The Status And Prospect Of Anti-Commercial Bribery Law Of China
TianjinwiselylawfirmchiefpartnersushengliAlongwiththefurthertransitionofourcountry’smarketeconomy,thecurrentsocialresourcesshallbere-adjustedandre-distributed.Undersuchsituation,thecommercialbribehasrestrictedourtransitiontomarketeconomyandtheimprovementofbusinessoperationandinvestmentcircumstances.Inrecentyears,itwasdemonstratedbymanycommercialbribecases(Siemens,Lucent,IBM,DPC,ect.)thatsuchkindofbribehasbeendevelopedfromunspokenrulesinthebusinesscompetitiontothemain“weapon”ofthemostenterprises,evenmanyfamousmultinationalenterpriseswereinvolved,whoarethevictimsofsuchimpropermeansaswellastheviolatoroftheproperbusinessrules.Therefore,thesoundAnti-CommercialBribelawsandattackcommercialbribeactionshallbethemostimportantworkforChinesegovernmenttoimprovesocialmanagementability.Today,let’stalkaboutthecurrentconditionofAnti-CommercialBribelawsofChinaandlookintothefuture(Prospect).Ⅰ.DefinitionCommercialBriberyreferstoanactthatanentity,oranemployeeofacompanyorenterpriseorhiredbyanyotherentityviolatestherulesoffaircompetition,forthepurposeofprovidingorobtainingtransactionopporunityorothereconomicbenefitsbymeansofofferingoracceptingmoneyorproperty,aswellasotherbenefits.Article8,LawOfThePeople’sRepublicOfChinaAgainstUnfairCompetition.(January1,1994)15thNOV,1996StateAdministrationofIndustyAndCommerceInterimProvisionOnProhibitingCommercialBriberyOnNov.20th,2008,theSupremePeople’sCourtandtheSupremePeople’sProcuratoratedefinedthePropertiesofCommercialBribecasesinthe“SuggestionsForTheApplicableLawsInThePenalCasesOfCommercialBribes”Article163,164,385,387,389,391,392,393CriminalLawOfChina(1997,2006Amendment6,2011Amendment8)2.ThemainmanifestationmodesofcommercialbribeMoneyincashandmaterialobjectsThepropertyintereststhatcouldbecalculatedinnumbersofmoney,including:Inthebusinessactivities,providingandacceptingthebusinesssupportsthatviolatefaircompetition,ortour,inspectionandotheractivities.Providingandreceivingallkindsofclubcards,consumercards,shoppingcardsandothernegotiablesecurities.Providingandusinghouses,automobiles,etc.Providingandreceivingsharesandbonus.Grantingandreceivingpropertiesandotherinterests,bygamblingandinthenameofexpensesonpromoting,propaganda,advertisements,training,consulting,technicalservices,researching,clinic,toprocurebusinessandservicesopportunities,favorableconditionsorothereconomicbenefit.C.Non-materialbenefit.Suchassexalbribery.(NowTherearesomeissuesbutIagreewiththisview)Todate,thereisnolawinChinatopunishthosewhoacceptsexualbribes.TheactualstatusismoreandmorecriminalsandbusinessmeninChinaaregainingfavoursfromgovernmentofficialsbyprovidingthemwithsexualbribes.Ithinksuchsexualbribesisoftenmorepowerfulthanmoney.Ifitiswrittendowninlawthatitisillegal,itcanincreasetheeffectivenessofthefightagainstcorruption.3.PenaltyOnthebasisofdifferentfacts,circumstancesandcondemnatoryprincipals,thecommercialbribesshallbeclassifiedasimpropertransactionacts,commonunlawfulactsandcriminalacts.A.Impropertransactionactsarethecasesoflessviolationswithlessamountsandtheviolationsofbusinessmoralsandmarketrules,whichshallbepunishedbythePartyandgovernmentoffices,theregulatoroftheconcernedindustryandautonomicorganizations.CommonunlawfulactsarethecasesoflittleviolationwithsmallamountandtheviolationsofAnti-impropercompetitionandotherlaws,whichisnotcommittedacrimeandshallbeadministrativelypunishedorbearthecivilresponsibility.AdministrativePenaltyTypesofadministrativepenaltyshallinclude:(1)disciplinarywarning;(2)fine,notlessthan10,000RMB,butnotmorethan200,000RMBinlightofthecircustances;(3)confiscationofillegalgainsorconfiscationofunlawfulpropertyorthingsofvalue;(4)orderingforsuspensionofproductionorbusiness;(5)temporarysuspensionorrescissionofpermitortemporarysuspensionorrescissionoflicense;Article8,LawOfThePeople’sRepublicOfChinaOnAdministrativePenalty.Article22,LawOfThePeople’sRepublicOfChinaAgainstUnfairCompetition.CivilResponsibilityAbusinessoperatorwhoviolatetheprovisionsoftherelatelawtodothecommercialbribery,andthuscausesdamagetotheinfringedbusinessoperators,shallbeartheliabilityofcompensationforthedamages.Ifthelossesofinfringedbusinessoperatoraredifficulttoestimate,thedamagesshallbetheprofitsderivedfromtheinfringementbytheinfringerduringtheperiodofinfringement.Andtheinfringershallalsobearthereasonableexpensepaidbytheinfringedbusinessoperatorforinvestigatingtheinfringer’sunfaircompetitionorcommercialbriberyactthatviolatinghislegalrightsandbenefit.Abusinessoperatorwhoselegalrightsandbenefitareinfringeduponbyunfaircompetitionorcommercialbriberyactsmaybringasuitcaseinalocalpeople’scourtofChina.Article20,lawofthepeople’srepublicofChinaagainstunfaircompetition,September2,1993.C.Criminalactsarethecasesofgrossviolationswithlargeamountsandseriousconsequences,whichshallbepunishedasperpenalcode.CriminalResponsibilityCommercialbriberycrimesrelatingtocriminallawprovisionsofthefollowingnineoffenses:(1)Non-statefunctionariesacceptanceofbribes(CriminalLawArticle163rd)(2)offeringbribestotheNon-statefunctionaries(CriminalLawArticle164rd)(3)offeringbribestotheforeignofficialorinternationalpublicorganization.(Criminallawamendment8)(4)Statefunctionaryacceptanceofbribes(CriminalLawArticle385rd)(5)unit-acceptanceofbribes(CriminalLawArticle387rd)(6)offeringbribes(CriminalLawArticle389rd)(7)offeringbribestounit(CriminalLawArticle391rd)(8)introducingbribes(CriminalLawArticle392rd)(9)offeringbribesbyunit(CriminalLawArticle393rd)1.CriminalpenaltyoftheAcceptorWhentheacceptorisastatefunctionarywillbeapplyorArticle385rd,387rdCriminalLaw,shallberegardedasguiltyofacceptanceofbribesandpunishedforit,shallbepunishedrespectivelyinthelightoftheseriousofthecircumstancesfromnotlessthan1yeartodeathpenaltyandalsotoconfiscationofproperty.(CriminalLawArticle383rd).Statefunctionaryreferstopersonswhoperformpublicserviceinstateorgans.Personswhoperformpublicserviceinstate-ownedcompaniesorenterprises,institutionsonpeople’sorganizations,personswhoareassignedbystateorgans.State-ownedcompanies,enterprisesorinstitutionstocompanies,enterprisesorinstitutionsthatarenotownedbythestateonpeople’sorganizationstoperformpublicserviceandtheotherpersonswhoperformpublicserviceaccordingtolawshallallberegardedasstatefunctionaries.(CriminalLawArticle93)Theamountofcommittingthecrimeisnotlessthan5000RMB.Whentheacceptorisanon-statefunctionaryshallberegardedasguiltyandpunishedasfollowingcondition.