Article 424 Spanish Criminal Code: Active bribery

Article 424 punishes the private individual who offers or gives a gift or other reward to a public authority or official, with the same penalties of imprisonment and fine as those imposed upon the corrupted official, and adds disqualification where public procurement or subsidies are involved.

Wording of Article 424 of the Spanish Criminal Code

1. The private individual who offers or gives a gift or reward of any other kind to a public authority, official or person participating in the exercise of a public function in order that the latter should perform an act contrary to the duties inherent in the office or an act proper to the office, in order that the latter should not perform or should delay the act which ought to be performed, or in consideration of the office or function, shall be punished, in the respective cases, with the same penalties of imprisonment and fine as the authority, official or person corrupted.

2. Where a private individual gives the gift or reward in response to the request of the public authority, official or person participating in the exercise of a public function, the same penalties of imprisonment and fine as those which correspond to the latter shall be imposed upon that individual.

3. If the action obtained or sought from the authority or official is connected with a procedure of procurement, of subsidies or of auctions convened by the administrations or public entities, there shall be imposed upon the private individual and, where appropriate, upon the company, association or organisation which that individual represents, the penalty of disqualification from obtaining public subsidies and aid, from contracting with entities, bodies or organisations forming part of the public sector and from enjoying tax and social security benefits or incentives for a term of five to ten years.

Working translation prepared by Société Juridique from the consolidated Spanish text published by the Official State Gazette. It has no official status: the only authoritative version is the Spanish original, available at the Official State Gazette and reproduced verbatim in our Spanish-language entry for this provision. Source: Organic Law 10/1995 of 23 November, the Spanish Criminal Code.

Sentencing range. The same penalties of imprisonment and fine as those imposed upon the corrupted official under Articles 419 to 422, together with disqualification of five to ten years from public subsidies and public procurement where the conduct is connected with a procurement, subsidy or auction procedure.

Elements of the offence

The status of a private individual, which excludes public officials acting in that capacity.
An offer or the giving of a gift or reward of any kind, whether direct or through an intermediary.
A relationship with an act contrary to the duties of the office, with an act proper to the office, with an omission or delay, or with the office or function itself.
In the case of paragraph 3, a connection with a procedure of procurement, of subsidies or of auctions.

Defence strategy

Absence of a relationship of consideration. The offence requires a link between the benefit and the official action. Institutional hospitality, sponsorship and gifts of a social nature which are documented and of moderate value lack that link, and the case law excludes conduct which is merely socially adequate.

Bribery in response to a request. Paragraph 2 covers the individual who yields to a request from the official. Establishing the initiative of the official, and the pressure exerted, is relevant both to the classification and to the mitigating circumstances available.

Position of the legal person. Paragraph 3 extends the disqualification to the company represented, and the offence also triggers the liability of legal persons. Documenting the compliance programme addresses that exposure separately from the defence of the individual.

Delimitation of the act sought. The penalty is that of the official, which varies between Articles 419 and 422 according to whether the act was contrary to duty, proper to the office or merely in consideration of it. Establishing which of the three is in issue determines the whole penalty frame.

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This entry is provided for information only and does not constitute legal advice. The application of any provision depends on the circumstances of the individual case and requires examination of the case file by a qualified lawyer.

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