For Real? Man Escapes Corruption Charge Because Bribe He Offered Was Too Small

 

Italy's top court has ruled that a man who offered €100 to cops is not guilty of corruption because the sum is not substantial.

 

According to Today.it, the ruling came in Italy's top court, the Court of Cassation, when they heard that the unnamed driver offered a traffic officer £75 to avoid being convicted of drunk driving.

The decision may have also taken into cognizance the man's state of mind at the time, as the man was caught driving under alcoholic influence which made him offer the bribe to escape arrest.

 

According to the court, the man’s state of drunkenness meant that he was not of “sound mind” when he offered the cash.

 

Italian law states that a bribery attempt is labeled corruption when the action is made "with appropriate seriousness," and if the attempt is able to psychologically unsettle the public official.

 

The driver was however convicted of drunk driving, which carries a fine of 6,200 euros, a suspended license for a year and also a year in prison.