Combating of corruption is the fight against the consequences of corrupt activities once the offence has been committed. This includes investigating offences, initiating criminal proceedings, and charging those responsible with administrative offences. The functions of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau in the fight against corruption are:
- in the cases provided for by law, to hold public officials administratively liable and impose penalties for administrative offences in the field of anti-corruption;
- to conduct investigations and operational activities in order to detect criminal offences under the Criminal Law committed in the service of public institutions if related to corruption;
- conduct investigations and operational activities to detect criminal offences under the Criminal Law if related to breaches of the rules on financing political organisations (political parties) and their associations and if they are not within the competence of national security institutions, as determined by law.
Criminal offences investigated by the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau
According to the Criminal Procedure Law, the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau is responsible for investigating the following criminal offences committed in the service of public institutions:
- requesting, extorting, accepting, misappropriation, and giving of bribes;
- failure to act by a public official, if committed for the purpose of acquiring property;
- forging official documents, if committed for the purpose of acquiring property;
- using official position in bad faith, if committed for the purpose of acquiring property;
- violation of restrictions imposed on a public official
- unlawful participation in property transactions;
- trading with influence.
The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau is an investigative body and a body that conducts operational activities. Other bodies that conduct operational activities, as determined by law, must ensure, at the request of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, that operational activities necessary for the performance of the functions of the burea are carried out in a specific manner.