	Lex Mundi Global Anti-Corruption Compliance Guide
	Belize
	(Latin America/Caribbean) Firm Barrow & Williams LLP Contributors Nigel Ebanks Updated 01 Feb 2022
What is the key anti-bribery and corruption legislation in your jurisdiction?	The key anti-bribery and corruption legislation in Belize is the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Has there been a specific anti-bribery and corruption law enacted in your jurisdiction in the last ten years?	No, there have not been specific anti-bribery and corruption laws enacted over the last ten years.
Is a bribe payment to domestic government officials prohibited by the legislation?	Yes. A person would fall afoul of the legislation if he/she directly or indirectly grants a public servant any money or other benefits for the completion or omission of any act in the performance of the public servant’s public functions. A public servant refers to the Governor General, members of the National Assembly, members of the Belize Advisory Council, Public Services Commission, Election and Boundaries Commission, public officers, members of statutory bodies or government agencies including employees of all public bodies.
Is a bribe payment to foreign government officials prohibited by the legislation?	Yes. A person would fall afoul of the legislation, if he/she whether directly or indirectly offers or grants to a person performing a public function in a foreign state any money or other benefits for any act to be performed or omitted to be performed by that person in the performance of his public functions.
Is requesting or accepting a bribe prohibited by the legislation?	Yes. A person commits an act of corruption if that person in performing a public function does or omits to do any act for the purpose of obtaining any benefit for himself or other persons.
Who is subject to the legislation?	All persons.
Is there criminal liability for corporate entities who have either paid or accepted a bribe payment?	Yes. However, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company that consented to or contributed to such action may be prosecuted for the same offense.
What is the penalty for individuals violating the law?	There are several offenses under the Act with varying levels of penalty. However, fines range from USD 1,500 to USD 25,000 and possible terms of imprisonment from three months to three years.
Assuming corporate entities are liable for violating the legislation, what is the penalty for corporate entities violating the law?	The fines are similar to those that an individual would face.
Assuming corporate entities are liable for violating the legislation, does having a compliance program designed to prevent bribery constitute a defense?	No.
Assuming corporate entities are liable for violating the anticorruption law, is it possible for a corporate entity to reach a deferred prosecution agreement or leniency agreement with the enforcement authorities?	N/A.

Lex Mundi Global Anti-Corruption Compliance Guide

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What is the key anti-bribery and corruption legislation in your jurisdiction?

The key anti-bribery and corruption legislation in Belize is the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Has there been a specific anti-bribery and corruption law enacted in your jurisdiction in the last ten years?

No, there have not been specific anti-bribery and corruption laws enacted over the last ten years.

Is a bribe payment to domestic government officials prohibited by the legislation?

Yes. A person would fall afoul of the legislation if he/she directly or indirectly grants a public servant any money or other benefits for the completion or omission of any act in the performance of the public servant’s public functions.

A public servant refers to the Governor General, members of the National Assembly, members of the Belize Advisory Council, Public Services Commission, Election and Boundaries Commission, public officers, members of statutory bodies or government agencies including employees of all public bodies.

Is a bribe payment to foreign government officials prohibited by the legislation?

Yes. A person would fall afoul of the legislation, if he/she whether directly or indirectly offers or grants to a person performing a public function in a foreign state any money or other benefits for any act to be performed or omitted to be performed by that person in the performance of his public functions.

Is requesting or accepting a bribe prohibited by the legislation?

Yes. A person commits an act of corruption if that person in performing a public function does or omits to do any act for the purpose of obtaining any benefit for himself or other persons.

Who is subject to the legislation?

All persons.

Is there criminal liability for corporate entities who have either paid or accepted a bribe payment?

Yes. However, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company that consented to or contributed to such action may be prosecuted for the same offense.

What is the penalty for individuals violating the law?

There are several offenses under the Act with varying levels of penalty. However, fines range from USD 1,500 to USD 25,000 and possible terms of imprisonment from three months to three years.

Assuming corporate entities are liable for violating the legislation, what is the penalty for corporate entities violating the law?

The fines are similar to those that an individual would face.

Assuming corporate entities are liable for violating the legislation, does having a compliance program designed to prevent bribery constitute a defense?

No.

Assuming corporate entities are liable for violating the anticorruption law, is it possible for a corporate entity to reach a deferred prosecution agreement or leniency agreement with the enforcement authorities?

N/A.

Lex Mundi Global Anti-Corruption Compliance Guide

Belize

Lex Mundi Global Anti-Corruption Compliance Guide

Belize

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