NRI first to be charged under new UK bribery act

London: An Indian-origin clerk in a British court who was filmed apparently accepting a 500 pounds bribe has become the first person to be charged under the new Bribery Act.
Munir Patel, 21 has been charged with taking a bribe from a defendant while he was employed at a court in east London. He is also accused of misconduct in a public office and perverting the course of justice at Redbridge Magistrates’ Court in Ilford, according to a BBC report.
He was arrested after The Sun filmed a man apparently accepting 500 pounds to keep a traffic penalty off a legal database. He will appear at Southwark Crown Court in south London on 14 October.
“I am satisfied there is sufficient evidence to charge Munir Patel with requesting and receiving a bribe on 1 August intending to improperly perform his functions,” said Gaon Hart, a lawyer at the Crown Prosecution Service.
He said: “Patel has already been charged with misconduct in public office and perverting the course of justice. He still faces these charges, which relate to other alleged misconduct during his employment.” PTI