
werden wird,
2. nicht ohne deutsche Zustimmung an einen dritten Staat weitergelie- §J4
fert, uberstellt oder in einen dritten Staat abgeschoben werden wird und Ortliche Zustandigkeit
3. den ersuchenden Staat nach dem endgultigen AbschluB des Verfah- (1) Ortlich zustandig sind das Oberlandesgericht und die Staatsanwalt-
rens, dessentwegen seine Auslieferung bewilligt worden ist, verlassen schaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht, in deren Bezirk der Verfolgte zum
darf. Zweck der Auslieferung ergriffen oder, falls eine Ergreifung nicht erfolgt,
(2) Die Bindung des ersuchenden Staates an die Spezialitat darf nur ent- zuerst ermittelt wird.
fallen, wenn (2) Werden mehrere Verfolgte, die wegen Beteiligung an derselben Tat
1. die deutsche Zustimmung zur Verfolgung oder zur Vollstreckung ei- oder im Zusammenhang dam it wegen Begunstigung, Strafvereitelung
ner Strafe oder einer sonstigen Sanktion hinsichtlich einer weiteren Tat oder Hehlerei ausgeliefert werden sollen, in den Bezirken verschiedener
(§ 35) oder zur Weiterlieferung, Oberstellung oder Abschiebung an einen Oberlandesgerichte zum Zweck der Auslieferung ergriffen oder ermit-
anderen auslandischen Staat (§ 36) erteilt worden ist, telt, so richtet sich die Zustandigkeit danach, welches Oberlandesgericht
2. der Verfolgte den ersuchenden Staat innerhalb eines Monats nach oder, solange noch kein Oberlandesgericht befaBt ist, welche Staatsan-
dem endgultigen AbschluB des Verfahrens, dessentwegen seine Ausliefe- waltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht zuerst mit der Sache befaBt wurde.
rung bewilligt worden ist, nicht verlassen hat, obwohl er dazu das Recht (3) 1st der Aufenthalt des Verfolgten nicht bekannt, so bestimmt der
und die Moglichkeit hatte, oder Bundesgerichtshof das zustandige Oberlandesgericht.
538 539
3~Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsa!n (IRG)
_
Gesetz tiber dl .. Intern. RechtshiIfe in Strafsachen (IRG) 3.
e
§ 15 1. der Verfolgte,
Auslieferungshaft 2. der Staat, an den die Auslieferung nach den Umstanden des Falles in
(1) Nach dem Eingang des Auslieferungsersuchens bnn gegen den Betracht kommt,
Verfolgten die Auslieferungshaft angeordnet werden, wenn 3. die delll Verfolgten zur Last gclegte Tat,
1. die Gefahr besteht, da~ er sich dem Auslieferungsverfahren oder der 4. das Ersuchen oder im bll des § 16 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 die Tatsachen, aus
Durchflihrung der Auslieferung emziehen werde, oder denen sich ergibt, da{~ der Verfolgte einer Tat, die zu seiner Auslicferung
2. auf Grund bestimmter Tatsachen der dringende Verdacht begriindet AnL1{~ geben bnn, dringend ventichtig ist, s()wie
ist, da~ der Verfolgte die Ermittlung der Wahrheit in dem austindischen 5. der Haftgrund und die Tatsachen, aus denen er sich ergibt.
Verfahren oder im Auslieferungsverfahren erschweren werde.
(2) Absatz 1 gilt nicht, wenn die Auslieferung von vornherein unzulas- § 18
sig erscheim. Steckbrief
§ 16 Liegt ein Auslicferungshaftbefehl vor und ist der Aufemhalt des Ver-
Vorlaufige Auslieferungshaft folgten nicht bekannt, so kann die Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem Oberlan-
desgericht einen Steckbrief erlassen.
(1) Die Auslieferungshaft kann unter den Voraussetzungen dcs § 15
schon vor dcm Eingang des Auslieferungsersuchens angcordnet wcrden,
wenn § 19
Vorlaufige Festnahme
1. eine zustandige Stelle des ersuchenden Staates darum ersucht oder
2. ein Auslander einer Tat, die zu seiner Auslieferung Anla~ geben Licgen die Voraussetzungen eines Auslieferungshaftbefehls vor, so sind
kann, auf Grund bestimmter Tatsachen dringend verdachtig ist. dic Staatsanwaltschaft und die Beamten des Polizeidienstes zur vorlaufi-
(2) Der Auslieferungshaftbcfehl ist aufzuhebcn, wenn der Verfolgte gen Festnahme bcfugt. Untcr den Voraussetzungen des § 127 Abs. 1 Satz
seit dem Tag der Ergreifung oder der vorlaufigen Festnahme insgesamt 1 der Strafproze~ordnung ist jcdermann zur vorlaufigcn Festn,lhme
zwei Monate zum Zweck der Auslieferung in Haft ist, ohne da~ das Aus- berechtigt.
lieferungsersuchen und die Auslieferungsumerlagen bci dcr in § 74
bezeiehneten Behorde oder bei einer sonst zu ihrer Emgegcnnahme § 20
zustandigen Stelle eingegangen sind. Hat ein au6ereuropaiseher Staat urn Bekanntgabe
Anordnung der vorlaufigen Auslieferungshaft ersueht, so betragt die
Frist drei Monate. (1) Wird der Verfolgtc festgcnommen, so ist ihm dcr Grund der Fest-
nahme mitzuteilcn.
(3) Nach dem Eingang des Auslieferungscrsuehens und der Ausliefc-
rungsumerlagen entseheidet das Oberlandcsgerieht unverziiglieh iibcr die (2) Liegt ein Auslicfcrungshaftbcfchl vor, so ist er dem Verfolgten
Fortdauer der Haft. unverziiglich bckanntzugcbcn. Der Verfolgtc crhalt eine Abschrift.
§17 § 21
Auslieferungshaftbefehl Verfahren nach Ergreifung auf Grund
eines Auslieferungshaftbefehls
(1) Die vorlaufige Auslieferungshaft und die Auslieferungshaft werden
dureh sehriftliehen Haftbefehl (Auslieferungshaftbefehl) dcs Obcrlandes- (1) Wird der Verfolgte auf Grund eines Auslieferungshaftbefehls ergrif-
gerichts angeordnet. fen, so ist er unverziiglich, spatestens am Tag naeh der Ergreifung, dem
(2) In dem Auslieferungshaftbefehl sind anzuflihren Richter des naehsten Amtsgerichts vorzuflihren.
540 541
3~Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafs..! n (IRG) Gesetz tiber d' .tern. Rechtshilfe in St~afsachen (IRG) 3. e
(2) Der Richter beim Amtsgericht vernimmt den Verfolgten unverztig- (7) Die Entscheidung des Richters beim Amtsgericht ist unanfechtbar.
lich nach der Vorftihrung, spatestens am nachsten Tag, tiber seine person- Die Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht kann die Freilassung
lichen Verhaitnisse, insbesondere tiber seine Staatsangehorigkeit. Er des Verfolgten anordnen.
weist ihn darauf hin, da~ er sich in jeder Lage des Verfahn:ns cines Bei-
stands (§ 40) bedicnen kann und da~ cs ihm frcistcht, sich ZlI dn ihm zlIr §22
Last gelegten Tat zu :iu~ern oder dazll nicht JUSi',usagcn, Sodann bdragt Verf:thren nach vorEiufiger Festn:thme
er ihn, ob und gegebenenfal\s aus welchen Griindcn cr Einwendllngcn ge-
(I) Wird der VerlolgtL' vor1:iulig fcsq~enOI1lIllCn, so ist er unverztiglich,
gen die Auslicferung, gegen den Auslieferungshaftbefehl odcr gcgcn dcs-
sp;itL'stL'IlS .1111 Tag n.lCh der Fc~tn;lhl11L', dL'1ll Richter dcs n;khstcn Amts-
sen Vollzug~e.rheben will. 1m Fall des § 16 Abs. I Nr. 2 erstrcckt sich die
gl'ridlt \ VOI"l',U fii hn·ll.
Vernehmung auch auf den Gegenstand der Bcschuldigung; ill dell tiki- I
gen Fallen sind die Angaben, die der Verfolgte von sich aus hierzu macht, (2) Uer Richter bcim AlIlhgcricht VL'rnillll11t den VerfolgtL'1l ullverziig-
in das Protokoll aufzunehmen. lich nach der Vorftihrung, spatestens am nachsten Tag, tiber seine person-'
(3) Ergibt sich bei der Vernehmung, da~ lichen Vcrhaltnisse, insbesondere tiber seine Staatsangehorigkeit. Er
wcist ihn darauf hin, da~ er sich in jeder Lage des Verfahrens eines Bei-
1. der Ergriffene nicht die in dem Auslieferungshaftbefehl bezeichnete
stands (§ 40) bedienen kann und da~ es ihm freisteht, sich zu der ihm zur
Person ist,
Last gelegten Tat zu au~ern oder dazu nicht auszusagen. Sodann befragt
2. der Auslieferungshaftbefehl aufgehoben ist oder er ihn, ob und gegebenenfalls auS welchen Grunden er Einwendungen ge-
3. der Vollzug des Auslieferungshaftbefehls ausgesetzt ist, gen die Auslieferung oder gegen seine vorlaufige Festnahme erheben will.
so ordnet der Richter beim Amtsgericht die Freilassung an. § 21 Abs. 2 Satz 4 gilt entsprechend.
(4) 1st der Auslieferungshaftbefehl aufgehoben oder der Vollzug ausge- (3) Ergibt sich bei der Vernehmung, da~ der Ergriffene nicht die Per-
setzt, so ordnet der Richter beim Amtsgericht an, daB der Verfolgte bis son ist, auf die sich das Ersuchen oder die Tatsachen im Sinne des § 17
zur Entscheidung des Oberlandesgerichts festzuhalten ist, wenn Abs. 2 Nr. 4 beziehen, so ordnet der Richter beim Amtsgericht seine
1. die Voraussetzungen eines neuen Auslieferungshaftbefehls wegen Freilassungan. Andernfalls ordnet der Richter beim Amtsgericht an, daB
der Tat vorliegen oder der Verfolgte bis zur Entscheidung des Oberlandesgerichts festzuhalten
ist. § 21 Abs. 4 Satz 2, Abs. 6 und 7 gilt entsprechend.
2. Griinde dafur vorliegen, den Vollzug des Auslicferungshaftbefehls
anzuordnen.
§23
Die Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht fuhrt unverztiglich Entscheidung tiber Einwendungen des Verfolgten
die Entscheidung des Oberlandesgerichts herbei.
(5) Erhebt der Verfolgte gegen den Auslieferungshaftbefehl oder gegen Ober Einwendungen des Verfolgten gegen den Auslieferungshaftbe-
dessen Vollzug sonstige Einwendungen, die nicht offensichtlich unbe- fehl oder gegen dessen Vollzug entscheidet das Oberlandesgericht.
grundet sind, oder hat der Richter beim Amtsgericht Bedenken gegen die
Aufrechterhaltung der Haft, so teilt er dies der Staatsanwaltschaft bei §24
dem Oberlandesgericht unverztiglich und auf dem schnellsten Weg mit. Aufhebung des Auslieferungshaftbefehls
Die Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht fUhrt unverzuglich die (1) Der Auslieferungshaftbefehl ist aufzuheben, sobald die Vorausset-
Entscheidung des Oberlandesgerichts herbei. zungen der vorlaufigen Auslieferungshaft oder der Auslieferungshaft
(6) Erhebt der Verfolgte gegen die Auslieferung keine Einwendungen, nicht mchr varliq~en ada die Auslicferung ftir unzuIassig erklart wird.
so belehrt ihn der Richter beim Amtsgericht tiber die Moglichkeit der (2) Der Auslieferungshaftbefehl ist auch aufzuheben, wenn die Staats-
vereinfachten Auslieferung und deren Rechtsfolgen (§ 41) und nimmt anwaltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht dies beantragt. Gleichzeitig mit
sodann des sen Erklarung zu Protokoll. dem Antrag ordnet sic die Freilassung des Verfolgten an.
542 543
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Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen (IRG) 3.
e
3. Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen (IRG)
§25 § 28
Aussetzung des Vollzugs des Auslieferungshaftbefehls Vernehmung des Verfolgten
(1) Das Oberlandesgericht kann den Vollzug des Auslieferungshaftbe- (1) Nach dem Eingang des Auslieferungsersuchens beantragt die Staats-
fehls allssetzen, wenn weniger einschneidende Ma~nahmen die Gewahr anwaltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht die Vernehmung des Verfolgten
bieten, da~ der Zweck der vorlallfigen Auslieferungshaft oder der AlIslie- bei dern Arntsgericht, in dessen Bezirk er sich bcfindet.
ferungshaft auch durch sie errcicht wird. (2) Del' Richter beirn Amts~cricht vernimmt den Verfolgtcn i.ibcr seine
pl'l'siinlicilen Verh:iltnisse, insbesondere i.iber seine Staatsangehorigkeit.
(2) § 116 Abs. 1 Satz 2, Abs. 4, §§ 116 a, 123 und 124 Abs. \, Abs. 2 Satz
Er weist ihn darauf hin, da~ er sich in jcder Lage des Verfahrens cines Bei-
1, Abs. 3 der Strafproze~ordnung sowie § 72 Abs. \,3 Satz 1 des JlI~end
stands (§ 40) bedienen bnn und da{~ es ihm freisteht, sich zu der ihm zur
gerichtsgesetzes gel ten entsprechend.
Last gelegten Tat zu au Bern oder dazu nicht auszusagen. Sodann befragt
er ihn, ob und gegebenenfalls aus welchen Grunden er Einwendungen ge-
§26 gen die Auslieferung erheben will. Zu dem Gegenstand der Beschuldi-
Haftprlifung gung ist der Verfolgte nur zu vernehmen, wenn die Staatsanwaltschaft bei
dem Oberlandesgericht dies beantragt; in den ubrigen Fallen sind die
(1) Befindet sich der Verfolgte in Auslieferungshaft, so entscheidet das
Angaben, die der Verfolgte von sich aus hierzu macht, in das Protokoll
Oberlandesgericht iiber deren Fortdauer, wenn der Verfolgte seit dem
Tag der Ergreifung, der vorlaufigen Festnahme oder der letzten Entschei- aufzunehmen.
dung iiber die Fortdauer der Haft insgesamt zwei Monate zum Zweck (3) Erhebt der Verfolgte gegen die Auslieferung keine Einwendungen,
der Auslieferung in Haft ist. Die Haftpriifung wird jeweils nach zwei so belehrt ihn der Richter beim Amtsgericht iiber die Moglichkeit der
Monaten wiederholt. Das Oberlandesgericht kann anordnen, daB die vereinfachten Auslieferung und deren Rechtsfolgen (§ 41) und nimmt
Haftpriifung innerhalb einer kiirzeren Frist vorgenommen wird. sodann dessen Erktirung zu Protokoll.
(2) Befindet sich der Verfolgte in vorlaufiger Auslieferungshaft oder in § 29
einstweiliger Unterbringung in einem Erziehungsheim (§ 71 Abs. 2 des Antrag auf Entscheidung liber die ZuHissigkeit der Auslieferung
Jugendgerichtsgesetzes), so gilt Absatz 1 entsprechend.
(1) H,lt sich der Verfolgte nicht mit der vereinfachten Auslieferung
§27 (§ 4\) einverstanden erklart, so beantragt die Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem
Vollzug der Haft Oberlandesgericht die Entscheidung des Oberlandesgerichts dariiber, ob
die Auslicferung zulassig ist.
(1) Fiir die vorlaufige Auslicferungshaft, die Auslieferungshaft und die (2) Die Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht kann die Ent-
Haft auf Grund einer Anordnung des Richters beim Amtsgericht gelten schcidung des Oberlandesgerichts auch dann beantragen, wenn sich der
die Vorschriften der StrafprozeBordnung und, soweit der Verfolgte ein Verfolgte mit der vcreinfachten Auslieferung einverstanden erklart hat.
Jugendlicher oder ein Heranwachsender ist, die des Jugendgerichtsgeset-
zes iiber den Vollzug der Untersuchungshaft entsprechend. §30
(2) Die Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht bestimmt die Vorbereitung der Entscheidung
Anstalt, in welcher der Verfolgte zu verwahren ist. (1) Reichen die Auslieferungsunterlagen zur Beurteilung der Zulassig-
(3) Die richterlichen Verfiigungen trifft der Vorsitzende des zustandi- keit der Auslieferung nicht aus, so entscheidet das Oberlandesgericht
gen Senats des Oberlandesgerichts. erst, wenn dem ersuchenden Staat Gelegenheit gegeben worden ist,
erganzende Unterlagen beizubringen. Fi.ir ihre Beibringung kann eine
Frist gesetzt werden.
545
544
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Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strat1>achen (IRG)
§33
Erneute Entscheidung tiber die ZuHissigkeit
3.-
sonstige Beweise liber die ZuHissigkeit der Auslieferung erheben. 1m Fall
des § 10 Abs. 2 erstreckt sich die Beweiserhebung liber die ZuIassigkeit (1) Treten n~lch der Entscheidung des Oberlandcsgerichts iiber die Zu-
der Auslieferung auch darauf, ob der Verfolgte der ihm zur Last gcIegten I:issigkeit der Auslicferung Umst;inde ein, die eine andere Entscheidung
Tat hinreichend verdachtig erscheint. Art und Umfang der Beweisauf- tiber die ZuIassigkeit zu begriiriden geeignet sind, so entscheidet das
nahme bestimmt das Oberlandesgericht, ohne durch Amrage, Vcrzichte ()hcrl.lIldl'sgl'richl von Amls Wl'gcn, auf Amrag der Staatsanwaltschaft
oder friihere Beschllisse gebundcn zu scin. Iwi dl'lll Obcrl.llldl'sgericht Oller auf Antrag des Verfolgten erneut iiber
(3) Das Obcrlandcsgericht k.tnn cinc mlindlichc Vl'rh~tndlullg durch- die ZlIllwgkcit dcr AlIslicfcrllng.
fiihren. (2) Werdcll n.tch tier Fl1lschcidung dl's Obl'rlantlesgerichts Umst;inde
bck.tnl1t, die cine andere Entscheidung tiber die Zutissigkcit zu begriin-
§3I den geeignet sind, so bnn das Oberlandesgericht erneut iiber die Zulas-
Durchfiihrung der mtindlichen Verhancllung sigkeit der Auslieferung entscheiden.
