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Find out moreThe first Law Update of 2024 is here, and our first focus of the year spotlights Healthcare and Lifesciences, a sector that is undergoing significant growth and development across the MENA region.
Our focus provides an insight into some of the most important regulatory updates across the region, such as the UAE’s groundbreaking law on the use of human genome, Kuwait’s resolution on nuclear and radioactive materials, the new regulations for healthcare services in Qatar, Egypt’s healthcare regulatory framework, and the impact of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law on the healthcare and life sciences sector … and there is so much more!
Beyond the healthcare pages our lawyers share with you multi-sector insights where you will discover articles on Dubai’s DIFC regulatory framework for startups, Bahrain’s commercial agencies law, and we also shed light on Kuwaiti civil code and the advantages of setting up a joint stock company in Saudi Arabia.
Read the full editionWong Yuen Ping
The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre was subsequently launched in Qatar at the end of 2011.This latest development once again highlighted the issue of corruption in the region, although corruption is not a major problem as such in Qatar which, incidentally, achieved a credible ranking in Transparency International’s 2011 Corruption Perception Index. Nevertheless, many companies operating in Qatar occasionally have questions on how their dealings with various authorities might be perceived, as they do not wish to fall foul of local laws. This is especially given the increase in the number of companies involved in projects to construct the infrastructure and facilities for the 2022 World Cup, which could involve a high level of interaction with public authorities.
The offence and the parties involved
Bribery and the attempted bribery of public officers are offences under the Qatari Penal Code No. 11 of 2004 (Penal Code).
It is an offence for any person to offer a public officer money or a benefit of any kind or a promise of anything of the like in order for him to perform or omit to perform a duty assigned to his role. It is also an offence for public officers to solicit or accept bribes, for themselves or others.
A “public officer” is defined widely under the Penal Code as those charged with carrying out public authority, employees of ministries, government departments, public institutions and organisations, including:
It should be noted, although this point is often overlooked, that employees of companies in which a ministry or government department, public organisation or corporation is a shareholder (regardless of the size of its shareholding) are considered public officers in this context.
Aside from the Penal Code, the Human Resources Law also contains a similar prohibition on civil servants accepting bribes, whether in the form of cash, donations or the like.
What is a bribe? What benefits are permitted?
The law does not specifically prohibit or define any particulars acts as amounting to bribery. The offence, as defined above, extends to offering a public officer money or a benefit of any kind (or the promise of such). As such, companies and their employees who deal with or wish to improve ties with public officials often have to consider if their offer/invitation or the provision of hospitality and minor benefits to public officers would be in violation of the law.
According to the Penal Code, if the intention or purpose of any hospitality is to induce a public officer to perform or omit to perform his duty, then the offer or provision of such hospitality would be an offence. The existence of such intention existed would be a question of fact to be proven.
It is likely that a court or any other third party reviewing the situation would consider the situation as a whole and the context in which the hospitality was offered, before inferring an intention to commit bribery. While there are no specific legal provisions or guidelines on the factors to be considered, it would be prudent for companies to consider the following questions collectively before extending any offers of hospitality:
Conclusion
It is vital to consider all relevant factors, including the questions suggested above when considering if an offer or provision of hospitality would be appropriate and to avoid the perception of such offers as bribes or any intention to commit bribery. In their assessment, companies should also take into account the perspective of the recipient and any neutral observer.
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