By Anand Goolsarran
Corruption is the misuse of public power for private gain. A misuse of public power occurs where, in the exercise of their duties, officials deviate from formal rules or established procedures for their personal gain, and in doing so, the public interest is sacrificed in favour of their private interest.
Forms of corruption
Corrupt behaviour manifests itself in four main forms: bribery, extortion, embezzlement and fraud. An act of bribery takes place when a person makes a payment to an agent of the State in exchange for an advantage or a benefit to which the person is not otherwise entitled, such as the provision of a service, the granting of a licence, a tax rebate or the award of a public contract.
Extortion involves the agent using his/her positional power to extract money or other benefits from another person although the latter is legally entitled to the service or benefit without such a
