[remline]

Yes, what could possibly go wrong if an official doesn't respect the fact that you can't bribe them, pay their "official" fee, or hire a consultant from a very short list of "approved" consultants?

Anyone who hasn't chosen to spend years in jail when they were a victim of the airport mall shoplifter scam is an example of someone who has violated the FCPA.

[rayiner]

If they're holding you on trumped up allegations demanding a bribe to let you go, that falls under the FCPA's duress exception: http://www.fcpablog.com/blog/2012/11/14/doj-and-sec-release-...

[remline]

Could you bribe someone to avoid imprisonment for trial in US courts for health or safety reasons?

I don't think the DOJ will necessarily honor that unless you have some kind of health condition and evidence the foreign court is refusing to hear about it.. I don't think anyone in the cases I referenced made medical arguments before bribing officials.

[ada1981]

Is this what you mean by "airport mall scam"?

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293916-i3687-k6457766...

TL;DR -

Get accused of shoplifting and police give you the option of paying a $5k - $10k fine to avoid waiting in Thai jail for months awaiting trial.

Some accounts say it wasn't a scam and the people were actually caught on CCTV and that they were given the option of a paying a bribe to avoid waiting months in jail.

[remline]

Exactly, and the defense claimed they handled the goods and put them back with the video being cut to simply imply they never were put back..

If you can claim duress in this case, then can you not bribe authorities in every case of being arrested and awaiting trial? Do you need to file paperwork to claim this duress, might another country acquire this paperwork before you flee? AFAIK, it is all a minefield as the higher post claims.