The anxiously awaited first prosecution under the new UK Bribery Act (UKBA) has surprised the industry.
While the UKBA has been labelled the strictest anti-corruption legislation worldwide, this inaugural case sees the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) focus its attention on purely domestic conduct involving a relatively low-value bribe.
The CPS announced on August 31 that a UK court official is charged with accepting a £500 bribe for fixing traffic tickets.
Mark Beeley of Vinson & Elkins in London believes the case highlights that the industry may have been looking at the Act incorrectly.
“All the focus has been on major...