Court clerk admits taking bribe

A court clerk who worked in east London has become the first person to be convicted under new bribery laws. Munir Yakub Patel, who was employed as an administration clerk at Redbridge Magistrates’ Court, accepted £500 to avoid putting details of a traffic summons offence on a court database. He was filmed by The Sun agreeing to take the action for Jayraj Singh, who had been given a speeding ticket. After the newspaper handed over its evidence to the authorities, Patel became the first person to be prosecuted under the Bribery Act 2010. Patel, of Green Lane, Dagenham, Essex, admitted bribery at Southwark Crown Court. The 22-year-old also pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office dating from February 23 2009 to August 2011, during which time he gave people advice on how to avoid being summoned over such matters. Patel denied a further seven counts of possession of an article for use in fraud. The judge ordered these charges to lie on file. Patel could face up to 10 years in prison when he returns to court for sentencing on November 11.

This is the first prosecution under the Act, which came into force on 1st July of this year. Although this is not the massive fallout feared by larger firms and corporations when the white paper was first circulated, it should nevertheless serve as a sharp reminder that the Act is now a firm and present tool in the authorities’ belt, and they are not afraid to use it. Patel now faces an unlimited fine and up to 10 years in prison. Although the amount involved was small, an aggravating feature in this case is the abuse of a position of public authority, and it is likely that the sentence will reflect this. Furthermore, although this will be a sentence passed upon an individual, organisations across the UK should take it as a preliminary indication of the approach the courts will take to sentencing acts of bribery from now on.

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