(1)iftheamountisconsideralylarge(notlessthan5000RMB),heshallbesentencedtofixed-termimprisonmentofnotmorethan5yearsordetention.Iftheamountishuge(notlessthan100000RMB),heshallbesentencedtofixed-termimprisonmentofnotlessthan5yearsandalsotoconfisicationofproperty.CriminalLawArticle163rd,1(2)Whereanyoftheemployeesofanycompanyorenterpriseoranyotherentityviolatestherelevantprovisionsofthestatebytakingadvantageofhispositiontoacceptkickbacksorcommissionsinanydisguiseandkeepsthemforhimself,heshallbeconvincedandpunishedbytheprecedingparagraph.CriminalLawArticle163rd,22.CriminalpenaltyoftheProviderAnystatefunctionarywhoprovidethebribes,shallbepunishedasthesameastheacceptor,inaccordancewiththeprovisionofArticle399rd,390rd,butwithoutdeathpenalty.Whentheproviderisanon-statefunctionaryshallberegardedasguiltyandpunishedasfollowingcondition.Anyonewhogivesaconsiderablylargelyamountofmoneyorproperty(personalnotlessthan10,000RMB,unitnotlessthan200,000RMB)toanyoftheemployeesofanycompanyorenterpriseoranyotherentityforthepurposeofseekingillegalbenefitsshallbesentencedtofixed-termimprisonmentofnomorethan3yearsordetention.Iftheamountishuge(notlessthan500,000RMB),heshallbesentencedtofixed-termimprisonmentofnolessthan3yearsbutnotmorethan10years,andshallbefined.(CriminalLawArticle164rd)4.Thedemarcationofcommercialbribeandsimilaracts.Asacriminaldefencelawyer,forcommercialbriberycases,itisnecessarytopayattentiontothedemarcationofcommercialbribeandsimilaracts.ThedemarcationbetweendiscountandcommercialbribeInthebusinessactivities,itislegaltograntthediscountstotheotherparty,whichmustberecordedintheaccountbook.However,thediscountsgrantedorreceivedunderthetableandoutoftheaccountbookaredefinedascommercialbribe.ThedemarcationbetweencommissionandcommercialbribeInthebusinessactivities,itislegaltogranttheremunerationascommissionrecordedintheaccountbook,tothemiddlemanwhoprovidesservicesandhaslegalqualification.However,thecommissionsgrantedorreceivedunderthetableandoutoftheaccountbookaredefinedascommercialbribe.ThedemarcationbetweengiftandcommercialbribeInthebusinessactivities,itislegaltogivesmallpromotinggiftsaspercommercialpractice.However,givingcashandmaterialobjectstotheotherpartyasaccessoryisdefinedascommercialbribe.ThedemarcationbetweendonationandcommercialbribeThedonationshouldabidebyPublicWelfaredonationlawsandotherregulations,whichmustberecordedinaccountbook,notrelatedtothetransactions,notharmfultoothers’benefitsandusedinpublicwelfare.However,itiscommercialbribetoprocurebusinessandservicesopportunities,favorableconditionsorothereconomicbenefitsbygivingpropertiesinthenameofdonation.5.ProspectionlegislationTheGeneralLawofAnti-CommercialBribeisunderpreparation,combiningcriminal,civilandadministrativeobligation,todefinethelegalresponsibilitiesfordifferentlevelsofcommercialbribe.PoliticalandeconomicregimreformWeakeningtheinterventiontothemarketeconomicactivitiesfromtheadministrationgovernmentaldepartmentsandClearingthemonopolyofthegovernmentaldepartmentstotheconcernedindustriesarehelpfultolimitthepowerandraiseaopen,justandfairmarketcircumstance.supervisorTosetuptheprofileofenterprisesandblacklistofbriberyenterprises,topushaheadwiththesystemconstructionofenterprisecredit,tosetupandconsummatethecreditprofileofenterprisesincludingtheirrecordsofimpropercompetitionandcommercialbribeacts,andtoincreasethepunishmentstotheenterpriseswhichhavetheseriouscommercialbribeacts.Theblacklistofbriberyenterprisesshallbereportedtotheconcernedadministrativedepartmentsandtheseenterprisesaredisqualifiedincertaintimetoparticipateinthetenders.ImplementoflawEnforcethelawstrictlyandintensifythefightagainsttheviolations.FromabovementionedarticlesofAnti-commercialbribelaws,thestrictenforcementmustbeabletomaketheonesgobankruptwhowanttomakefortunebycommercialbribe.Whereas,thecurrentsituationisthatthelawscouldnotfightagainstthepotentialrulesofcommercialbribe.Theessenceofsuchineffectivelyenforcementwillbethetacitacknowledging!
2012-09-10