The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) prohibits the bribery of government officials. Although it is a U.S. law, it can apply to actions that take place outside the United States.
Violating the FCPA can lead to severe penalties. Companies have paid millions of dollars in fines, and individual employees have been sentenced to prison terms. Violations of the FCPA often breach local law as well, so responsible individuals can be tried and sentenced in the country where the bribe occurred.
Most people think of bribes as overt payments or gifts of cash, but the FCPA defines bribery very broadly to include giving anything of value to obtain an improper commercial advantage.