(3) § 30 Abs. 2 und 3, §§ 31,32 gelten entsprcchend.
(1) Von Ort und Zeit der miindlichen Verhandlung sind die Staatsan-
waltschaft bei dem OberIandesgericht, der Verfolgte und sein Beistand (4) Das Oberlandesgericht kann den Aufschub der Auslieferung anord-
(§ 40) zu benachrichtigen. Bei der miindlichen Verhandlung muB ein Ver- nen.
treter der Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht anwesend sein.
§34
(2) Befindet sich der Verfolgte in Haft, so ist er vorzufiihren, es sci Haft zur Durchfiihrung cler Auslieferung
denn, daB er auf die Anwesenheit in der Verhandlung verzichtet hat oder
daB der Vorflihrung weite Entfernung, Krankheit oder andere nicht zu (1) Befindet sich der Verfolgte nach der Bewilligung der Auslieferung
beseitigende Hindernisse entgegenstehen. Wird der Verfolgte zur miindli- auf freiem FuB und ist die Durchflihrung der Auslieferung nicht auf an-
chen Verhandlung nicht vorgeflihrt, so muG ein Beistand (§ 40) seine dere Weise gewahrleistet, so ordnet das Oberlandesgericht durch schrift-
Rechte in der Verhandlung wahrnehmen. In diesem Fall ist ihm flir die lichen Haftbefehl die Haft zur Durchflihrung der Auslieferung an, sofern
mlindliche Verhandlung ein Rechtsanwalt als Beistand zu bestellen, wenn nicht der Vollzug eines bestehenden Auslieferungshaftbefehls (§ 17) ange-
er noch keinen Beistand hat. ordnet werden kann.
(3) Befinpet sich der Verfolgte auf freiem FuB, so kann das Oberlandes- (2) In dem Haftbefehl sind anzufiihren
gericht sein personliches Erscheinen anordncn. Erscheint der ordnungs- 1. der Verfolgte,
gemaB geladene Verfolgte nicht und ist sein Fernbleiben nicht geniigend 2. die Entscheidung, durch welche die Auslieferung bewiIligt worden
entschuldigt, so kann das Oberlandesgericht die Vorflihrung anordnen. ist, sowie
(4) In der miindlichen Vcrhandlung sind die anwesenden Beteiligten zu 3. der Haftgrund und die Tatsachcn, aus dcnen er sich ergibt.
horen. Uber die Verhandlung ist ein Protokoll aufzunehmen. (3) Die §§ 18 bis 20 und 23 bis 27 gelten entsprechend.
§32 §35
Entscheidung tiber die Zulassigkeit Erweiterung der Auslieferungsbewilligung
Der BeschluB liber die Zulassigkeit der Auslieferung ist zu begrlinden. (1) 1st die Auslieferung durchgeflihrt und ersucht der Staat, an den der
Er wird der Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht, dem Verfolg- Verfolgte ausgclicfert worden ist, wegen einer weiteren Tat um Zustim-
ten und seinem Beistand (§ 40) bekanntgemacht. Der Verfolgte crhalt mung zur Verfolgung otler zur Vollstreckung einer Strafe oder einer son-
eine Abschrift. stigen Sanktion, so kann die Zustimmung erteilt werden, wenn
547
546
3. Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen (IRG)
•
1. nachg;wiesen worden ist, da~ der Ausgelieferte Gelegenheit hatte,
Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen (IRG)
§ 41
(4) Uber die Zuhissigkeit der Herausgabe entscheidet auf Einwendun-
Vereinfachte Auslieferung
gen des Verfolgten, auf Antrag der Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem Oberlan-
desgericht oder auf Antrag desjenigen, der geltend macht, er wlirde durch (1) Die A uslieferung eincs Ausl:1nders, gq;en den ein A uslicfcrungs-
die Herausgabe in seinen Rechten verletzt werden, das Oberlandesge- h~1fthefehl besteht, kann auf Ersuchen einer zustandigen Stelle cines aus-
richt. Erklart das Oberlandesgericht die Herausgabe fiir zu\assig, so kann l:indischcn SLutcs um Auslicfcrung ocler UI11 vorlaufige I~estnahme zum
es demjenigen, der seine Entscheidung beantragt hat, die der Staatskassc ZWl'ck tier Auslidcrung ohnc Durchfiihrun!!, dcs fiirJl11ichen Auslicfe-
erwachsenen Kosten auferlegen. Die Herausgabe darf nicht bewilligt WlT- rungsvcrfahrens hcwilligt werden, wcnn sich der Verfolgte nach Ikleh-
den, wenn das Oberlandesgericht sie fiir unzulassig erklart hat. rung zu richtcrlichcJl1 Prowknll mit dieser vereinfachten Auslicferung
einverst~1I1den erkl:irt hat.
§J9 (2) Im fall des Absatzes 1 bnn auf die Beachtung der Voraussetzungen
Beschlagnahme und Durchsuchung des § 11 verzichtet werden, wenn sich der Verfolgte nach Bclehrung 7U
(I) Gegenstande, deren Herausgabe an einen aus\;indischen Staat in richterlicheI11 ProlOkoll dal11it einverstanden erklart hat.
Betracht kommt, konnen, auch schon vor Eingang des Auslieferungser- (3) Das Einverst;indnis kann nicht widerrufen werden.
suchens, beschlagnahmt oder sonst sichergestellt werden. Zu diesel11
(4) Auf Antrag der Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht
Zweck kann auch eine Durchsuchung vorgenommen werden.
bclehrt der Richter beim Amtsgericht den Verfolgten iiber die Mijglichkeit
(2) 1st noch kein Oberlandesgericht mit dem Auslieferungsverfahren der vereinfachten Auslieferung und deren Rechtsfolgen (Absatz 1 bis 3)
befaBt, so werden die Beschlagnahme und die Durchsuchung zunachst und nimmt sodann dessen Erklarung zu Protokoll. Zustandig ist der Rich-
von dem Amtsgericht angeordnet, in dessen Bezirk die Handlungen vor- ter bei dem Amtsgericht, in dessen Bezirk sich der Verfolgte befindet.
zunehmen sind.
(3) Bei Gefahr im Verzug sind die Staatsanwaltschaft und ihre Hilfsbe- § 42
amten (§ 152 des Gerichtsverfassungsgesetzes) befugt, die Beschlagnahme Anrufung des Bundesgerichtshofes
und die Durchsuchung anzuordnen.
(1) Halt das Oberlandesgericht cine Entscheidung des Bundesgerichts-
§ 40 hofes flir geboten, urn eine Rechtsfragc von grundsatzlicher Bedeutung
Beistand zu klaren, oder will es von einer Entscheidung des Bundesgerichtshofes
oder einer nach dem Inkrafttreten dieses Gesetzes ergangenen Emschei-
(1) Der Verfolgte kann sich in jeder Lage des Verfahrens cines Bei- dung eines anderen Oberlandesgerichts liber eine Rechtsfrage in Auslicfe-
stands bedienen. rungssachen abweichen, $0 begrlindet es seine Auffassung und holt die
(2) Oem Verfolgten, der noch keinen Beistand gewahlt hat, 1st ein Entscheidung des Bundesgerichtshofes iiber die Rechtsfrage ein.
Rechtsanwalt als Beistand zu bestcllen, wenn (2) Die Entscheidun des gundcsgcrichtshofes wird auch cingeholt,
h
1. wegen der Schwierigkeit der Sach- oder Rechtslage die Mitwirkung wenn der Generalbundesanwalt oder die Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem
eines Beistands geboten erscheint, Oberlandesgericht dies zur Klarung einer Rechtsfrage beantragt.
2. ersichtlich ist, daB der Verfolgte seine Rechte nicht selbst hin- (3) Ocr Bundesgcrichtshof gibt dem Verfolgten Gclegenheit zur Aulk
reichend wahfnehmen kann, oder rung. Die Entscheidung crgeht ohne miindliche Verhandlung.
3. der Verfolgte noch nicht achtzehnJahre alt ist.
(3) Die Vorschriften des 11. Abschnittes des 1. Buches der Strafproze~
ordnung mit Ausnahme der §§ 140, 141 Abs. 1 bis 3 und § 142 Abs. 2 gel-
ten entsprechend.
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Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen (IRG)
Dritter Tei!
-
Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen (IRG)
(1) Ein Aus];indcr, der in cineOl ausl:indischcn Sta.lt Wl'gl'1l cillcr Tat. § 45
die dort mit Strafe bedroht ist, vcrfolgt wird odL'l" vcruncilt wordcll ist, Durchlicferungsvcrfahrcn
kann auf Ersuchen einer zustandigen Stelle dieses Staatcs zur Vcrfolgll llg
oder zur Vollstreckung einer wegen der Tat verhangten Strafe oticr 5011- (1) Erscheint die Durchlieferung zulassig, so wird der Verfolgte zu
stigen Sanktion durch den Geltungsbereich dieses Gesetzes durchgeliefert ihrer Sicherung in Haft gehalten.
werden.
(2) Die Haft wird durch schriftlichen Haftbefehl (Durchlieferungshaft-
(2) Ein Auslander, der in einem auslandischen Staat wegen einer Tat, befehl) des Oberlandesgerichts angeordnet. § 17 Abs. 2, § 30 Abs. 1 gelten
die dort mit Strafe bedroht ist, verurteilt worden ist, kann auf Ersuchen entsprechend.
einer zustandigen Stelle eines anderen auslandischen Staates, der die VolI- (3) Die Durchlieferung darf nur bewilligt werden, wenn ein Durchlie-
streckung ub.ernommen hat, zur Vollstreckung einer wegen der Tat ver- ferungshaftbefehl erlassen worden ist. I
hangten Strafe' oder sonstigen Sanktion durch den Geltungsbereich dieses
Gesetzes durchgeliefert werden. (4) Der Durchlieferungshaftbefehl ist dem Verfolgten unverziiglich
nach seinem Eintreffen im Geltungsbereich dieses Gesetzes bekanntzuge-
(3) Die Durchlieferung ist nur zulassig, wenn ben. Der Verfolgte erhalt eine Abschrift.
1. die dem Ersuchen zugrunde liegende Tat nach deutschem Recht mit (5) Kann die Durchlieferung voraussichtlich nicht bis zum Ablauf des
Freiheitsstrafe bedroht ist oder bei sinngema~er U mstellung des Sachver- auf die Uberstellung folgenden Tages abgeschlossen werden, so ist der
haltes mit Freiheitsstrafe bedroht ware und
Verfolgte unverziiglich, spatestens am Tag nach seinem Eintreffen im
2. wegen der dem Ersuchen zugrunde liegenden Tat Geltungsbereich dieses Gesetzes, dem Richter des nachsten Amtsgerichts
a) im Fall des Absatzes 1 die in § 10 Abs. 1 Satz 1 oder vorzufiihren. Der Richter beim Amtsgericht vernimmt ihn iiber seine
b) im Fall des Absatzes 2 die in § 10 Abs. 3 Nr. 1 bis 3 bezeichneten personlichen Verhaltnisse, insbesondere iiber seine Staatsangehorigkeit.
Unterlagen vorgelegt worden sind. Er weist ihn darauf hin, da~ er sich in jeder Lage des Verfahrens eines Bei-
Wird urn Durchlieferung wegen mehrerer Taten ersucht, so geniigt es, stands (§ 40) bedienen kann und da~ es ihm freisteht, sich zu der ihm zur
wenn die Voraussetzungen des Satzes 1 fur mindestens eine der delll Ersu- Last gelegten Tat zu au~ern oder dazu nicht auszusagen. Sodann befragt
chen zugrunde liegenden Taten vorliegen. er ihn, ob und gegebenenfalls aus welchen Griinden er Einwendungen ge-
(4) Fur die Durchlieferung gelten die §§ 6 bis 8 entsprechend. gen den Durchlieferungshaftbefehl oder gegen die Zulassigkeit der
Durchliefcrung erheben will. Erhebt der Verfolgte Einwendungen, die
§ 44 nicht offensichtlich unbegriindet sind, oder hat der Richter beim Amtsge-
Zustandigkeit richt Bedenken gegen die Aufrechterhaltung der Haft oder gegen die
Zulassigkeit der Durchlieferung, so teilt er dies der Staatsanwaltschaft bei
(1) Die gerichtlichen Entscheidungen erla~t das Oberlandesgericht. dem Oberlandesgericht unverziiglich und auf dem schnellsten Weg mit.
§ 13 Abs. 1 Satz 2, Abs. 2 gilt entsprechend.
Diese fiihrt unverziiglich die Entscheidung des Oberlandesgerichts her-
(2) Ortlich zustandig ist
bei. .
1. im Fall der Durchlieferung auf dem Land- oder Seeweg das Ober-
(6) Die §§ 24,27,33 Abs. 1,2 und 4, §§ 40 und 42 gelten entsprechend,
landesgericht, in dessen Bezirk der Verfolgte voraussichtlich in den Gel-
ebenso § 26 Abs. 1 mit der Ma~gabe, da~ an die Stelle der Frist von zwei
tungsbereich dieses Gesetzes uberstellt werden wird,
Monaten eine Frist von einem Monat tritt.
552
553
3.
it e It II
Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen (IRG)
Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen (IRG) 3.
(7) Die bei einer Durchlieferung iibernomme~en Gegenstande konnen
Amtsgericht seine Freilassung an. Andernfalls ordnet der Richter beim
ohne besonderes Ersuchen gleichzeitig mit der Uberstellung des Verfolg-
ten herausgegeben werden. Amtsgericht an, daB der Verfolgte bis zur Entscheidung des Oberlandes-
gerichts festzuhalten ist. § 21 Abs. 4 Satz 2, Abs. 7 gilt entsprechend.
§ 46 (5) Der Durchlieferungshaftbefehl kann schon vor Eingang der in § 43
Durchlieferung bei voriibergehender Auslieferung Abs. 3 Satz 1 Nr. 2 aufgcfiihrten Unterlagen erlassen werden. Er ist dem
Vcrfolgtcl1 unvcrzi.iglich bekanntzugeben. Der Verfolgte erhalt eine
(1) 1st die Durchlieferung bewilligt worden, so kann der Verfolgte auf Abschrift.
Ersuchen einer zustandigen Stelle des ersuchenden Staates zllllachst zum (f,) Dcr Durchlicfcrungshaftbcfchl ist aufzuheben, wenn der Verfolgte
Vollzug einer voriibergehenden Auslieferung und ciner nachfolgenden seit clem Tag der vorl:iufigell hstllahme illsgesamt 45 Tage zum Zweck
Riicklieferung durch den Geltungsbereich dieses Gesetzes durchgeliefert der Durchlieferullg in Haft ist, ohne daB die Durchlicferungsunterlagen
werden.
eingegallgen sind. Hat ein auBereuropaischer Staat die Beforderung
(2) 1m Fall des Absatzes 1 ist der Durchlieferungshaftbefehl allch auf gemaB Absatz 1 angekiindigt, so betragt die Frist zwei Monate.
die weiteren Uberstellungsfalle zu erstrecken. (7) Nach dem Eingang der U nterlagen beantragt die Staatsanwaltschaft
bei dem Oberlandesgericht die Vertiehmung des Verfolgten durch den
§ 47 Richter des Amtsgerichts, in dessen Bezirk sich der Verfolgte befindet.
Unvorhergesehene Zwischenlandung bei Beforderung § 45 Abs. 5 Satz 2 bis 4 gilt entsprechend. Sodann beantragt die Staatsan-
auf dem Luftweg waltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht die Entscheidung des Oberlandes-
(1) Hat eine zustandige Stelle eines auslandischen Staates angekiindigt, gerichts dariiber, ob der Durchlieferungshaftbefehl aufrechtzuerhalten
sie werde einen Auslander zum Zweck der Auslieferung auf dem Luftweg ist.
ohne Zwischenlandung durch den Geltungsbereich dieses Gesetzes befor- (8) Die Durchlieferung darf nur bewilligt werden, wenn das Oberlan-
o dern lassen, und mitgeteilt, daB die gemaB § 43 Abs. 3 Satz 1 Nr. 2, Satz 2 desgericht den Durchlieferungshaftbefehl aufrechterhalten hat.
erforderlichen Unterlagen vorliegen, so wird die Ankiindigung im Fall
einer unvorhergesehenen Zwischenlandung als Ersuchen um Durchliefe- Vierter Teil
rung behandelt. Rechtshilfe durch Vollstreckung ausHindischer Erkenntnisse
(2) Liegen die Voraussetzungen des Absatzes 1 vor, so sind die Staatsan-
waltschaft und die Beamten des Polizeidienstes zur vorlaufigen Festnah- § 48
me befugt. Grundsatz
(3) Der Verfolgte ist unverziiglich, spatestens am Tag nach der Festnah- Rechtshilfe kann fiir ein Verfahren in einer strafrechtlichen Angele-
me, dem Richter des nachsten Amtsgerichts vorzufiihren. Der Richter genheit durch Vollstreckung einer im Ausland rechtskraftig verhangten
beim Amtsgericht vernimmt ihn iiber seine personlichen Verhaltnisse, Strafe oder sonstigen Sanktion geleistet werden, wenn
insbesondere uber seine Staatsangehorigkeit. Er weist ihn darauf hin, daB 1. eine nach Artikel 59 Abs. 2 des Grundgesetzes durch Gesetz gebillig-
er sich in jeder Lage der Verfahrens eines Beistands (§ 40) bedienen kann te volkerrechtliche Vereinbarung dies vorsieht oder
und daB es ihm freisteht, sich zu der ihm zur Last gelegten Tat zu au Bern 2. gegen einen Deutschen in einem auslandischen Staat eine freiheits-
oder dazu nicht auszusagen. Sodann befragt er ihn, ob und gegebenenfalls cntziehende Sanktion verhangt worden ist.
aus welchen Grunden er Einwendungen gegen die Durchlieferung oder
dagegen erheben will, daB er festgehalten wird. § 49
(4) Ergibt sich bei der Vernehmung, daB der Vorgefuhrte nicht die in Weitere Voraussetzungen der Zulassigkeit
der Ankundigung bezeichnete Person ist, so ordnet der Richter beim
(1) Die Vollstreckung ist nur zulassig, wenn
554
555
It
~ 3. Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen (IRG) Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen (IRG) 3.
wird, sind das Erkenntnis sowie Art und Hohe der zu vollstreckenden
3. "
ordnung mit Ausnahme der §§ 140, 141 Abs. 1 bis 3 und § 142 Abs. 2 gel- Sanktion in der Entscheidungsformel anzugeben.
ten entsprechend. (2) Gegen den BcschluG des Landgerichts konnen die Staatsanwalt-
schaft bei dem Landgericht und der Verurteiltc sofortige Beschwerde ein-
§54 Icgen. FUr das weitere Verfahren gilt § 42 entsprechend.
