Federal corruption charges are one of the most serious offenses prosecuted by the Department of Justice. They carry severe penalties, including prison sentences and enormous fines for individuals and companies. They also can damage a company’s reputation and lead to loss of business opportunities.
Corrupt acts range from bribery to embezzlement to fraud. They can take many forms, from channelling small bribes to customs officials to speed up the passage of goods to receiving large sums of money in exchange for favouring an application for a construction permit. The recent FIFA corruption case demonstrated the DOJ’s commitment to fighting graft and corrupt practices in the sports world, as well as in higher education, where the admission of students is often influenced by political connections.
The Crown’s burden of proof in a corruption case is high, and the evidence that the accused broke the law needs to be clear and convincing. This is why it is so important to have a good lawyer who understands how to build a strong case.
It is also crucial to note that, for a conviction of a corruption offence, it must be proven that the defendant “willfully committed an offence”; this requires that the accused knew that what they were doing was against the law. This is why it is important to not be tempted to lie under oath in a corruption case. Lying under oath can be punished with similar penalties to a corruption charge.