The 2nd March marked the start of UK Bribery Act Week at the British Embassy. British Ambassador, Asif Ahmad spoke to the British business community and senior Thai Government representatives at a series of events to raise awareness of the key implications for British companies doing business overseas, and to advise on how they can ensure that they comply with the Act.

The Bribery Act will provide a more effective legal framework to combat bribery in the public or private sectors and help tackle the threat that bribery poses to economic progress and development around the world. The Act will create two general offences covering the offering, promising or giving of an advantage, and requesting, agreeing to receive or accepting of an advantage. It will also create a discrete offence of bribery of a foreign public official and a new offence of failure by a commercial organisation to prevent a bribe being paid for or on its behalf (although it will be a defence if the organisation has adequate procedures in place to prevent bribery).

http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=PressR&id=561084082

According to the link, the act is not yet in force, which will be a great relief to BAe Systems.

What a ridiculous law.