Umwandlung der auslandischen Sanktion (3) Die rechtskrMtigen Entseheidungen des Gerichts sind dem Bundes-
zentralregister durch Oberscndung einer Ausfertigung mitzuteilen. Dies
(1) Soweit die Vollstreckung des auslandischen Erkenntnisses zulassig gilt nicht, soweit die in dem auslandischen Erkenntnis verhangte Sank-
ist, wird es fur vollstreckbar erklart. Zugleich ist die insoweit verhangte tion in cine Gcldbu~e umgewandclt worden ist. 1st das auslandische
Sanktion in die ihr im deutschen Recht am meisten entsprechende Sank- Erkenntnis im Bundeszentralregister einzutragen, so ist die Entscheidung
tion umzuwandeln. Fur die Hohe der festzusetzenden Sanktion ist das Uber die Vollstreckbarkeit bei der Eintragung zu vermerken. Die §§ 14
auslandische Erkenntnis ma~gebend; sie darf jedoch das Hochstma~ der bis 18 des Bundeszentralregistergesetzes gelten entsprechend.
im Geltungsbereich dieses Gesetzes fur die Tat angedrohten Sanktion
nicht Uberschreiten. An die Stelle dieses Hochstma~es tritt ein Hochst- § 56
ma~ von zwei Jahren Freiheitsentzug, wenn die Tat im Geltungsbereich Bewilligung der Rechtshilfe
dieses Gesetzes
(1) Die Rechtshilfe darf nur bewilligt werden, wenn das ausI;:indische
1. im Hochstma~ mit Freiheitsstrafe bis zu zwei Jahren bedroht ist
oder Erkenntnis fUr vollstreckbar erHirt worden ist.
2. als Ordnungswidrigkeit mit Geldbu~e bedroht ist, die auslandische (2) Die Entscheidung uber die Bewilligung der Rechtshilfe ist dem Bun-
Sanktion jedoch nach Satz 2 in eine freiheitsentziehende Sanktion umzu- deszentralregister mitzuteilen. § 55 Abs. 3 Satz 2 bis 4 gilt entsprechend.
wandeln ist. (3) Wird die Rechtshilfe bewilligt, so darf die Tat nach deutschem
(2) Bei der Umwandlung einer Geldstrafe oder einer Geldbu~e wird Recht nicht mehr verfolgt werden.
der in auslandischer Wahrung berechnete Geldbetrag nach dem im Zeit-
punkt des auslandischen Er:kenntnisses maBgeblichen Kurswert in Deut- §57
sche Mark umgerechnet. Vollstreckung und Vollzug
(3) Bei der Umwandlung einer gegen einen ]ugendlichen oder einen (1) Nach Bewilligung der Rechtshilfe fuhrt die nach § SO Satz 2 zustan-
Heranwachsenden verhangten Sanktion gelten die Vorschriften des dige Staatsanwaltschaft als Vollstreckungsbehorde die Vollstreckung
J ugendgerich tsgesetzes entsprechend. durch.
(4) Auf die festzusetzende Sanktion sind der Teil der Sanktion, der in (2) Die Vollstreckung des Restes einer freiheitsentziehenden Sanktion
dem ersuchenden Staat oder in einem dritten Staat gegen den Verurteilten kann zur Bewahrung ausgesetzt werden. Die Vorschriften des Strafge-
wegen der Tat bereits vollstreckt worden ist, sowie nach § 58 erlittene setzbuches gelten entsprechend.
Haft anzurechnen. 1st die Anrechnung bei der Entscheidung liber die (3) Die Entscheidung nach Absatz 2 und die nachtraglichen Entschei-
Vollstreckbarkeit unterblieben oder treten danach die Voraussetzungen dungen, die sich auf eine Strafaussetzung zur Bewahrung beziehen, trifft
fur die Anrechnung ein, so ist die Entscheidung zu erganzen. das nach § 462 a Abs. 1 Satz 1 und 2 der Strafproze~ordnung zustandige
Gericht oder, falls eine Zustandigkeit nach dieser Vorschrift nicht
§ 55 begrlindet ist, das fur die Entscheidung nach § 50 zustandige Gericht.
Entscheidung liber die Vollstreckbarkeit (4) FUr die Vollstreckung einer Sanktion, die in eine nach dem ]ugend-
(1) Ober die Vollstreckbarkeit entscheidet das Landgericht durch gerichtsgesetz zulassige Sanktion umgewandclt worden ist, gelten die
BeschluB. Soweit das auslandische Erkenntnis fUr vollstreckbar erklart Vorschriften des Jugendgerichtsgesetzes entsprechend.
559
558
e e
Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen (IRG) 3.
3. Gesetz tiber die intern. Rechtshilfe in Strafsachen (IRG)
einem Gericht oder von einer Behorde betrieben wird und ob die Rechts-
(5) Der Vollzug der umgewandelten Sanktion richtet sich nach den hilfehandlung von eincm Gericht odcr von einer Behorde vorzunehmen
Vorschriften, die auf eine im Geltungsbereich dieses Gesetzes verhangte
Sanktion anwendbar waren. ist.
(6) Von der Vollstreckung ist abzusehen, wenn eine zust;indige Stelle (3) Die Rechtshilfe darf nur geleistet werden, wenn die Voraussetzun-
des ersuchenden Staates mitteilt, daB die Voraussetzungen flir die Voll- gen vorliegen, unter denen deutsche Gerichte oder Behi,>rden einander in
streckung entfallen sind. entsprechenden Eillen Rechtshilfe leisten kiinnten.
§ 58 § 60
Haft zur Sicherung cler Vollstreckung Leistung der Rechtshilfe
(1) 1st ein Vollstreckungsersuchen im Sinne des § 49 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 einge- Halt die fur die Bewilligung der Rechtshilfe zustandige Behorde die
gangen, so kann zur Sicherung der Vollstreckung einer freiheitsentzie- Voraussetzungen fur die Leistung der Rechtshilfe fur gegeben, so ist die
henden Sanktion gegen den Verurteilten die Haft angeordnet werden, fur die Leistung der Rechtshilfe zustandige Behorde hieran gebunden.
wenn auf Grund bestimmter Tatsachen
§ 61 bleibt unberuhrt.
1. der Verdacht begrundet ist, daB er sich dem Verfahren uber die Vo1l-
streckbarkeit oder der Vollstreckung entziehen werde, oder § 61
2. der dringende Verdacht begrundet ist, daB er in dem Verfahren uber Gerichtliche Entscheidung
die Vollstreckbarkeit in unlauterer Weise die Ermittlung der Wahrheit
erschweren werde. { (1) Halt ein Gericht, das fur die Leistung der Rechtshilfe zustandig ist,.
(2) Absatz 1 gilt nicht, wenn die Vollstreckung von vornherein unzu- \die Voraussetzungen fur die Leistung der Rechtshilfe fUr nicht gegeben,
lassig erscheint. so begrundet es seine Auffassung und holt die Entscheidung des Ober-
iandesgerichts ein. Das Oberlandesgericht entscheidet Ferner auf Antrag
(3) Die Haftentscheidung trifft das fur die Entscheidung nach § 50
der Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht oder im Fall des § 66
zustandige Gericht. Die §§ 17, 18, 20, 23 bis 27 gelten entsprechend. An
auf Antrag desjenigen, der geltend macht, er wurde durch die Herausgabe
die Stelle des Oberlandesgerichts tritt das Landgericht, an die Stelle der
in seinen Rechten verletzt werden, daruber, ob die Voraussetzungen fur
Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht die Staatsanwaltschaft bei
die Leistung der Rechtshilfe gegeben sind. Fur das Verfahren vor dem
dem Landgericht. Gegen die Entscheidungen des Landgerichts ist die
Oberlandesgericht gelten die §§ 30,31 Abs. 1,3 und 4, §§ 32,33 Abs. 1,2
Beschwerde zulassig.
und 4, § 38 Abs. 4 Satz 2, § 40 Abs. 1 sowie die Vorschriften des 11.
Abschnittes des L Buches der StrafprozeBordnung mit Ausnahme der
Fun/ter Teil
§§ 140 bis 143 entsprechend. Fur das weitere Verfahren gilt § 42 entspre-
Sonstige Rechtshilfe
chend.
§59 (2) Ortlich zustandig sind das Oberlandesgericht und die Staatsanwalt-
ZuHissigkeit cler Rechtshilfe schaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht, in deren Bezirk die Rechtshilfe gelei-
stet werden soll odet geleistet worden ist. Sind Rechtshilfehandlun&en in
(1) Auf Ersu~hen einer zustandigen Stelle eines auslandischen Staates
den Bezirken verschiedener Oberlandesgerichte vorzunehmen oder vor-
kann sonstige Rechtshilfe in einer strafrechtlichen Angelegenheit gelei-
genommen worden, so richtet sich die Zustandigkeit danach, welches
stet werden.
Oberlandesgericht oder, solange noch kein Oberlandesgericht befafh ist,
(2) Rechtshilfe im Sinne des Absatzes 1 ist jede Unterstutzung, die fur welche Staatsanwaltschaft bei dem Oberlandesgericht zuerst mit der
ein auslandisches Verfahren in einer strafrechtlichen Angelegenheit
gewahrt wird, unabhangig davon, ob das auslandische Verfahren von Sache befaBt wurde.
561
560
RAPPORT NATIONAL
POUR
LAFRANCE
a. Politique generale
La lutte c~ntre la corruption est constamment citee comme etant une priorite de l'action
gouvemementale. L'accent a ete mis aussi bien sur la lutte que sur la prevention.
1
responsabilite penale des personnes morales et sanctionnant des cas de corruption les plus
graves par des peines proportionnees et dissuasives ;
• L'obligation pour l'administration de denoncer les delits dont e1le a connaissance aux
Parquets en application de l'article 40 du code de procedure penale ;
• Des juridictions specialisees mettant en reuvre des methodes pluridisciplinaires au sein
des poles economiques et financiers des tribunaux de grande instance.
• En application du principe de la separation des pouvoirs et d'une pratique tres claire du
gouvemement a cet egard, l'absence d'intervention hierarchique et gouvemementale dans
Ie deroulement des procedures judiciaires conduites a leur terme sans entraves.
a.2 Considerez vous que cela est satisfaisant ou non? Si non, quels sont les manques?
Quelles qu'elles soient, les mesures qui peuvent etre prises pour combattre la corruption seront
toujours insuffisantes pour eradiquer Ie phenomene. L'appat du gain et la volonte de puissance
sont des facteurs tellement "naturels" chez les hommes que Ie combat durera aussi longtemps
que la race humaine existera. La lutte est toujours inegale.
Cette lutte repose sur trois axes : la prevention, la repression et l'information du public. Si les
deux premiers semblent correctement pris en compte, c'est peut-etre sur Ie dernier point que
les actions restent encore trop modestes. II ne sera possible de vaincre la corruption que si
l'ensemble de la societe civile est consciente de l'importance du probleme et, surtout,
consciente qu'elle a tout a perdre dans Ie maintien ou Ie developpement de la corruption car
elle en est la seule victime, meme si elle ne s'en rend pas compte.
b. Statistiques
Toutes les statistiques sur la corruption sont par definition fausses puisqu'il s'agit d'un
phenomene cache et secret. Le cout de la corruption ou l'ampleur du phenomene ne peuvent
pas etre mesures avec precision et, contrairement a ce que pretendent certains auteurs, il n'est
meme pas possible d'en donner une estimation serieuse. Les deux principaux obstacles sont,
pour ce qui conceme Ie cout, la mesure des couts induits et des couts indirects et, pour ce qui
conceme l'ampleur du phenomene, Ie fait qu'une augmentation du nombre de condamnations
peut aussi bien etre interpretee comme une aggravation du phenomene que comme une
amelioration des performances de ceux qui Ie combattent.
2
d'autres pays comparables it plus forte raison lorsque l'on admet que Ie crime organise est
devenu transnational.
b.2 Pouvez-vous fournir des statistiques? Si non pouvez-vous donner une estimation?
Les statistiques emanant du casier judiciaire national, montrent pour l'annee 1998 un total de
152 condamnations pour les delits de corruption et trafic d'influence actifs et passifs,
corruption de magistrat ou de jure, concussion, prise illegale d'interet, acte d'intimidation sur
une personne exer9ant une fonction publique, favoritisme. L'observation la plus significative
conceme l'augmentation sensible depuis 5 ans du nombre des condamnations prononcees pour
prise illegale d'interet dans la grande majorite des cas, it l'encontre des elus.
Les condamnations prononcees pour corruption dans Ie secteur prive, ont varie de 7 it 28 au
cours des 5 demieres annees.
Toutes les estimations existantes actuellement ne reposent sur aucune base fiable et ne
peuvent pas etre utilisees dans un document officiel.
c. Legislation repressive
c.l Quels types de comportement peuvent-ils etre sanctionnes comme des formes de
corruption (pots de vin, trafic d'influence ... )? Active et passive? Secteur public et
secteur prive?
c.2 Ces dispositions legales sont-elles applicables si des ressortissants nationaux sont
corrompus ou plus largement (etrangers, membres des organisations internationales ... )?
Le droit penal fran9ais incrimine la corruption active et passive de personnes exer9ant une
fonction publique en France, Ie trafic d'influence de personnes exer9ant une fonction publique
en France, la corruption active et passive d'agent public etranger, et la corruption dans Ie
secteur prive.
Elements constitutifs :
• Qualite de l'auteur de l'infraction : Ie corrompu : l'auteur doit etre depositaire de l'autorite
publique (representant de l'Etat et des collectivites locales, fonctionnaires de l'ordre
administratif...) ou charge d'une mission de service public (president de chambre de
commerce, ... ) ou investi d'un mandat electifpublic (depute, ... ).
Par personne depositaire de l'autorite publique, il faut entendre une personne titulaire d'un
pouvoir de decision et de contrainte sur les individus et sur les choses qu'elle manifeste
dans l'exercice de fonctions, permanentes ou temporaires, dont e1le est investie par
delegation de la puissance pUblique.
Par personne chargee d'une mission de service public, il faut entendre une personne qui,
sans avoir re9u un pouvoir de decision ou de commandement, est chargee d'accomplir des
actes ou d'exercer une fonction dont la finalite est de satisfaire it un interet general.
• Activite materielle delictueuse : i1 s'agit de solliciter ou d'agreer directement ou
indirectement, sans droit, it tout moment, des offres, dons, promesses, presents ou des
avantages quelconques (argent liquide, remise de dettes, ouverture de credits, objets
3
materiels, voyages, ... ). La sollicitation implique l'initiative de la personne exeryant une
fonction publique. La seule sollicitation consomme Ie delit, meme si elle n 'est pas suivie
du consentement de la personne sollicitee. L'agrement designe tout a la fois l'acceptation
par Ie corrompu des offres qui lui sont faites, et la reception des dons ou presents promis.
L'agrement implique un accord de volontes entre Ie corrupteur et Ie corrompu qui
consomme l'infraction, quel que so it Ie resultat effectif.
• But des manreuvres : La personne agree ou sollicite un avantage pour accomplir ou
s'abstenir d'accomplir un acte de sa fonction, de sa mission ou de son mandat ou facilite
par sa fonction, sa mission ou son mandat. Les actes de la fonction sont determines par les
dispositions legales ou reglementaires qui regissent la fonction. Les actes facilites par la
fonction sont ceux qui bien que ne ressortissant pas aux prerogatives expressement
concedees a l'interesse par des dispositions legales ou reglementaires, sont rendus
possibles par ces prerogatives en raison du lien etroit qui unit l'acte et les attributions.
• Condition de temps : Le delit de corruption n'est caracterise que si la sollicitation ou
l'agrement d'un avantage quelconque est anterieur a l'acte de la fonction ou facilite par la
fonction ainsi achete. Le principe d'anteriorite ne s'applique qu'au pacte de corruption lui-
meme, non aux modalites de son execution. "11 importe peu que les dons, presents ou
avantages aient ele acceptes par une personne investie d'un mandat electif
posterieurement a l'accomplissement de I'acte de la fonction, Ie delit de corruption,
consomme des la conclusion du pacte entre Ie corrupteur et Ie corrompu se renouvelant a
chaque acte d'execution dudit pacte@ (Ch. Crim. C. Casso 27110/1997 - Carignon). Pour
faciliter la preuve de l'anteriorite du pacte en cas de relations s 'echelonnant dans Ie temps
la Cour de cassation cbnsidere que la corruption est caracterisee des lors que, dans Ie tissu
des relations qui se nouent entre tel decideur public et tels entrepreneurs, les "dons
recompensant les actes passes ont pour but de faciliter les services futurs " (Crim
29/09/1973 Bull nO 271).
2 -la corruption active (article 433-1 alinea 1er 10 et aUnea 2 du code penal)
Elements constitutifs
• Qualite de l'auteur de l'infraction: Ie corrupteur : un particulier
• Qualite du corrompu : il s'agit de l'une des personnes visees par l'infraction de corruption
passive (personne depositaire de l'autorite publique, chargee d'une mission de service
public ou investie d'un mandat electif public).
