The Crime of Bribery and Its Impact on Job Performance

It cannot be denied that bribery is a rather deplorable and reprehensible action because of the severe risks it leads to as it implies significant hazards that cause a threat to the very fabric of society. When bribery is rampant in a society, then it is an indication of its doom. Diffusion of bribery causes the reputation of the state, its institutions, and ministries to be distorted and the mistrust in public authority, as well as the development of injustice and inequality among citizens. In more precise terms, the constant proliferation of bribery results in the rising amount of violations to the rights of people, as the society turns into a jungle where the laws of the strongest and the richest are applied. Thus, to combat such a severe vice, it is necessary to make employees more aware of the risks and how it affects the society and its social fabric. From this perspective, the idea of this research emerged, focusing on the fact that the briber obtains unlawful gains by offering bribes to public officials, an act that is illegal and unethical. It can be stated that bribery is not a local crime but a global one, and it is not limited to lower-level employees but extends to higher-ranking officials as well, to the extent that it has become an epidemic threatening the fabric of society and necessitating preventive measures. Despite the extensive discussion of bribery and the continuous coverage it receives through various media outlets, it remains one of the crimes that are difficult to detect, as the agreement is concluded secretly between the briber, the bribed official, and the intermediary, and it is surrounded by secrecy at the time of its commission. This makes it difficult for public authorities to become aware of it, and in some cases, it is difficult to establish proof unless one of the participants confesses.