How is bribery committed?

Bribery is the act of offering or receiving something of value in exchange for some kind of benefit, typically involving a public official or government act. In Virginia, bribery is considered a white collar crime and is addressed in the Virginia Criminal Code. Bribery is committed by a person who knowingly offers, solicits, or receives, or agrees to receive, or attempts to solicit, a thing of value with the intent to influence the performance of a public, governmental, or civic duty or to influence the person to whom it is offered. A person can commit bribery by providing any form of payment, such as money, goods, services, favors, or anything else of value. Bribery can only be committed by the person making the offer. It is illegal to offer anything of value to a public official in exchange for a benefit, whether or not the public official accepts the offer. It is also important to remember, that a bribe does not necessarily have to be monetarily valuable. An offer that provides a financial or personal gain to the recipient, such as a promotion, can still be considered a bribe. White collar crimes like bribery are serious offenses and can result in both civil and criminal penalties. In Virginia, bribery is punishable by jail time of up to five years, and a fine of up to $2,500. If the person convicted of bribery holds a public office or is a public official, they may be subject to additional penalties and can even be removed from office.

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