• Activite materielle delictueuse : il s'agit du fait, pour Ie particulier: a) soit de proposer
sans droit, directement ou indirectement, a tout moment, des avantages que1conques pour
obtenir de la personne investie d'une fonction publique qu'elle accomplisse ou s'abstienne
d'accomplir un acte de sa fonction ou facilite par elle; b) soit de ceder a la personne
investie d'une fonction publique qui sollicite directement ou indirectement, sans droit, des
avantages que1conques pour accomplir ou s'abstenir d'accomplir un acte de sa fonction ou
facilite par elle.
• Condition de temps : l'offre ou Ie don doivent etre anterieurs a l'acte ou a l'abstention
sollicites.
4
cette infraction sont identiques a ceux de la corruption active ou passive de personnes
exer9ant une fonction publique en France, si ce n'est la qualite de la personne corrompue
qui doit etre un magistrat, un jure, ou une personne siegeant dans une formation
juridictionnelle fran9aise, un arbitre ou un expert nomme soit par une juridiction, soit par
les parties, ou une personne chargee par l'autorite judiciaire d'une mission de conciliation
ou de mediation.
La France a choisi d'incriminer la corruption d'un agent public relevant d'un Etat etranger ou
d'une organisation internationale dans un cadre conventionnel relevant soit de l'Union
europeenne, soit de l'OCDE (cf. loi du 30 juin 2000 modifiant Ie code penal et Ie code de
procedure penale et relative a la corruption).
la corruption active d'un agent public etranger dans les transactions commerciales
internationales
Les articles 435-3 et 435-4 du code penal incriminent les faits de corruption active d'un agent
public etranger commis en vue d'obtenir ou conserver un marche ou un autre avantage indu
dans Ie commerce internationaL La definition des actes tomb ant sous Ie coup de ces articles
correspond a celle qui figure dans l'article 433-1, 10 reprimant Ia corruption active d'un
fonctionnaire nationaL
La personne corrompue doit etre soit une personne depositaire de l'autorite publique, chargee
d'une mission de service public ou titulaire d'un mandat electif public dans un Etat etranger ou
au sein d'une organisation internationale publique (article 435-3), soit un magistrat, un jure ou
toute autre personne siegeant dans une formation juridictionnelle, un arbitre, un expert
nomme soit par une juridiction, soit par les parties ou d'une personne chargee par l'autorite
judiciaire d'une mission de conciliation ou de mediation dans un Etat etranger ou au sein d'une
organisation internationale publique (article 435-4).
Contrairement a l'article 435-2 du code penal qui reprime tous les actes de corruption active,
quelque so it leur objet, les articles 435-3 et 435-4 ont un champ d'application plus restreint :
les faits doivent avoir ete commis "en vue d'obtenir ou conserver un marche ou un autre
avantage indu dans Ie commerce international".
5 - Le trafic d'inf!uence
Le droit penal fran9ais incrimine distinctement Ie trafic d'influence actif et Ie trafic d'influence
passif.
5
Le trafic d'influence passif est Ie fait pour une personne exeryant une fonction publique en
France (article 432-11, 20 du code penal) ou une personne privee (article 433-2 du code
penal) de solliciter ou d'agreer, sans droit, directement ou indirectement, des avantages
que1conques pour abuser de son influence reelle ou supposee en vue de faire obtenir d'une
autorite ou d'une administration publique franyaise des distinctions, des emplois, des marches
ou toute autre decision favorable.
Le trafic d'influence actif est Ie fait pour un tiers quelconque de proposer, sans droit,
directement ou indirectement, des avantages quelconques a une personne exeryant une
fonction publique en France (article 433-1, 20 du code penal) ou a une personne privee
(article 433-2 du code penal) pour qu'elle abuse de son influence teelle ou supposee en vue de
faire obtenir d'une autorite ou d'une administration publique franyaise des distinctions, des
emplois, des marches ou toute autre decision favorable.
En droit penal fran 9a is, Ie trafic d'influence se distingue donc de la corruption par Ie but des
manCEuvres frauduleuses. Si l'offre ou Ie versement de fonds a une personne exeryant une
fonction publique a pour objet d'acheter la decision elle-meme de cette derniere, rut-ce
indirectement, par des moyens detournes (notamment par personne interposee), il y a
corruption. Si l'offre ou Ie versement de fonds a pour objet de remunerer l'influence reelle ou
supposee de la personne exeryant une fonction publique, il y a trafic d'influence.
6 - La corruption privee
L'article L. 152-6 du code du travail incrimine la corruption active (alinea 2) et passive (alinea
1) dans Ie secteur prive.
gualite de la personne corrompue : la personne corrompue doit avoir la qualite de "directeur"
ou de "salarie". En toute hypothese, la personne corrompue doit etre dans une situation de
subordinationjuridique vis a vis de l'employeur.
activite materielle delictueuse: il s'agit du fait de solliciter ou d'agreer, directement ou
indirectement des avantages quelconques, ou de ceder a des sollicitations similaires ou d'en
prendre l'initiative, a l'insu et sans l'approbation de son employeur pour accomplir ou
s'abstenir d'accomplir un acte de la fonction ou facilite par la fonction.
6
La prescription de l'action publique est interrompue par les actes de poursuite ou d'instruction.
L'interruption de la prescription a pour effet d'effacer tout Ie temps ecoule avant sa
survenance, un nouveau delai de prescription commenyant a courir.
La prescription est suspendue en cas d'obstac1e de droit (examen d'une question prejudicielle -
pourvoi en cassation ... ) ou de fait (demence de la personne mise en examen... ) a l'exercice de
l'action publique.
A la difference de l'interruption, la suspension ne fait qu'arreter Ie cours de la prescription, si
bien que Ie temps deja ecoule avant sa survenance entre en ligne de compte pour Ie ca1cul du
delai.
8 - Blanchiment
La France incrimine Ie blanchiment du produit de tout crime ou delit a l'artic1e 324-1 du code
penal. La corruption revet donc bien Ie caractere d'une infraction principale a l'egard de
l'infraction de blanchiment. Aux termes de l'artic1e 324-1 du code penal, "Ie blanchiment est
Ie fait de faciliter, par tout moyen, la justification mensongere de l'origine des biens ou
revenus de l'auteur d'un crime ou d'un delit ayant procure a celui-ci un profit direct ou
indirect. Constitue egalement un blanchiment Ie fait d'apporter un concours a une operation
de placement, de dissimulation ou de conversion du produit direct ou indirect d'un crime ou
d'un delit. "
Elements materiels: trois elements doivent etre etablis pour caracteriser l'infraction :
L'existence d'un crime ou d'un delit principal - dit infraction prealable ;
L'existence d'un fait de blanchiment, constitue dans son element materiel et intentionnel ;
L'existence d'un lien entre l'infraction prealable et Ie fait de blanchiment c'est-a-dire la preuve
que les fonds "traites" par la personne suspectee de blanchiment proviennent du produit de
l'infraction prealable.
Pour entrer en voie de condamnation, il suffit de rapporter la preuve que Ie prevenu
connaissait l'origine frauduleuse des fonds, sans avoir a etablir qu'elle avait la connaissance
precise de la nature, des circonstances de temps, de lieu, d'execution de l'infraction prealable.
Le delit de blanchiment etant un delit distinct de l'infraction principale, il importe peu que
l'infraction de corruption active ait ete commise a l'etranger, ou qu'elle soit ou non de la
competence des juridictions penales franyaises.
Le blanchiment simple est puni de 5 ans d'emprisonnement et de 2 500 000 francs d'amende.
Les personnes physiques encourent au surplus les peines complementaires prevues a l'article
324-7 du code penal
Les personnes morales peuvent etre dec1arees responsables penalement des infractions de
blanchiment. Elles encourent une peine d'amende double de celle encourue par les personnes
physiques et les peines mentionnees it l'artic1e 131-19.
Les sanctions concernant les differents delits de corruption sont les suivantes :
7
lOans d'emprisonnement - 1.000.000 F d'amende - Interdiction des droits et d'exercer -
Confiscation
Corruption active commise par Ie particulier (art. 433-1 du CP) :
lOans d'emprisonnement - 1.000.000 F d'amende - condamnation de la personne morale -
Interdiction des droits et d'exercer -Confiscation
Trafic d'influence passif commis par des personnes publiques ou priwJes (art. 432-11 du CP) :
lOans d'emprisonnement - 1.000.000 F d'amende - Interdiction des droits et d'exercer -
Confiscation - condamnation de la personne morale
Trafic d'influence actif commis par des particuliers (art. 433-2 du CP) :
5 ans d'emprisonnement - 500.000 F d'amende - Interdiction des droits et d'exercer -
Confiscation
Prise illegale d'interets (art. 432-12 du CP) :
5 ans d'emprisonnement - 500.000 F d'amende - Interdiction des droits et d'exercer -
Affichage de la decision
Favoritisme (art. 432-14 du CP) :
2 ans d'emprisonnement - 200.000 F d'amende - Interdiction des droits et d'exercer
Les sanctions s'appliquent aux personnes physiques, mais les personnes morales peuvent aussi
etre tenues pour responsables penalement des infractions de corruption et de blanchiment dans
les conditions prevues a l'artide 121-2 du code penal. L'article 121-2 du code penal definit Ie
champ d'application de la responsabilite penale des personnes morales, ainsi que les
conditions de mise en reuvre de cette responsabilite.
Selon l'article 121-2, les personnes morales, a l'exclusion de l'Etat, sont responsables
penalement, selon les distinctions des articles 121-4 a 121-7 (c'est-a-dire en qualite d'auteur
ou de complice), et dans les cas prevus par la loi ou Ie reglement, des infractions commises,
pour leur compte, par leurs organes ou representants. La responsabilite penale des personnes
morales n'exclut pas celle des personnes physiques, auteurs ou complices des memes faits.
8
Conditions de mise en ceuvre de la responsabilite penale
Aux termes de l'artic1e 121-2 du code penal, les personnes morales sont responsables
penalement des infractions commises pour leur compte par leurs organes ou representants.
Deux conditions sont donc prevues a l'artic1e 121-2 pour imputer une infraction a une
personne morale:
En premier lieu, l'infraction doit avoir ete commise par un organe ou un representant de la
personne morale. De ce fait, la responsabilite penale des personnes morales est une
responsabilite indirecte dans la mesure ou les infractions imputables aux personnes morales
doivent avoir ete commises par des personnes physiques.
Les organes de droit d'une personne morale sont constitues par une ou plusieurs personnes
physiques auxquelles la loi ou les statuts conrerent une fonction particuliere dans
l'organisation de la personne morale en les charge ant de son administration ou de sa direction.
Les organes des personnes morales de droit prive sont, s'agissant des societes, Ie gerant, Ie
PDG, Ie conseil d'administration ou Ie directoire, les directeurs generaux.
La notion de "representant" designe toute personne ayant reyu la mission de representer la
personne morale. Cette notion se confond donc, pour partie, avec celle de l'organe, dans la
me sure ou la plupart des organes d'une personne morale sont des representants legaux de la
personne morale. Toutefois, il existe des hypotheses dans lesquelles les representants d'une
personne morale n'en sont pas les organes. Doivent notamment etre consideres comme
representants de la personne morale : l'administrateur provisoire, Ie liquidateur d'une societe
ou d'une association, les personne titulaires d'une delegation de pouvoir au sein d'une
entreprise, et d'une fayon generale toute personne a laquelle les organes ont donne pour
mission generale -pour mandat- de gerer et representer la personne morale.
En second lieu, l'infraction doit avoir ete commise pour Ie compte de la personne morale.
Doit etre consideree comme agissant pour Ie compte de la personne morale, Ie dirigeant qui
agit au nom et dans l'interet de celle-ci. Les actes reprehensibles du representant eng agent
egalement la responsabilite penale de la personne morale des lors qu'ils ont ete commis pour
son compte au sens Ie plus large du terme, c'est-a-dire dans l'exercice d'activites ayant pour
objet d'assurer l'organisation, Ie fonctionnement ou les objectifs du groupement dote de la
personnalite morale meme si e1le n'y a trouve aucun interet, s'il n'en resulte pour elle aucun
profit.
Le dirigeant d'une societe qui, par des actes de corruption, obtiendrait d'un fonctionnaire ou
d'un elu des avantages pour son entreprise - tel l'obtention d'un marche public - engage des
lors la responsabilite de cette demiere.
9
Le systeme juridique franyais est regi par Ie principe de l'unite des competences legislative et
juridictionneIle en droit penal. En vertu de ce principe, chaque fois qu'une disposition prevoit
la competence des juridictions franyaises, celles-ci ne peuvent appliquer que la loi franyaise
et, inversement, toutes les dispositions reconnaissant la competence de la loi franyaise
signifient implicitement que les juridictions franyaises sont competentes pour l'appliquer.
Competence des juridictions fran£aises pour connaltre des faits de corruption commis par des
jj:mctionnaires communautaires ou d=un autre Etat membre
L'article 689-8 du code de procedure penale, issu de la loi du 30 juin 2000 precite, prevoit des
regles de competence elargie pour la poursuite, l'instruction et Ie jugement en France des faits
de corruption active et passive commis par des fonctionnaires communautaires ou dlun autre
Etat membre (articles 435-1 et 435-2 du Code penal).
Personnes concernees
Les personnes morales sont responsables penalement pour des infractions commises a
l'etranger dans les memes conditions et selon les memes regles que les personnes physiques.
10
c.6 La loi contient-elle des dispositions specifiques concernant la charge de la preuve
(renversement, protection des whistleblowers ... )?
La legislation franyaise est tres detaillee sur les differents aspects de la corruption. Elle donne
entiere satisfaction.
Les seuls points sur lequel elle pourrait etre amelioree concernent l'etablissement de la preuve
de l'existence du pacte de corruption et Ie delai de prescription qui est de 3 ans apres la
commission des faits. La corruption etant par definition secrete, un delai de prescription
partant de la date de la decouverte des faits serait sans doute plus efficace et eviterait de
recourir a des condamnations pour abus de biens sociaux, infraction pour laquelle la
prescription est de 3 ans apres la decouverte des faits.
d. Mesures de prevention
d.l Quelles mesures de prevention existent dans votre pays (audit, publication
d'informations financieres obligatoires, codes de conduite ... ) ?
En application de l'article 53-90 de la loi du 31 decembre 1971 modifiee, les avo cats doivent
deposer a la CARPA (Caisse des reglements pecuniaires des avocate), les fonds, effets ou
valeurs qu'ils reyoivent pour Ie compte de leurs clients.
Pour prevenir l'utilisation illicite des finances publiques, Ie droit franyais met en reuvre Ie
principe de la separation des ordonnateurs et des comptables et prevoit de nombreux controles
aux differents stades de la depense pUblique.
Enfin, s'agissant des elus et des hommes politiques, notre legislation prevoit pour les membres
du Gouvernement, les parlementaires europeens, les parlementaires nationaux, les presidents
et conseillers des conseillers regionaux et generaux, les maires des communes de plus de 30
11
000 habitants, les adjoints aux maires des communes de plus de 100 000 habitants, titulaires
de delegations de fonctions, les presidents et directeurs generaux des entreprises nationales,
des etablissements publics nationaux a caractere industriel et commercial, de certains
organismes publics d'habitations a loyers moderes et de certaines societes d'economie mixte,
une declaration de leur situation patrimoniale au debut et a la fin de l'exercice de leurs
fonctions a la Commission pour la transparence financiere de la vie politique presidee par Ie
vice-president du Conseil d'Etat et composee de magistrats du Conseil d'Etat, de la Cour de
Cassation et de la Cour des Comptes.
e. Structures
e.1 Votre pays a-t-il cree des services specialises pour lutter contre la corruption? Si oui,
quel est Ie contexte (par exemple installes pres de la police), la composition, les fonctions
et les pouvoirs de ces services?
Parmi quatre vingt six propositions formulees en decembre 1992 par une commission de
retlexion sur la lutte contre la corruption dite "commission de prevention de la corruption"
reunie au mois d'avril de la meme annee a l'initiative du Premier Ministre, figurait la
recommandation de creer un service central de lutte contre la corruption au ministere de la
Justice.
Concretement, cette premiere mission consiste a analyser les secteurs dans lesquels la
corruption sevit et a formuler des recommandations pour y remedier. C'est ainsi qu'ont
ete notamment etudies jusqu'a present: les marches publics, Ie sport, la sante publique,
l'informatique, la formation professionnelle, les grandes surfaces, les sectes, les
produits derives, la publicite, les transactions commerciales intemationales, Ie role des
conseils et des intermediaires.
12
A partir des connaissances acquises sur cette base, Ie service developpe lui-meme ou
sous-traite une action de sensibilisation ou de formation a la lutte contre la corruption
visant trois categories d'agents : les agents exposes au risque de corruption (marches
publics, sante publique), les agents qui pratiquent des contr6les (prefecture,
concurrence, consommation et repression des fraudes) et ceux qui realisent des
investigations (police judiciaire, gendarmerie, justice). A cette occasion, des
documents comme des vade-mecum ou des fiches de recherches s'inspirant notamment
des methodes d'audit, sont mis a la disposition des agents;
• La deuxieme mission est une fonction consultative, c'est a dire la possibilite pour Ie
service de donner, a leur demande, a l'administration, aux responsables de certains
organismes limitativement enumeres comme la commission des operations de bourse, Ie
conseil de la concurrence, la mission interministerielle d'enquete sur les marches publics,
les juridictions financieres et aux responsables des collectivites locales comme les maires
des communes, des avis sur des cas concrets auxquels ils sont confrontes, notamment,
pour prevenir la corruption.
• Au-dela de ces trois missions bien determinees, Ie SCPC contribue, en outre, au sein de la
delegation franyaise, aux travaux de toutes les instances intemationales sur la lutte contre
la corruption. II participe egalement a la cooperation intemationale tant multilaterale que
bilaterale et accueille, a ce titre, toutes les delegations etrangeres qui souhaitent decouvrir
ses activites.
13
definir Ie programme de travail de l'annee a venir auquelles administrations sont appelees a
collaborer.
