NRI first to be charged under new UK bribery act

London, Sept 1 (PTI) An Indian-origin clerk in a British
court who was filmed apparently accepting a 500 pounds bribe
has become the first person to be charged under the new
Bribery Act.
Munir Patel, 21 has been charged with taking a bribe from
a defendant while he was employed at a court in east London.
He is also accused of misconduct in a public office and
perverting the course of justice at Redbridge Magistrates'
Court in Ilford, according to a BBC report.
He was arrested after The Sun filmed a man apparently
accepting 500 pounds to keep a traffic penalty off a legal
database.
He will appear at Southwark Crown Court in south London
on 14 October.
"I am satisfied there is sufficient evidence to charge
Munir Patel with requesting and receiving a bribe on 1 August
intending to improperly perform his functions," said Gaon
Hart, a lawyer at the Crown Prosecution Service.
He said: "Patel has already been charged with misconduct
in public office and perverting the course of justice. He
still faces these charges, which relate to other alleged
misconduct during his employment."
The Bribery Act, which came into force on 1 July, made it
illegal to offer or receive bribes, and to fail to prevent
bribery.