The first-ever action under the UK Bribery Act has now been filed—but it probably doesn't look anything like what you expected.
The Press Association reports that Munir Patel, a court clerk in east London, is being charged under the Bribery Act with taking bribes from a defendant in a case. Patel allegedly agreed not to put details of a traffic summons on a court database in exchange for £500.
Thebriberyact.com blog explains today that the case is significant not only because it is the first to be brought under the new act, but also because (a) it is a domestic bribery case and (b) the charges have been brought not by the UK's Serious Fraud Office but by the UK Crown Prosecution Service. Thebriberyact.com adds that "while the SFO is the lead prosecution agency for the Bribery Act its focus is on Serious Fraud and in particular international bribery. We anticipate that the CPS will focus on domestic cases of bribery."