Le rapport annuel du SCPC est publie aux editions du Journal Officiel ou chacun peut
l'acquerir pour Ie prix de 45 francs. Le site web du ministere de la Justice permet d'acceder a
son sommalre.
a.Offre
a.l Jusqu'a quel point votre pays apporte-t-il une cooperation internationale dans les cas
de corruption (echange d'informations policieres, assistance mutuelle en matiere
criminelle, extradition ... ) ?
Par ailleurs, la France est partie a plusieurs conventions multilaterales et bilaterales qui
permettent la cooperation judiciaire internationale, tant en ce qui concerne l'extradition que
l'entraide judiciaire. Les dispositions de ces conventions s'appliquent egalement aux
procedures conduites du chef de corruption.
En matiere d'entraide judicia ire, la France est partie a la convention europeenne d'entraide
judiciaire en matiere penale faite a Strasbourg, Ie 20 avril 1959, qui constitue la base de la
cooperation judiciaire entre la France et de nombreux Etats. Par ailleurs, la France est
signataire de la convention d'application de l'Accord de SCHENGEN, entree en vigueur Ie 26
mars 1995, qui contient d'importantes dispositions permettant d'etendre et de faciliter
l'entraide judiciaire entre les Etats signataires.
14
La France a egalement signe de nombreuses conventions bilaterales d'entraide judiciaire en
matiere penale. Le plus souvent, celles-ci s'inspirent de la convention de 1959.
En !'absence de convention, la cooperation judiciaire en matiere penale peut etre accordee par
la France selon les conditions et modalites prevues par Ie droit interne, en l'occurrence par la
loi du 10 mars 1927, relative it l'extradition des etrangers.
• En l'absence de convention, l'entraide judiciaire peut toujours etre demandee. La France
peut egalement l'accorder, sur la base de la reciprocite, conformement aux dispositions des
articles 30 et suivants de la loi du 10 mars 1927, et ce egalement en ce qui concerne les
affaires de corruption. La loi du 10 mars 1927 ne subordonne pas l'octroi de l'entraide
judiciaire it l'existence de peines privatives de liberte d'un seuil minimal. L'entraide
judiciaire peut donc etre accordee efficacement quelque soit Ie quantum des peines
prevues. L'entraide pourra egalement etre accordee lorsque la responsabilite engagee sera
celle d'une personne morale.
• En matiere d'extradition, les relations de la France ne sont pas soumises it l'existence d'une
base juridique conventionnelle dans la mesure OU la loi du 10 mars 1927 permet
l'extradition, en l'absence de toute convention, sur la base de la reciprocite. Dans ce cas,
les conditions de l'extradition sont definies par la loi du 10 mars 1927, et particulierement
l'article 4, alineas 1 et 2. L'extradition peut etre accordee ou demandee par la France
lorsque l'infraction est sanctionnee par la loi de l'Etat requerant :
soit d'une peine criminelle (pas de seuil),
soit d'une peine correctionnelle dont Ie seuil est de deux ans au moins.
Compte tenu des peines prevues par Ie droit penal franyais pour les delits de corruption,
la France pourra toujours demander l'extradition. En revanche, elle ne pourra faire droit it
la demande d'extradition emanant d'un Etat etranger que pour autant que la legislation de
cet Etat prevoit un seuil suffisant au regard de la loi du 10 mars 1927.
Extradition
Lorsqu'il existe une convention d'extradition applicable, les conditions de l'extradition sont
determinees par cet instrument. L'economie generale des conventions d'extradition signees par
la France est la suivante :
• L'extradition est toujours subordonnee it la condition de double incrimination.
II convient de relever que cette condition sera presumee satisfaite si l'infraction pour
laquelle l'entraide est demandee releve d'une convention multilaterale it laquelle les deux
Etats sont parties (convention relative it la lutte contre la corruption impliquant des
fonctionnaires des Communautes europeennes ou des fonctionnaires des Etats membres
de l'Union europeenne, faite it Bruxelles Ie 26 mai 1997 ; Convention sur la lutte contre la
corruption d'agents publics etrangers dans les transactions commerciales internationales,
faite it Paris Ie 17 decembre 1997).
• En principe, les infractions pouvant donner lieu it extradition sont determinees par Ie
quantum de la peine encourue et non par leur qualification.
Actuellement, aucune des conventions auxquelles la France est partie ne prevoit de seuil
superieur it deux ans. Compte tenu des peines prevues par Ie droit penal franyais pour les
delits de corruption (dix annees d'emprisonnement), la France pourra done toujours
demander l'extradition. En revanche, elle ne pourra faire droit it la demande d'extradition
15
emanant d'un Etat etranger que pour autant que la legislation de cet Etat prevoit un seuil
suffisant au regard de la convention applicable.
D'autres dispositions, introduites par la loi precitee du 23 juin 1999, ont pour objet d'accelerer
Ie traitement des demandes d'entraide judiciaire, une attention particuliere etant accordee a la
cooperation entre les Etats parties a la convention prise pour l'application de l'Accord de
Schengen du 19 juin 1990 (articles 695 et 696 du code de procedure penale).
16
__ a.3 Particularites de la cooperation avec votre pays
b. Demandes
b.l QueUes sont vos attentes lorsque vous demandez la cooperation d'un autre pays dans
un cas de corruption ?
17
NATIONAL REPORT
FOR
FINLAND
a. General policy
If we are speaking about corruption and bribery, we usually mean that money, (political)
power, personal benefit and influence over some people are mixed together. In most of
corruption and bribery cases those elements are involving together and we can be absolutely
sure that we can find some of those elements in each case we are speaking about. Generally,
corruption and bribery are not common in Finland. Only few bribery cases have been exposed
in Finland. All of them have concerned offering bribes to public officials. A typical feature to
the cases is that a private entrepreneur or some other party offering a bribe has intended to
affect the actions in service of the public official, and in exchange for the actions to have an
illegal gift of other benefit. Usually, it has been a question of entertaining the public official
e.g. by offering travels. Bribery is not common in Finland, only few cases have been exposed
per year. (see b. Statistics, below)
Bribery is taken very seriously in Finland. Bribery is not a part of the Finnish administration
culture and it is very rare in Finland. We do not have an unambiguous reasons for that. Some
ofthem may depends on our historical background.
Many of the exposed cases have gained a lot of pUblicity and extensive media coverage.
Bribery cases are investigated in Finland in the same way as any other offences. No separate
arrangement for the purposes of investigation has been established, and there is no need for
doing so.
No connections between bribery cases and organized crime have been found. The number of
bribery cases has been numerically low, and persons involved in them have not been members
of any organized crime groups.
1
b. Statistics
In the next you can see some statistics of the number of persons sentenced by district courts
for offering a bribe to a public official:
1989 7
1990 3
1991 1
1992 3
1993 3
1994 1
1995
1996 4
1997 4
1998 2
1989 6
1990 3
1991
1992 1
1993 5
1994 3
1995
1996 4
1997 6
1998 1
We also have police statistics relating to the number of persons who are suspected for bribery
and corruption by the police. Of course, these statistics also include people who have not been
convicted in Court after the police investigation.
It is also possible to collect knowledge from other sources to compare for example those
statistics in money laundering but it takes a lot oftime we now haven't.
c. Repressive legislation
Provisions on bribery are included in Chapter 16, Section l3 of the Penal Code. According to
subsection 1, a person who to (1) a public official, to (2) an employee of public corporation.
(3) a soldier, (4) a member of the staff of the European Communities, (5) a public official in
another member state of the European Union or (6) a foreign public official, in exchange for
hislher actions in service, promises, offers or gives a gift or other benefit, intended to the said
person or to another, that affects or is intended to affect or is conductive to affecting the
actions in service of the said person, shall be sentenced for bribery. According to sub-section
2
2, a sentence for bribery shall also be passed on a person who, in exchange for the actions in
service of a public official or another person mentioned in the first paragraph, prormises,
offers or gives a gift or other benefit mentioned in the said paragraph to another person.
Punishment for bribery is a fine or an imprisonment for at most two years.
Provisions on aggravated bribery are included in Chapter 16, Section 14 of the Penal Code.
Bribery is to be considered aggravated, if in the bribery the gift or benefit is intended to make
the person act in service contrary to hislher duties with the result of considerable benefit to the
briber or to another person or of considerable loss or detriment to another person or the value
of the gift or benefit is considerable and the bribery is aggravated also when assessed as
whole. Sentence for an aggravated bribery offence is an imprisonment for at least four
months and at most four years.
The definition for a public official for the purposes of the Penal Code is included in Chapter
2, Section 12. The definition is very wide and detailed. According to it, public officials are:
First of all, persons who are in the service of, or in a corresponding employment relationship
with the State, a municipality or a federation of municipalities or in several other public
corporations or institutes that have been specifically named;
Secondly, public officials are municipal councillors and other members of representative
bodies of a public corporation elected in a general election, except for parliamentary
representatives as well as other members of representative bodies of a public corporation
elected in a general election. except for parliamentary representatives in his/her parliamentary
duties, as well as a members of organs of a public corporation or institution and officials of
these corporations or institutions;
Thirdly, persons, who on the basis of an Act, a Decree or an order based on an Act or Decree
exercise public authority in corporations other than those mentioned. In a sense of criminal
justice, persons employed under contract by the referred public corporations or institutions are
considered as public officials.
Chapter 16, Section 20 of the Penal Code, includes a definition for a member of the staff of
the European Communities, an official of another member state of the European Union and a
foreign official in a way required by the EU and the OECD Conventions to combat bribery. A
member of the staff of the European Communities means a person, who is in a permanent or
temporary service relationship with the European Parliament, the Council of the European
Union, the Commission of the European Communities, the Court of Justice of the European
Communities, the Court of Auditors, the Committee of the Regions, the Economic and Social
Committee, the European Ombudsman, the European Investment Bank., the European Central
Bank. or another institution set up by virtue of the Treaties establishing the European
Communities, or who on assignment performs a task entrusted to himlher by an institution of
the European Communities or another institution set up by virtue of the Treaties establishing
the European Communities. An official of another Member State of the European Union
refers to a person who under the legislation of the State in question is subject to criminal
liability as a civil servant or public official. A foreign official means a person, who in a
foreign State has been appointed or elected into a legislative, administrative or judicial
position or function, or who otherwise performs a public task on behalf of the foreign state, or
who is a functionary or representative of a public international organisation.
3
According to Chapter 40, Section 1 of the Penal Code, a public official or an employee of a
public corporation, for hislher actions while in service, for himselflherself or another demands
a gift or other unjustified benefit, accepts a gift or other benefit which influences, which is
intended to influence, or which is conducive to influencing him in the said actions, or accepts
the gift or benefit or a promise or offer thereof shall be sentenced for acceptance of a bribe. A
public official and an employee of a public corporation shall be sentenced for acceptance of a
bribe also if he/she, for hislher actions while in service, accepts the giving, the promise or the
offer of the gift or other benefit to another person shall be sentenced for acceptance of a bribe.
The punishment for acceptance of a bribe is a fine or an imprisonment for at most two years.
A public official may also be sentenced to dismissal, if the offence indicates that he/she is
manifestly unfit for hislher duties.
It is a question of aggravated acceptance of·a bribe, if the intention of the public official or the
employee of a public corporation is, because of the gift or benefit, to act in service in a
manner contrary to hislher duties to the considerable benefit of the party giving the gift or of
another or to the considerable loss or detriment of another or the gift or benefit is of
significant value and the acceptance of the bribe is aggravated also when assessed as a whole.
The. sentence for aggravated acceptance of a bribe is an imprisonment for at least four months
and at most four years and, moreover, the public official shall be sentenced to dismissal. If the
act is not punishable as acceptance of a bribe or as aggravated acceptance of a bribe, he/she
shall be sentenced for a bribery violation to a fine or to imprisonment for at most six months.
According to Chapter 40, Section 4 of the Penal Code, the gift or benefit that is received or
the value thereof shall be declared forfeited to the State from the offender or from the person
on whose behalf or in favour of whom the offender has acted. According to Chapter 2,
Section 16 of the Penal Code, the financial benefit of the offence to the offender shall be
declared forfeited to the State.
Both passive and active bribery in the private sector are punishable in Finland. Provisions on
bribery in business are included in Chapter 30, Section 7 of the Penal Code. A person, who
promises, offers or gives an unlawful benefit to a person in the service of a businessman, a
member of the administrative board or board of directors, the managing director, auditor or
receiver of a corporation or of a foundation engaged in business, or a person carrying out a
duty on behalf of a business intended for the recipient or another, in order to have the bribed
person, in hislher function or duties, favour the briber or another person, or to reward the
bribed person for such favouring, shall bc sentenced for the offence to a fine or to
imprisonment for at most two years.
Provisions on acceptance of a bribe in business are included in Chapter 30, Section 8 of the
Penal Code. A person referred in section 7, who demands, accepts or receives a bribe for
himselflherself or another for favouring, in hislher function or duties, the briber or another as
a reward for such favouring commits the offence in question. The punishment for acceptance
of a bribe in business is a fine or an imprisonment for at most two years.
According to Chapter 2, Section 16 referred to under the item 2. 1. 1. above, the financial
benefit of the offence to the offender shall be declared forfeited to the State. The provision is
4
applied to the financial benefit gained by a person giving a bribe as well as the one of a person
accepting a bribe.
Prerequisites on which bribery in the public sector can be deemed as aggravated are described
under item 2. 1. 1. above. In practise, an act that is systematic or long lasting is most often
classified as an aggravated one. Conspiracy to commit bribery is not punishable as such.
General grounds for increasing the punishment are listed in Chapter 6, Section 2 of the Penal
Code. These are:
3.4. Accounting
It is very easy to conceal wrong receipts in accounting. For that reason it is very important to
reveal all miscalculating. In Finland we have this kind of paragraphs in our law. We can think
about a situation where General Manager of some company have decided to add false receipts
in accounting of company purposing to hide the true meaning of those receipts.
All forms of modus operandi referred to in the question may constitute the essential elements
of an accounting offence that is described in Chapter 30, Section 9 of the Penal Code.
According to the section, a person with a legal obligation to keep accounts, hislher
representative or the person entrusted with the keeping of accounts intentionally neglects in
full or in part the recording of business transactions or the balancing of the accounts, enters
false or misleading data into the accounts, or destroys, conceals or damages account
documentation and in this way essentially impedes the obtaining of a true sufficient picture of
the financial result of the business of the said person or of hislher financial standing, commits
an accounting offence. The punishment for an accounting offence is a fine or an imprisonment
for at most three years. In some cases, the acts could be considered as forgery referred to in
Chapter 33, Section 1 of the Penal Code.
According to the provisions of Act on Business Prohibition, a court may issue at demand by
public prosecutor a business prohibition to a private entrepreneur or a representative or
official of an business organisation for three years and at most seven years, if slhe has
essentially neglected legal obligations or committed an offence that cannot be considered as a
minor one in hislher business activities. Thus, bribery committed in business may serve as a
basis for issuing a business prohibition.
5
Money laundering is also a very good way to conceal the origin of some money, for example
the money becoming from bribery and corruption.
Provisions on money laundering are included in the same context as the ones on a receiving
offence, namely Chapter 32, Section 1 of the Penal Code. According to sub-section 2 of the
section, a person shall be sentenced for a receiving offence if
(1) s/he receives, transforms, conveys or transfer assets or other property which he/she
knows to have been gained through an offence or to replace such assets or property,
in order to conceal or launder its illicit origins or to assist the offender in avoiding
the lawful sanctions provided for the offence or
(2) conceals or launders the true nature, origin, location or transactions or rights
pertaining to the property referred to in subparagraph (1) or
(3) fails to make a notification referred to in Section 10 of the Act on the Detection and
Prevention of Money Laundering or in violation of the prohibition provided in
Section 10, discloses a notification referred to therein. The punishment for a
receiving offence is a fine or an imprisonment for at most one year and six months.
Offences that could serve as predicate offences for money laundering are not specified in the
provision, but it is sufficient that it is a question of proceeds from crime. Therefore, assets
gained by committing bribery may be laundered.
Provisions on corporate criminal liability of legal persons are included in Chapter 9 of the
Penal Code. A corporation, foundation or other legal entity, in whose operations an offence
has been committed, may on the request of public prosecutor be sentenced to a corporate fine,
if such sanction has been provided in the Penal Code. Therefore, in relation to each offence, it
must be separately stated whether the provisions concerning corporate criminal liability of
legal persons are applied to it.
6
According to Chapter 16, Section 18 of the Penal Code, the provisions on corporate criminal
liability apply to bribery and aggravated bribery. Respectively, according to Chapter 30,
Section 13 of the Penal Code, the provisions on corporate criminal liability apply to bribery in
business and, according to Chapter 32, Section 8 of the Penal Corle, they apply also to a
receiving offence i.e. money laundering.
A corporate fine is a penal sanction with monetary amount of at least FIM 5,000 and at most
F1M 5,000,000.
According to Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Penal Code, if Finnish law applies to the offence,
corporate criminal liability shall also bc determined according to Finnish law. According to
Chapter 1, Sections 6 ~nd 11 of the Penal Code, Finnish law shall apply to an offence
committed outside of Finland by a Finnish citizen, if the offence is punishable also under the
law of the place of commission and a sentence could have been passed for it also by a court of
that foreign State. Thus, if such offence has been committed in the business of a legal person,
for which the actual offender can be sentenced in accordance with Finnish law, then a
corporate fine may be imposed to this legal person.
3.B. Jurisdiction
According to Chapter 1, Section 1 of the Penal Code, Finnish law is applied to an offence
committed in Finland. According to Section 10 of the same Chapter, an offence is deemed to
have been committed both where the criminal act was committed and where the consequence
contained in the statutory definition of the offence became apparent.
As it was explained under the item 2.6.1, Finnish law requires dual punishability for
processing an offence committed abroad by a Finnish citizen in concreto, i. e, a sentence for
the offence could have been passed also by a court of that particular foreign State, for
example, the right to institute charges must not have fallen under the statute of limitations.
Furthermore, a person, who is permanently resident in Finland and a person, who is caught it
in Finland and who is a citizen of Denmark, Iceland, Norway or Sweden or is permanently
resident in one of those countries are deemed equivalent to a Finnish citizen.
