After years of focusing on recipients of bribes, China is introducing criminal liability for those offering bribes from 1 November 2015. Criminal law amendments will make it an offence to bribe close relatives or relations of a government official. Offenders may face fines and even a prison term. As a consequence of these changes, senior management could be held personally liable in corruption cases. This extension of criminal liability shows yet again how important it is to comply with Chinese anti-bribery laws and to tailor compliance programmes accordingly.
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