Answer ... Specific provisions govern expenses of this type for public officials.
Articles 234 and 237 of the Federal Penal Code punish the recipient of a bribe, the offeror of a bribe and any intermediaries involved, and also regulates the acceptance of any benefits.
Article 234 states as follows:
Any public servant or person entrusted with a public service, a foreign public servant or an employee of an international organization who requests or accepts, whether directly or indirectly, a gift, benefit or other grant that is not due, or is promised the same; whether to the benefit of the employee himself or for another entity or establishment, in order for such employee to commit or omit an act included in his duties even if he has intended not to commit or omit such act, or if the request, acceptance or promise is made after the fulfilment or omission of such act, shall be sentenced to temporary imprisonment.
Article 237 states as follows:
Any person who promises, offers or gives a public servant or a person entrusted with a public service, a foreign public servant or an employee of an international organisation, a gift, benefit or grant that is not due, either directly or indirectly, whether to the benefit of the employee himself or for another person or entity, for such employee to commit or omit an act included in his duties, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for no more than five years.
Article 237 bis states as follows:
Any person who promises, offers, grants or gives, either directly or indirectly, a public servant or any other person, a gift, benefit or grant that is not due, to abet that public officer or person to abuse his power, whether actual or presumed, to obtain, from a public department of authority, an unlawful benefit for the benefit of the original abettor of such act or for the benefit of any other person.
Any public servant or any other person who requests or accepts a benefit, gift or grant that is not due, whether for himself or for another person, either directly or indirectly, so as such public servant or person abuse his power, whether actual or presumed, to obtain, from a public department or authority, that unlawful benefit.
Finally, Article 237 bis 2 states as follows:
An intermediary between the briber and a bribe-taker to offer, request, accept, take a briber or any promise thereof shall be sentenced to imprisonment for no more than five years.
As is evident from these provisions, it is clearly prohibited for public officials - whether foreign or local - to accept any form of hospitality, travel or entertainment expenses of any kind.
Any gifts that are of a symbolic nature or promotional material must have the gifter’s logo on the material.