According to Chapter 1, Section 8 of the Penal Code, Finnish law shall apply to an offence
committed outside of Finland by a foreigner which, under Finnish law, may be punishable by
imprisonment for more than six months, if the State in whose territory the offence was
committed has requested that charges be brought in a Finnish court or that the offender be
extradited because of the offence, but the extradition request has not been granted.
d. Preventive measures
7
the civil servant or other person in charge of a public task be sentenced to a punishment and
that the public organisation, official or other person in charge of a public task be held liable
for damages.
Furthermore, ethical norms specific to different fields of administration are planned e.g. for
the police. A working group on ethical matters of the Ministry of Finance submitted its report
on lill June 2000. It contains e.g. recommendations for procedures to identify ethical
situations in civil service departments.
Both advocates and accountants have their own ethical norms. Provisions on e.g. an
advocate's obligation to adhere to proper practise in all hislher activities and other obligations
are prescribed in Advocates Act (e.g. Section 5).
Auditing Act includes provisions on the obligation to observe good auditing practise (Section
16) as well as on an auditor's independence (Section 23) and disqualification (Section 24).
Provisions on good aUditing practise in the field, of public administration are included in
Section 6 of Act on Public Administration and Finance. Provisions of independence of an
auditor and a firm of auditors as well as disqualification of an auditor are included in Sections
4 and 5 of the mentioned Act.
Each civil service department has its own auditing unit to control the use of public finances.
State administration is controlled by the State Auditor's Office. Unlawful use of public
finances by a public official is punishable in accordance with Chapter 40 of the Penal Code as
abuse of public office, aggravated abuse of public office or as violation of official duty or
negligent violation of official duty (Sections 10 and 11 of the Penal Code).
8
parliament have a voluntary arrangement. The Speaker's Council of the parliament has issued
instructions as recommendations for presenting an account on duties and financial bonds not
being part of the scat (1995). Provisions on the obligation of a candidate elected in public
election to give an account on his/her campaign finance have been prescribed in Act that
entered in force on 15 th May 2000. Given accounts are displayed for public inspection.
An eliminated candidate cannot have the signed contract declared void, although a formal
possibility for doing so exists. However, Act on acts according to the law of property on
which voidability in principle could be based concerns contracting partners only. It is
difficult for an eliminated candidate to prove that he would have been selected instead the
selected candidate. Costs caused by tendering will however be compensated, if law has been
violated in the selection.
Finland has replied to the questionnaire referred to in footnote 2. The Multidisciplinary Group
on Corruption of the Council of Europe has been separately informed about the recently
enacted Act on Reporting Candidate's Campaign Finance that entered in force on 15 th May
this year.
Information has been submitted to the PC-R-EV Committee (Act on Preventing and Clearing
Money Laundering). Supplied information can be disclosed to GRECO evaluators.
Costs caused by bribery are not deductible (e.g. Supreme Administrative Court, ref.
198:515265). Clarification of legislation is pending. (Donations for political purposes are not
deductible, either. The reason for this that they are considered as professional expenses or a
corporation)
The culture of administration the free media and legislation guarantee a certain level of public
awareness. Public is aware of dangers of bribery e.g. via cases presented in the media. Ethical
principles and models are under consideration.
Freedom of expression and access fight to public information are basic rights protected by the
Constitution of Finland (Section 12). Act on pUblicity of the activities of public authorities
contains provisions on pUblicity of official documents. The main rule is that the public has
access to official documents.
9
" e. Structures
Prevention of bribery falls to the duties of the police as far as it is a question of crime
prevention. Various administrative measures taken by different authorities, e.g. regulations
concerning financial policy (in practise, the most important are those concerning official
journeys) and statements concerning incompetence due to the likelihood of bias, are important
in prevention of bribery.
A plaintiff has a secondary right to press charges and it serves as the basic legal remedy
against discontinuing prosecution for unjustified reasons. If prosecutor does not press charges
or waives prosecution, a plaintiff has the right press charges. This right applies also to cases
where prosecutor has not pressed charges after imputation. Furthermore, all parties suffered
from an offence in office committed by a public official have a primary and parallel fight
together with prosecutor to press charges. In bribery cases, as in any other criminal cases,
these regulations concerning a plaintiffs right to press charges require that a person (or a legal
person) as a victim of crime is deemed to have a status of a plaintiff. Citizens or civic
organizations do not have any specific right to press charges in relation to any particular type
of an offence. However, all citizens have the right to report a criminal suspicion to the police
for investigation by lodging a criminal complaint.
One more legal remedy is the Prosecutor General controlling the decisions made by public
prosecutors. There are no limitations on appealing to the Prosecutor General.
Finland has signed the Council of Europe's Criminal Law Convention on Corruption (lh
November, 1998) on 27th January, 1999. A government bill including the amendments
required by the Convention is under preparation in the Ministry of Justice (in connection to
the amendment of provisions on offences in office; a working group proposal finished in May
2000 is currently in circulation for comments). It is intended that the government proposal
will be introduced to the parliament in the end of 2000, and on this basis, the Act may enter in
force in the summer of2001.
10
Finland signed the Council of Europe's Civil Law Convention on Corruption (9 th September,
1999) on 8th June, 2000. The government proposal is under preparation in the Ministry of
Justice. It is likely to enter in force at the same time as the Criminal Law Convention.
The Convention, drawn up on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, on
the protection of the European Communities' financial interests (signed in Brussels on 26 July
1995).
The Protocol, drawn up on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union on the
protection of the European Communities financial interests (signed in Dublin on 27th
September 1996).
The Convention, drawn up on the basis of Article K.3(2)( c) of the Treaty on European Union,
on the fight against corruption involving officials of the European Communities or officials of
Member States of the European Union (signed in Brussels on 26 th May 1997).
International Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act and Decree are the most important
provisions concerning legal assistance afforded by Finland. The purpose of law was to create
a well-working set of regulations based on which the Finnish authorities could afford legal
assistance in criminal matters as extensively as possible and avoiding unnecessary formalities.
For example, our legislation does not require a treaty between Finland and a requesting State.
Finland will afford legal assistance to the extent it is defined in our national laws. The scope
of application of the Act is very wide and there are no limitations based on types of offences.
Provisions on circumstances where the Finnish authorities must refuse of granting legal
assistance are included in Section 12 of the Act mentioned above. Discretionary grounds, i.e. -
cases where the Finnish authorities may refuse of affording legal assistance arc included in
section 13 of the same Act. There are no cases known which Finland would have refused legal
assistance in suspected bribery cases.
The Finnish central authority referred to in Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act and in
international agreements in general is the Ministry of Justice. However., the National Bureau
of Investigation serves as the central authority referred to in bilateral agreements on crime
prevention signed as treaties. As the Ministry of Justice forwards requests for legal assistance,
it is responsible for compiling statistics on them. Finland has made a reservation in the
European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters stating that in Finland also
the police authorities arc judicial authorities referred to in the Convention. The National
Bureau of Investigation compiles statistics on requests for legal assistance made and received
by the police.
However, statistics compiled by the Ministry of Justice and National Bureau of Investigation
do not give a reliable picture on requests for legal assistance concerning bribery, because the
keyword used in recording the cases is not 'bribery', but most often it is the name of a suspect.
The defective situation concerning the statistical data is also reflected by the fact that when
direct contacts are used, the case is not recorded in a centralised manner by any authority.
11
According to the Ministry of Justice, the number of requests concerning corruption received
in Finland during the five past years is at most five. There are no recorded cases on requests
concerning bribery made in Finland. According to the Ministry of Justice, the cases are very
rare and the given figures are based on recollections of the officials handling requests for legal
assistance.
Conditions for extradition are included in Act on Extradition in Criminal Cases (so-called
general Extradition Act) and in Act on Extradition in Criminal Matters between Finland and
other Nordic States. The main rule is that Finnish citizens cannot be extradited. However, a
Finnish citizen can be extradited to a Member State of the European Union and to another
Nordic State for court proceedings.
According to the general Extradition Act, a person cannot be extradited, unless the act
referred to in the request committed in similar circumstances in Finland constitutes the
.. essential elements of an Offence for which the maximum punishment is at least an
imprisonment of one year. According to the Nordic extradition act, extradition is possible for
any other acts, except those resulting in a fine. Finland extradites Finnish citizens for bribery
on the above-described limitations.
Therefore, a situation when Finland would not extradite a Finnish citizen suspected for
bribery relates to the fact that the target of a request is a Finnish citizen. In these situations, a
foreign State must make a request to Finland for taking measures in pressing charges in
Finland. The case will be then investigated as any other national criminal case and after
pre-trial investigation, it will be forwarded to prosecutor for consideration of charges. In case,
charges will be pressed, General Prosecutor will give an Order for Prosecution. As. a rule, a
case cannot be taken to be considered by a court in Finland without an Order for Prosecution
when a criminal Act has been committed abroad.
6. Conclusions
As we have seen above the corruption and bribery are very rare in Finland. We can look after
the reasons for that but it is very difficult to find clearly and simply reasons why it is so. The
history of Finland explains some of it. I mean that we have a Constitution Law which is very
strict. Secondly we have a honesty body of civil servants. Thirdly, our society in Finland is
very explicit, so it is very difficult to find an officer who takes bribery himselflherself. If we
are thinking about our nation we can observe that in Finland lives only 5,5 million peoples.
We have also a very active media which is very good because just media is called ''thirdly
state authority". Media is very important because our court proceedings are normally open
and everybody can go to the court to see and hear what has happened.
Journalists (and everybody) can also get an enormous amount of public documents and
supervision by that way is very effective.
12
NATIONAL REPORT
FOR
DENMARK
a. General policy
a.1. What general policy does your country have towards corruption (is it an issue or
not; focus on repression and/or prevention, ... )?
Being nearly a country without any corruption according to the evaluations through the last
five years (CPI-index) the general policy against corruption in the Danish society is mainrely
focusing on the cases abroad. The Danish government has this year implemented and ratified
an anti-corruption law according to OECD's and TI's recommendations. The law is for the
moment believed to be the toughest legal structure in Europe.
On the other hand the Danish political administration has to consider the risks of corruption
concerning the uni- and multilateral economic support in the developing countries.
The Danish Industry regards the competition based on corruption in international business
transactions as a major problem due to lack of serious political and legal interventions in more
corrupted areas inside the European Community as well as in other parts of the world.
In concluding words the issue of corruption is not a real political focus as the Danish society
is functioning very transparent and without any devastating scandales.
a.2. Do you consider this policy satisfactory or not? If not, in your opinion what are
the main deficiencies?
The main deficiencies are the reluctant political attitude to the fact of international corruption
per se. As mentioned above being a not-corrupted society in a relative corrupted world the
agenda and fight against corruption have a relatively low priority. It is relevant for the Danish
internal as well as external political profile to focus on corruption in a more comprehensive
way according to the fact of globalisation.
b. Statistics
b.1. To what extent and from which sources are statistical data available concerning:
- corruption
- international co-operation in corruption cases
- the link between corruption and organised crime
- the link between corruption and money laundering?
1
Statistical data: a) on corruption: few cases, mainly data available through the media and the
legal system. b) cases not available, if any. There is and has not been cases involving a Danish
form in active or passive corruption. The environment of business transactions in this matter
does not invite for publicity. It is although a fact that Danish firms have experiences outside
DK with corrupt activities. c) The link between corruption and organised crime and money
laundering is well known and some statistics may be available form the legal administration
but will normally be of a more secret nature during investigation. The link to drug-trafficking
and drug-dealing is another interesting field which should be considered much more seriously
in the international arena. TI-DK regards the fight against corruption as a part of the so-called
Harm Reduction policy (a general concept to reduce harm and risk for drug-addicts)
b.2. Can you provide these data? If they are not available, can you make an
estimation?
Data may be available but the request for these should be very accurate. Some of the data may
be restricted due to criminal investigation.
Free access to information in the public sector forms the is general status.
c. Repressive legislation
c.7. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion
what are the main problems?
Yes. The legal framework is OK. Relevant too is the strong link to the press and the Law of
free access to information in the public administration.
d. Preventive measures
d.l. Does the law contain provisions, destined to prevent corruption (auditing
standards, financial disclosure obligations, codes of conduct, ... )?
Preventive measures exist on all levels including auditing standards, taxation rules, codes of
conducts etc. and local policies. The opinion itself vitali sed through the general popUlation as
well as from the press reacting against public and private mismanagement, child-labour,
environmental unawareness and the basic Human Rights are well-established political
objectives and are (still) considered as political guidelines for the further democratic process.
2
By this, I mean that the public OpInIOn is due to an active media and high level of
informations able to establish a relevant response to what happends in the society - dealing
from a political attitude to childlabour in som (third-world) countries to weaponindis
try, HR etc.
e. Structures
e.1. Has your country established specialised services, specifically assigned with the
combat against corruption? If so, what is the institutional context (e.g. established
within the police), the composition, the functions and the powers of these services?
A formal structure and service assigned with the combat against corruption is not established
in the administrative public sector. The primary steps are still based on an international level
(ED/OLAF) and in the Council of Europe. The NGO Transparency International is in fact the
only organisation with a full-scale approach towards corruption.
The public administration and the services have an acceptable function and power but do not
regulate the political agenda and by that means do reflect a relative reluctance for a more
adequate strategy for prevention and intensified combat.
The Ombudsman institution is important. The right to access into any public administration is
important too. The legal system and police is rules in a same transparent way and the police
corps and judges are normally believed to be rather un-corrupted. You may of course find
som weak elements - but in these cases it is based on simple criminal activities. There has
been no cases of corruption within the police or legal system for many years. The latest case
belongs to the post-war (Second WW) society, with organised crime and corrupted
policemen. As DK has implemented a very tough law against corruption we still have no
cases. The Danish Industry is generally keeping a high morality - and loosing jobs. This issue
has to be discussed in DK to prevent a more corrupt behaviour because of inadequate
competition.
e.2. Do you consider this structural framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion
what are the main problems?
TI-DK is an acceptable platform. The only but serious problem is lack of funding which gives
a slow speed.
The Ombudsman institution is important. The right to access into any public administration is
important too. The legal system and police is rules in a same transparent way and the police
corps and judges are normally believed to be rather un-corrupted. You may of course find
som weak elements - but in these cases it is based on simple criminal activities. There has
been no cases of corruption within the police or legal system for many years. The latest case
belongs to the post-war (Second WW) society, with organised crime and corrupted
3
policemen. As DK has implemented a very tough law against corruption we still have no
cases. The Danish Industry is generally keeping a high morality - and loosing jobs. This issue
has to be discussed in DK to prevent a more corrupt behaviour because of inadequate
competition.
a. Supply
Co-operation should for be done through the TI-network. TI-DK has a good reputation and a
fine contact to members of the Parliament.
b. Demand
Co-operation should be divided into factual cases and dealt with by the legal system and
principles according to code of conducts, management, education, legal adjustment and the
congruent efforts in the international society and especially in the EU. The gap between the
corruption rates inside the nations of EU may be an barrier towards a truly democratic and
economic integration of the nations.
4
Annex
§ 122
Any person who unlawfully grants, promises or offers some other person exercising a Danish,
a Foreign or an International public office or function a gift or other privilege in order to
induce him to do or fail do anything by which he would be guilty of a breach of duty shall be
liable to a fine, simple detention or imprisonment for any term not exceeding three years.
§ 144
Any person who, while exercising a Danish, a Foreign or an International public office or
function unlawfully receives, demands or accepts the'promise of a gift or other privilege shall
be liable to simple detention or to imprisonment for any term not exceeding six years or, in
mitigating circumstances, to a fine.
Excerpts from the report on the motion to amend The Penal Code during the negotiation,
which is finished now. The law is as above.
A minority (different parties of the Parliament) believes that the implementation of, among
other things; the EU Convention on Bribery, the OECD Convention on Bribery, and the
European Council's Penal Convention are, on the Danish part, important contributions to
combat corruption and bribery. In order for the Conventions to have the intended effect, the
minority meanwhile finds it crucial that persistent effort be made to induce other countries to
accede to and to implement the Conventions in a similar manner. Only when all countries
have introduced the same rules will it be possible to do something about corruption and
bribery, just as it is a pre-condition of avoiding the distortion of competition and of seruring
similar conditions for businesses.
With the adoption of this Bill, bribery is criminalized such that Danish Businesses at home
and abroad are liable to punishment for under-the-table-payments to secure contracts. It is
clear that this example falls within the core of what the Minority whishes to criminalize.
Meanwhile it is also quite clear that situations will occur, where the Danish Businesses will be
met with demands of payments/grants for services rendered, which do not fall within the core
of what constitutes bribery and which the Minority does not wish to see affected by this Bill.
In many parts of the world, Danish Businesses are met with conditions and traditions which
are quite remote from Danish civic culture and the Danish welfare system. These may be
conditions such as:
5
.. • different culturally conditioned social conventions
which render nonns for appropriate behaviour in a given country very different to those which
exist in Denmark. It is often the case that a grant is necessary for a business to achieve what it
is already entitled to.
,
6
NATIONAL REPORT
FOR
CYPRUS
a. General policy
a.1. What general policy does your country have towards corruption (is it an issue or
not; focus on repression and/or prevention; ... ) ?
However, the Cypriot authorities recognising the increasing thread of Corruption Offences
internationally, have adopted legislative and practical measures to prevent and combat this
problem.
The Government is committed and has the political will to give priority in adopting all
international instruments in this area.
Cyprus is active in addressing corruption internationally as well, with its participation in the
work carried by International Organisations. It is to be mentioned the participation of Cyprus
in the Multidisciplinary Group of Corruption (G.M.C.) of the Council of Europe and the
Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO). In fact Cyprus was one of the very first
countries which joined GRECO of which it is a founder member, and signed the Council of
Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption as soon as it was appeared for signature on
27.1.1999. Furthermore, Cyprus volunteered to be among the first 10 countries to be
evaluated by GRECO before the end of2000.
It should also be noted that the Cypriot Authorities organise international and domestic
Seminars and Conferences to address issues related to Corruption. As an example is the 4th
European Conference of Specialised Services in the Fight against Corruption - organised in
co-operation with the Council of Europe, in Limassol-Cyprus in October 1999. It is also
worth mentioning the organisation of the OSCE Parliamentary Seminar on Organised Crime
and Corruption in Cyprus, between 4-5 October 2000.
The Parliament of Cyprus is also very active in addressing this phenomenon. A special
Committee within the Parliament was set up during the recent years to exercise control over
the Public Sector including possible Corruption instances and to suggest further measures to
minimise opportunities of corruption.
1
a.2. Do you consider this policy satisfactory or not? If not, in your opinion what are
the main deficiencies?
b. Statistics
b.t. To what extent and from which sources are statistical data available concerning:
- corruption
- international co-operation in corruption cases
- the link between corruption and organised crime
- the link between corruption and money-laundering?
Statistical data are not available. However, it is estimated that corruption does not constitute
a serious problem in Cyprus. It must be noted that a very few cases were investigated during
the last years and were brought before the Cyprus Courts.
As regards international co-operation, the Cypriot competent authorities have assisted foreign
authorities in corruption cases in a number of cases.
Organised crime in Cyprus is at very low level; it has not reached alarming dimensions.
There are also no links with organised crime groups of other countries. It could be said with
certainty that in Cyprus there is no connection between corruption and organised crime.
Concerning money laundering, it could be said that there is a link with corruption, since at a
certain stage, even in the few cases of corruption that occur in Cyprus, the proceeds of
corruption need to be laundered in order to appear legitinate, by entering the real economy.
The competent authorities, recognising the link between corruption and money laundering, in
1998 amended the anti-money laundering legislation, namely the "Prevention and
Suppression of Money Laundering Activities Law of 1996" in order to include in the list of
"predicate offences", corruption offences for the purposes of the application of the
aforementioned legislation.
c. Repressive legislation
Specifically, the Criminal Code (Cap. 154) includes a series of specific offences covering
official corruption (active and passive), extortion by public officers, abuse of office, frauds
and breaches of trust and willful neglect of official duty, receiving property to show favour,
2
false assumption of authorities certifying false claims and other offences against the
administration of lawful authority.
A relevant Law is the Law dealing with the illicit enrichment by public officials or elected
representatives (Law No. 65/1995) which criminalises the illegal acquisition of property by
some Government Officials mentioned in the Law, including Ministers, Members of the
Parliament and other Officials. This Law includes provisions for the confiscation of assets so
acquired.
Furthermore, on 14.7.2000 with the Law No. 23 (111)/2000, Cyprus ratified the Council of
Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption. Therefore, according to the legal system of
Cyprus the various provisions concerning the offences included in the Convention have
become domestic legislation.
With the ratification of the Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption, the
following offences were incorporated in the domestic legislation:
It should be noted that with the ratification Law (23(111)/2000) the sanctions for the above
mentioned offences have been increased from 5 years imprisonment to 7 years imprisonment.
Additionally, the Customs and Excise Law, No. 82 of 1967, contains provisions related to
corruption (active and passive) of the members of the Customs and Excise Department.
Furthermore, Cyprus is in the process of signing and ratifying the OECD Convention on
Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. It is
noted that Cyprus has already submitted application for accession. The time of accession to
the Convention depends on the progress of the negotiations. It has also signed the Council of
Europe Civil Law Convention on Corruption.
c.2. Are those legal provisions only applicable if nationals are corrupted or is their
scope of application more extensive (foreigners, members of international
. t'IOns, ... )?.
orgamsa
The legal provisions criminalising corruption are applicable not only to nationals but their
application is more extensive. They are applicable to foreigners, members of the Parliament
and all that who are covered by the relevant provisions of the Council of Europe Criminal
Law Convention on Corruption which was ratified by the Republic of Cyprus.
3
c. 3. Which sanctions can be imposed (imprisonment, fine, confiscation measures,
deprivation of rights, administrative sanctions, blacklisting, ... ) ?
Further to the sanctions that can be imposed which were mentioned I the reply to (c) 1,
confiscation measures can be applied according to the relevant provisions of the "Prevention
and Suppre$sion of Money Laundering Activities Law".
Also administrative measures may be taken, such as exclusion from public tenders,
disqualification from the practice of commercial activities (e.g. withdrawal or suspension of
permit for banking activities).
c.4. To whom are these legal provisions applicable (physical persons and/or legal
persons) ?
These legal provisions are applicable both to physical (natural) and legal persons. That is so,
not only with the relevant provisions of the Council of Europe Criminal Convention on
Corruption, but also under the Interpretation Law (Cap. 1), which provides that the term
"person" includes both natural and legal person.
The territorial jurisdiction over these offences is provided by the Criminal Code, (Cap. 154)
and specifically, by section 5 (Territorial and extra-territorial application) which is the
following:
"5.-(1) The Criminal Code and any other Law creating an offence are applicable to all
offences committed-
4
(iv) related to the unlawful dealing in dangerous
drugs; or
(v) one to which, under any International Treaty or
convention binding on the Republic, the law of
the Republic is applicable.
Furthermore, with the ratification Law of the Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on
Corruption (Law No. 23(111)/2000, dated 14.7.2000), the jurisdiction of the Cyprus Courts is
extended, with a specific provision of the Law, to the cases of offences involve persons who
are officials of international organisations, members of international parliamentary assemblies
and judges and officials of international courts.
c.6. Does the law contain particular provisions relating to the burden of proof in
corruption cases (reversal, division, protection of whistleblowers, ... ) ?
The Law does not contain particular provisions relating to the burden of proof in corruption
cases. The same rules are applicable as in the case of all criminal offences. However, the
necessary protection to "whistle blowers" or other witnesses could be offered.
c.7. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion,
what are the main problems?
d. Preventive measures
d.l. Does the law contain provisions, destined to prevent corruption (auditing
standards, financial disclosure obligations, codes of conduct, ... ) ?
Concerning preventive measures in the Public Sector, the Auditor-General of the Republic, an
independent Officer, whose appointment and functions are provided in the Constitution is
responsible for the Public Expenditure and Control.
The Auditor-General controls all disbursements and receipts and audits and inspects all
accounts and other assets administered and of liabilities incured, by or under the authority of
the RepUblic. For this purpose he has the right of access to all books, records and returns
relating to such accounts and to places where such assets are kept.
It is to be mentioned that every year the Auditor General prepares the Annual Report and the
findings of the auditing of the assets administered is submitted to the Government and to the
Attorney General. The Report is examined thoroughly by the Attorney General's Office for
5
any possible criminal or disciplinary liability, including corruption suspicions, against any
public employee, in order to take the necessary measures.
Of great importance is the adoption of preventive measures in the area of tendering of public
contacts. A special Law ensuring transparency and equality in the tendering of public
contracts is in place as follows:
The area of tendering of public contacts is governed by the Public Procurement Law 102
(1)/97 and the Regulations thereto (No 104/99) which regulate the procedure to be followed,
and the general principles applicable to ensure transparency, promotion of competition and
the securing of fair and equal treatment (non-discrimination) of all suppliers, contractors and
Service providers.
The law is based on the principles applicable in the European Union and also on the
UNCITRAL Model Law on Procurement of Goods, Construction and Services.
The Accountant General being the President of the Main Tender Board and his office, the
Treasury Department of the Ministry of Finance, acts as the competent authority for the
overall monitoring of public procurement issues.
The Main Tender Board and the Departmental Tender Boards are the institutions responsible
for implementing the provisions of the Public Procurement Law of 1997 and its relevant
Regulations. Furthermore, committees for the evaluation of tenders at each Department, as
well as technical committees responsible for the preparation of technical specifications and
for the approval of the technical specifications, and the acceptance of goods after technical
inspections, can be set up by the competent authority either on a permanent or on an ad-hoc
basis.
During the tendering stage, the Law enables all tenderers, to submit to the Main Tender Board
comments, suggestions, and complaints in relation to the technical specifications and the
general terms of the tender. The Main Tender Board considers such comments and
suggestions and investigates the complaints, and in justified cases corrective measures are
taken, such as modification of the tender documents or specifications.
Under the national law, decisions taken by the Tender Boards to award, reject or cancel a
tender are treated as administrative decisions subject to judicial review under Article 146 of
the Constitution.
Such administrative decisions are separable from any contract entered into by the
administration pursuant to an award of tender - this being a matter in the domain of private
law.
An aggrieved tenderer may challenge the validity of a decision to award, reject or cancel the
tender on various grounds, including unequality of treatment and infringement of the
principles of free competition and secrecy. The judicial review extends, inter alia, to the
terms upon which the tenders are invited as well as to the evaluation procedures and
recommendations leading to the award. Interim measures are not available to an aggrieved
tenderer at the pre-award stage. However, once a tender has been awarded, a provisional
order suspending the award may be obtained pending the judicial review.
6
Annulment of the relevant act or decision gives the aggrieved tenderer the right to instigate
legal proceedings in a Civil Court for just and equitable damages pursuant to Article 146.6 of
the Constitution. This right although arising from the action of the administration in the
domain of public law, is a private right associated with the loss suffered by a successful
litigant before a revisional Court. It is ancillary to judicial review, as a measure necessary for
its effectiveness. Primarily, it entitles the injured party to recover damages not remediable by
proper administrative action. The jurisdiction of the Civil Court is limited to the
ascertainment of the loss and its quantification.
The above mentioned procedure minimises opportunities for corruption and safeguards the
necessary transparency.
Concerning codes of conduct for public employees, the Public Service Law includes a Code
of Conduct which must be followed.
This Code of Conduct regulates, inter alia, their duties and responsibilities, including
provisions to prevent corrupt behaviour, and provides for disciplinary measures, in cases of
violation of such provisions. The Body which is responsible among other functions, to take
disciplinary measures against public officials, including the power to impose sanctions (which
include compulsory retirement and dismissal) is the Public Service Commission, and
independent organ, provided by the Constitution.
Professional Codes of conduct for practicing lawyers and accountants are in place, covering
their obligation and duty to act with honesty, integrity and within the parameters of the Law
in Cyprus.
Furthermore, it should be noted that all professionals, including lawyers and accountants,
have specific obligations prescribed in the "Prevention and suppression of Money Laundering
Activities Law", including the obligation to report to the Cyprus Financial Intelligence Unit
suspicious transactions. It is of course of great importance in the fight against corruption the
obligation of all financial institutions to disclose suspicious financial transactions, which
might lead to the identification of corruption offences and it is also provided in the
aforementioned Law.
d.2. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion
what are the main deficiencies?
e. Structures
e.1. Has your country established specialised services, specifically assigned with the
combat against corruption? If so, what is the institutional context (e.g. established
within the police), the composition, the functions and the powers of these
services?
7
Investigation of corruption offences/cases is assigned to expert police officers who are
members of a special team at the Criminal Investigation Department (C.LD.) Headquarters.
These police members are under the instructions of the Head of the Criminal Investigation
Department, but at the operational level and in the course of the investigation of Corruption
cases, they are under the control, supervision and instructions of the Attorney-General of the
Republic, an Independent Officer, who is the head of the Law Office of the Republic, not
falling under the control or supervision of any Ministry, and politically independent.
These criminal investigators could be any officials or professionals, e.g. lawyers and
accountants, who upon their appointment automatically poses all the powers of police
investigators as these are set out in the Criminal Procedure Law, and have autonomy and
independency in the exercise of their duties.
Furthermore, within the framework of the Commissions of Inquiry Law, the Council of
Ministers may appoint one or more persons of expert knowledge and established repute, with
broad powers to investigate into a state of affairs on matters of public interest and report
thereon. The proceedings before such Commissions are quasi-judicial.
Concerning preventive measures in the public sector, the Auditor-General of the Republic,
another independent Officer, by virtue of the Constitution, is responsible for the Public
Expenditure and Control. He/she controls all disbursements and receipts, and audits and
inspects all accounts of money and other assets administered and of the liabilities incurred, by
or under the authority of the RepUblic.
Prosecution of corruption cases is part of the duties of the Public Prosecutors of the Attorney
General's Office.
)) )
The necessary independence and autonomy of the persons or Bodies in the performance of
their functions is safeguarded as follows:
The investigation and prosecution of corruption offences is under the direct supervision of the
Attorney General of the Republic who is an independent officer, appointed according to the
Constitution directly by the President of the Republic under the same conditions as those
applied for the Judges of the Supreme Court.
The Attorney General is politically independent and cannot be removed from his Office, until
he reaches the age of 68 irrespective of any changes in the Government ruling parties.
Furthermore, he is the head of the Law Office, an independent department not falling under
any Ministry.
He has the constitutional right for the institution, conduct, take over or discontinuance of
criminal prosecutions. In the exercise of his functions/powers the Attorney General is not
1 answerable to any authority.
'/
8
NATIONAL REPORT
FOR
AUSTRIA
by Ernst Eugen FABRIZY, Deputy of the General Attorney, Palace ofJustice Vienna
a. General policy
a.l. What general policy does your country have towards corruption (is it an issue or
not; focus on repression and/or prevention, .....)?
Corruption is not an issue of policy in Austria today and had not been in the years before.
Fight against corruption is no point in the declaration of the aims of the present government.
Corruption is not mentioned in the latest report of national security of the year 1998, even not
in connection with organised cnme, which is dealt with broadly. There is also no public
discussion about corruption going on. It is seldom an issue of reports in newspapers or other
media.
a.2. Do you consider this policy satisfactory or not? If not, in your opinion what are the
main deficiencies?
International research confirms the opinion that corruption is not of great importance in
Austria: The global anti-corruption organisation "Transparency International" newly
published the "2000 Corruption Perception Index", which relates to perception of the degree
of corruption as seen by business people, risk analysts and the general public. 90 countries are
included in this report, and Austria ranks on place 15 of the countries in which bribes are
taken least. Besides Austria has improved its position for two ranks since last year. The "1999
Bribe Payer Index" of "Transparency International" includes the 19 leading exporting
countries; Austria ranks on place 4 of the countries using bribes abroad least.
b. Statistics
b.l. To what extent and from which sources are statistical data available concerning:
- corruption
international co-operation in corruption cases
the link between corruption and organised crime
the link between corruption and money laundering?
1
'. Statistical data concerning corruption is hardly available in Austria. One of the reasons for
this deficiency is the lack of a definition of corruption. The only available data is the court
statistics about the conviction of persons because of certain offences (see below under section
c.1), but these statistics are not sufficient, because not all regulations in question sanction a
behaviour representing corruption.
b.2. Can you provide these data? If they are not available, can you make an estimation?
According to the court statistics for the year 1998 following numbers of people have been
convicted pursuant to the cited sections of the Austrian Penal Code (see below under section
c.1):
Section convictions
153 150
302 62
304 3
305 0
306 0
306a 0
307 3
308 0
While all convictions according to sections 304 and 307 StGB (like possible convictions
pursuant sections 305, 306, 306a and 308 StGB) result of a behaviour considered to be
corruption, this cannot be said concerning the convictions pursuant to sections 153 and 302
StGB: I estimate that only 5 % of the convictions according to section 153 and 10 - 20 % of
convictions according to section 302 StGB concern a behaviour which can be considered to
be corruption.
2
c. Repressive Legislation
c.l. Which types of behaviour can be sanctioned as forms of corruption (bribery, trading
in influence,...)? Active and/or passive corruption? In the public and/or the private
sector?
Austrian criminal law provides for punishment of every conceivable form of corruption in a
wide sense.
Section 153 of the Austrian Criminal Code (StGB) deals with the offence of breach of trust. It
addresses cases where somebody knowingly abuses the authority conferred to him by statute,
official order or contract to dispose of property not belonging to him or to oblige the other
person and causes damage to an other person in this way. The provision is applicable on
misuse of power in the private as well in the public sector.
Section 302 StGB establishes the offence of abuse of public authority. It applies to domestic
public officials who knowingly misuse their authority with the intention to cause a damage on
the rights of another (natural or legal) person.
Section 304 StGB deals with the offence of passive bribery. It applies to domestic public
officials, public officials of another member state of the European Union and officials of the
European Communities who require, accept or have themselves promised an advantage to
him or a third party for the exercise or the refraining of the exercise of an official act in
violation of his duties, if the perpetrator is a domestic public official, also in conformity with
his duties. It is only applicable, when the behaviour of the official is not punishable under
another provision which provides a more severe punishment like sections 153 and 302 StGB.
Section·305 StGB establishes the offence of passive bribery of senior executives of a public
enterprise. It addresses cases where such a person requires, accepts or has himself promised
an advantage to him or a third party for the exercise or the refraining of the exercise from a
legal act in violation or in accordance of his duties.
Section 306 StGB deals with the offence of passive bribery of expert witnesses. It provides
for punishment of expert witnesses who require, accept or have themselves promised an
advantage to him or a third party for delivering false findings or a false opinion.
Section 306a StGB establishes the offence of passive bribery of staff members and expert
advisers. It applies to staff members of a senior executive of a public enterprise and expert
advisers acting for payment exercising influence (on the senior executive or a public official)
who require, accept or have themselves promised an advantage to him or a third party with
the view to the exercise or the refraining from the exercise of a legal act (by the senior
executive) or an official act (of the public official) in violation of his (the senior executive's
or the public official's) duties.
Section 307 StGB deals with the offence of active bribery. Paragraph 1 provides for
punishment of persons who offer, promise or give an advantage to
1. a public official, a public official of another member state ofthe European Union
or an official of the European Communities for the exercise or the refraining from
the exercise of an official act in violation of his duties (section 304, paragraph 1),
3
2. a senior executive of a public enterprise for the exercise or the refraining of the
exercise from a legal act in violation of his duties (section 305, paragraph 1),
3. an expert witness for delivering false findings or a false opinion (section 306),
4. a staff member of a senior executive of a public enterprise for influencing that the
latter exercises or refrains from exercising a legal act in violation of his duties
(section 306a, paragraph 1),
5. an expert adviser acting for payment for influencing the exercise or the refraining
from the exercise of an official act or a legal act in violation of duties (section
306a, paragraph 2), or
6. with the exception of the case in subject 1 above, a foreign public official for the
exercise or the refraining from the exercise of an official act in violation of his
duties in order to obtain or retain business or any other improper advantage in the
conduct of international business
for him or a third party.
Paragraph 2 provides for punishment of one who offers, promises or give not merely a petty
advantage to
1. a public official for the exercise or for refraining from the exercise of an official
act in conformity with his duties (section 304, paragraph 2) or .
2. a senior executive of a public enterprise for the exercise or the refraining from the
exercise of a legal act in conformity with his duties
for him or a third party, unless the perpetrator - according to the circumstances - cannot be
blamed for having offered, promised or given this advantage.
According to the regulation of section 12 StGB all participants are treated as offenders. So not
only the immediate offender commits the offence but also any person who instigates another
person to commit it as well as everybody who is an accessory to its commission.
Summarising is to say that active corruption is punishable pursuant to sections 307 and 308
StGB, passive corruption pursuant to sections 153,302,304,305,306 and 306a StGB. The
sections 302, 304, 305, 306, 306a, 307 and 308 StGB are applicable only in the official sector,
the section 153 StGB in the official as well as in the private sector.
c.2. Are those legal provisions applicable if nationals are corrupted or is their scope of
application more extensive (foreigners, members of international organisations, ...)?
The immediate offenders of sections 153, 307 and 308 StGB can be Austrian nationals as well
as foreigners, of section 302 StGB only domestic public officials, of section 304 StGB
domestic public officials, public officials of another member state of the European Union and
public officials of the European Community, of section 305 StGB senior executives of an
Austrian public enterprise, of section 306 StGB expert witnesses heard by an Austrian court
4
• or administrative authority and of section 306a StGB staff members of a senior executive of
an Austrian public enterprise and expert advisers of an Austrian public official or of a senior
executive of an Austrian public enterprise. Austrian nationals as well as foreigners can be
instigators or accessories to all offences mentioned.
Section 307 StGB is applicable on the corruption of domestic public officials, public officials
of another member state of the European Union, officials of the European Communities,
senior executives of an Austrian public enterprise, expert witnesses heard by an Austrian
court or administrative authority, staffmembers ofa senior executive of an Austrian public
enterprise and expert advisers of an Austrian public official or of a senior executive of an
Austrian public enterprise and foreign public officials.
The punishment for the offence of breach of trust (section 153 StGB) is imprisonment for up
to six month or a fine of up to 360 daily rates; when the damage exceeds ATS 25 000
imprisonment for up to three years, ifthe damage exceeds ATS 500 000 imprisonment from
one to ten years. If the offence is committed by a domestic public official by abusing an
opportunity resulting from his public function, the maximum penalty according to the relevant
provision can be increased by fifty percent.
The punishment for the offence of abuse of public authority (section 302 StGB) is
imprisonment from six month to five years, if the offence is committed by exercising an
official act with a foreign country or a supranational or international organisation or if the
damage exceeds ATS 500000 from one to ten years.
The punishment for the offence of passive bribery (section 304 StGB) is imprisonment up to
three years, if the advantage exceeds ATS 25000 up to five years. If the domestic public
official acts in conformity with his duties, the punishment is imprisonment up to one year, if
the advantage exceeds ATS 25 000 up to three years.
The punishment for the offence of passive bribery of senior executives of a public enterprise
(section 305 StGB) is imprisonment up to one year, if the executive acts with violation of his
duties up to three years.
The punishment of the offence of passive bribery of expert witnesses (section 306 StGB) is
imprisonment up to three years.
The punishment for the offence of passive bribery of staff members and expert advisers
(section 306a StGB) is imprisonment up to two years.
The punishment for the offence of active bribery (section 307 StGB) is imprisonment up to
two years (paragraph 1), if the offence is committed concerning a domestic public official or a
senior executive of an Austrian public enterprise acting in conformity with his duties
imprisonment up to six month or a fine up to 360 daily rates (paragraph 2).
The punishment for the offence of illicit intervention (section 308 StGB) is imprisonment up
to three years.
5
Whoever has committed an offence and has obtained economic benefit from it or has received
economic benefit for committing an offence, is to be condemned to a payment of an amount
equivalent to the gained illegal profits (confiscation of profits, section 20 StGB). Pursuant to
this regulation given and accepted bribes can be confiscated.
A public official who is condemned to an imprisonment exceeding one year for having
intentionally committed an offence is deprived of his public function by law (section 27
StGB).
Business law provides for exclusion from the exercise of a business of a person who has been
sentenced to imprisonment exceeding three month or to a fme exceeding 180 daily rates
(section 13 of the Business Law 1994).
Law on private companies provides for the dissolution of the company by the administrative
authorities, if the managing directors commit a criminal offence in operating the enterprise
and misuse of further operation of the enterprise is concerned with regard of the type of the
committed offence and the character of the enterprise.
c.4. To whom are this legal provisions applicable (physical persons and/or legal
persons)?
Criminal offences (sections 153,302,304,305,306, 306a, 307 and 308 StGB) can only be
committed by physical persons. Confiscation of profits (section 20 StGB) can be imposed on
physical as well as legal persons. Exclusion of the exercise of a business pursuant section 13
of the Business Law 1994 is applicable primarily to physical persons, but also to legal persons
when a physical person who pertains decisive influence on the management of the business is
condemned to the mentioned penalty. Law on private companies is applicable only to such
legal persons. Section 58 of the Federal Law on public procurement is applicable to
enterprises of all kind.
Basically criminal law (sections 20, 153,302,304,305,306, 306a, 307 and 308 StGB)
applies only to criminal acts committed within Austria (section 62 StGB). lfthe immediate
offender commits the offence abroad, the instigator and the accessories can be punished
according to Austrian law, if they acted themselves in Austria. On the other hand participation
in a criminal act, which is committed by the immediate offender in Austria, as well as
handling stolen goods and money laundering in respect to a criminal act committed in Austria
are punishable there (section 64, paragraph 1, subsection 8 StGB).
6
Basically Austrian criminal law also applies to criminal acts committed abroad, if the act is
punishable also according to the law of the state where the act was committed, if the
perpetrator has been an Austrian national at the time of the criminal act or if he acquired
Austrian nationality later on and still is Austrian at the time of the trial, or if the perpetrator
has been foreigner at the time of the criminal act, is being caught in Austria and cannot be
extradited to a foreign state for other reasons than the nature or characteristics of the criminal
act (section 65, paragraph 1 StGB).
c.6. Does the law contain particular provisions relating to the burden of proof in
corruption cases (reversal, division, protection of whistleblowers, ••. )?
Austrian law does not contain particular provisions to the burden of proof in corruption cases.
c.7. Do you consider the legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion what
are the main problems?
I think that the Austrian legislative framework for combating corruption is sufficient. The
main problem for prosecuting corruption cases is not law, but proof.
d. Preventive Measures
d.1. What kind of preventive measures exist in your country (auditing standards,
financial disclosure obligations, codes of conduct, ...)?
There are different preventive measures concerning active and passive corruption.
As to prevent active corruption, merchants are obliged to keep books and record in these
books their business transactions and the situation of their property according to the principles
of correct accounting (section 189 ofthe Code of Commercial Law). The annual financial
statement and the situation report of companies (except small private companies without the
obligation to establish a supervisory board) have to be examined by an auditor (section 268 of
the Code of Commercial Law). The legal representatives of a company have to provide the
auditor with the possibility to examine the books and records of the company and its property
and debts; the auditor may ask them for all information and records he considers necessary for
a thorough examination (section 272 ofthe Code of Commercial Law). Monetary and other
gifts may not be deducted from the incomes, when giving or receiving them constitutes a
criminal offence (section 20, paragraph 5 of Income Tax Law 1988, section 12, paragraph 1,
subsection 5 of Corporation Tax Law 1988).
As to prevent passive corruption, the laws on public service demand loyalty from public
officials and forbid them to require, accept or have themselves promised a gift or another
advantage (for example sections 43 and 59 ofthe Federal Law on public service).
7
d.2. Do you consider this legislative framework satisfactory? If not, in your opinion what
are the main deficiencies?
In my opinion the legislative framework for prevention of corruption is satisfactory. The non-
deductibility of bribes at taxation of incomes seems to be the most important factor for
preventing active corruption. Besides a more stringent obligation of the tax authorities to
inform the public prosecution of any suspect of corruption seems desirable.
e. Structures
e.l. Has your country established specialised services specifically assigned with the
combat against corruption? If so, what is the institutional context (e.g. established
within the police), the composition, the functions and the powers of these services?
Austria has not established specialised services for combating corruption. If there is a
connection to business in the individual case, the case is handled by departments of the police
and the public prosecution service specialised in economic offences.
I think that the structural framework for combating corruption in Austria is sufficient. The
small number of cases does not afford a special service. The means for repressive combat
against corruption are often the same like for combating economic crimes; so the handling of
most corruption cases by departments for economic offences is suitable.
a.l. To what extent can your country offer international co-operation in corruption
cases (exchange of police information, mutual assistance in criminal matters,
extradition, ...)?
In corruption cases Austria can offer full international co-operation, that means as well
exchange of police information as mutual assistance in criminal matters as extradition.
8
Requests for police information may be fulfilled under the applicable conditions and
prerequisites as laid down in the framework of Interpol, European Police co-operation
agreements and bilateral police agreements.
Basically mutual legal assistance and extradition are provided on the basis of multilateral and
bilateral treaties.
Austria is a party to the following conventions which deal with legal assistance:
1,/ The European Convention of20 April 1959 on Mutual Assistance in Criminal
Matters;
2,/ The Additional Protocol of 17 March 1978 to the European Convention on Mutual
Assistance in Criminal Matters;
3./ The United Nations Convention of 19 December 1988 against Illicit Traffic in
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances;
4,/ The Convention of 19 June 1990 implementing the Schengen Agreement of 14
June 1985 on the gradual abolition on checks at common borders;
5./ The Council of Europe Convention of8 November 1990 on Laundering, Search,
Seizure and Confiscation ofthe Proceeds from Crime;
6./ The Convention of 17 December 1997 on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public
Officials in International Business Transactions.
Austria has also concluded bilateral treaties with a number of countries in the field of mutual
assistance, including Germany, Italy and France.
In absence of a treaty, mutual assistance may be provided under the Austrian Extradition and
Mutual Legal Assistance Act (ARHG) on the basis of reciprocity.
a.2. Who should the applicant apply to (which authority, person in charge at this instant,
address, phone and fax number)? On which conditions and in which form?
Requests for police information must be forwarded to the police authority designated in the
police agreement applied. In the case of using the Interpol channel, the applicant has to apply
to the national central office (NCB) ofInterpol of his country, which will contact the national
central office of Interpol in Austria.
Mutual assistance is granted by the courts and not by the prosecution service in Austria. So a
request for mutual assistance must be directed to a (the competent) court and not to a
prosecution office. It is only advisable to address a request to a prosecution office, if the
applicant just wants only information from it.
When multilateral (like the Schengen Convention) or bilateral treaties (like concluded with
the Czech Republic and Slovakia) allow it, a request for mutual assistance can be forwarded
directly to the competent court. If direct transmission is not permitted, but a multilateral (like
the European Convention on Mutual Assistance) or bilateral treaty allows it, the request may
be transmitted to the Austrian Federal Ministry of Justice. The address is
9
Neustiftgasse 2
A 1016 Wien
bSTERREICH
Tel.: ++43-1-521 52-0
Fax: ++43-1-521 52-2500
In relations with States with which Austria does not have specific mutual assistance
arrangements, requests for assistance are processed through diplomatic channels.
For granting mutual assistance generally the District Court (Bezirksgericht) is competent, in
which area the action shall take place. If a request is made for a coercive measure, such as
search, seizure, provisional injunctions for safeguarding confiscation of profits or forfeiture,
interceptions of telecommunications and other intrusive measures, the matter must be
submitted to the Court of First Instance (Landesgericht).
If an applicant does not know which court is competent, he can ask - as well as other
questions about mutual assistance - one of the contact points ofthe European Judicial
Network. These contact points are locally based for the areas of the four Courts of Appeal
(Oberlandesgerichte); their addresses are:
1.1 for the Court of Appeal of Vienna (States Wien, Niederosterreich and Burgenland);
Richter
Dr. Peter SEDA
Landesgericht fur Strafsachen Wien
Landesgerichtsstrasse 11
A 1082 Wi en
bSTERREICH,
Tel.: ++43-1-401 27-13 95
Fax: ++43-1-402 59 04
2,/ for the Court of Appeal of Linz (States Oberosterreich and Salzburg):
Richter
Dr. Klaus-Peter BITTMANN
Landesgericht Linz
F adingerstrasse 2
A4020 L i nz
bSTERREICH,
Tel.: ++43-73 2-76 01-24 33
Fax: ++43-73 2-76 01-24 70
3./ for the Court of Appeal ofGraz (States Steiermark and Karnten):
Richter
Dr. Heinz FUHRMANN
Landesgericht fur Strafsachen Graz
Conrad-von-Hotzendorf-Strasse 41
10
.-. A8010 Graz
OSTERREICH
Tel.: ++43-31 6-8047-212
Fax: ++43-31 6-8047-348
4.1 for the Court of Appeal ofInnsbruck (States Tirol and Vorarlberg):
Richterin
Dr. Gabriele SMITH-LUKASSER
Landesgericht Innsbruck
Maximilianstrasse 4
A 6020 Inn s b r u c k
OSTERREICH
Tel.: ++43-51 2-5930-249
Fax: ++43-51 2-58 22 86
There is also a central co-ordinating contact point at the Federal Ministry of Justice, which
address is
Staatsanwalt
Dr. Stefan BENNER
Bundesministerium flir Justiz
N eustiftgasse 2
A 1016 Wi en
OSTERREICH
Tel.: ++43-1-521 52-2502
Fax: ++43-1-521 52-2500
a.3. Which particularities should the applicant be aware of when requesting co-
operation from your country?
Mutual assistance:
Reciprocity is a principle of the Austrian System. Law provides that the Austrian judicial
authorities may only comply with a mutual assistance request, if the State from which the
request has been received could comply with a similar request of Austria (section 3 ARHG).
This provision applies only to the extent that any international agreement does not provide
otherwise. So it does not apply for granting or receiving assistance within the framework of
the European Convention on Mutual Assistance.
Another principle is dual criminality. The Austrian judicial authorities can grant assistance
only in proceedings in respect of offences which are also punishable under Austrian law and
the punishment of which falls within the jurisdiction of the Austrian judicial authorities
(section 51 paragraph 1 subsection 1 ARHG). In bilateral treaties between Austria and other
European countries and the United States the requirement of dual criminality has been
restricted to cases of coercive measures. Besides pursuant to the Schengen Convention
assistance is possible also in the case of certain administrative proceedings (Article 49). In
practice the question of whether an offence that had given rise to a request has a
corresponding offence under Austrian law is interpreted in a broad sense.
11
Austria may only comply with a request for mutual assistance if its public policy or other
essential interests are not prejudiced by the execution of the request (section 2 ARHG). In
practice such cases are very rare.
A characteristic of the Austrian system for carrying out mutual assistance is that requests are
executed under the same conditions that would apply if the measures were to be sought in
national criminal proceedings. Therefore mutual assistance shall be made available in
accordance with the provisions of criminal procedure that are in operation in the national
jurisdiction (section 58 ARHG). So the special requirements for specific investigative acts
according to the Austrian Criminal Procedure Code, in particular in relation to seizure and
opening ofletters and interceptions of telecommunications, must be fulfilled (section 51,
paragraph 1, subsection 3 ARHG). Moreover a court order must be enclosed to a request for
search, seizure or interceptions of telecommunications (section 56, paragraph 2 ARHG). In
this scope there are no limitations on the type of assistance that may be sought from Austria.
On the other hand law permits a request for the adoption of a specific procedure which
deviates from the general rule subject to the requirement that it must be compatible with the
principles of Austrian criminal procedure (section 58 ARHG).
In its declaration to the European Mutual Assistance Convention Austria has stated that
incoming requests and annexed documents which are not in German, French or English must
be accompanied by a translation into one of those languages. In practice, however, the
Austrian authorities often accept mutual assistance requests made in another language and
carry out the translation work themselves.
With consent of the Austrian Ministry of Justice parties from another country (foreign judges,
public prosecutors and other participants in the foreign proceedings as well as their lawyers)
may attend to the execution of a request (section 59 ARHG).
Extradition:
An extradition for prosecution is possible for criminal acts committed intentionally, which are
subject to imprisonment or other deprivation ofliberty for more than one year according to
the law of the requesting state and subject to imprisonment for more than one year according
to Austrian law (section 11, paragraph 1 ARHG).
Extradition of Austrian nationals is prohibited (section 12, paragraph 1 ARHG). Austria has,
in principle, jurisdiction in cases where extradition is refused on the ground that the person
sought is an Austrian citizen (section 65, paragraph 1, subsection I StGB; see above under
section 5.c).
a.4. Which (legal and factual) obstacles do, in your opinion, hamper an efficient co-
operation in practice (bank secrecy, double incrimination, language, policy priorities,
...)? Which practical remedies can you suggest?
In a number of cases of requests received from a foreign authority other than a court, for
example a prosecutor, in relations to searches, seizures or interceptions of
telecommunications the requirement of the enclosure of a court order (section 56, paragraph 2
12
ARHG) was not met. If the requesting authority is competent to order the measure under the
law of the requesting State, the requested Austrian courts now demand an appropriate
information to confirm that the requesting authority was competent to carry out the relevant
function.
b. Demand
b.l. What are your expectations when you request co-operation from another country in
a corruption case?
The Austrian public prosecutors and judges expect that their applications for mutual
assistance are complied with fully and quickly.
Following the reports of public prosecutors applications are complied with often late, casually
not in the way like expected and sometimes not at all.
b.3. Which are the main problems and how can these be solved?
Direct contacts to the competent foreign authority or to a contact point seem to be very
helpful, but it is often difficult to identify the competent authority in the other State. In
important cases the attendance to the execution of the request abroad can also be
recommended.
13