South Carolina Code of Laws § 8-13-705 is the statute that law enforcement authorities in the Palmetto State most commonly file bribery charges under. Under this section of state law, it is unlawful for any person to directly or indirectly give, offer to provide, or promise any good, service, or amount of money to a public official or government employee, specifically to influence how that person discharges their responsibilities.
Any such offer made to induce a public official to aid in or ignore an act of fraud also constitutes criminal bribery. This could mean that any official who solicits or accepts such an offer can be charged and prosecuted under the same statute. It is also considered unlawful for any person to offer money or something of value to influence how someone testifies before a court, legislative committee, or government agency.
Bribery is a felony offense, and anyone convicted of this crime may be sentenced to a maximum ten-year term in state prison and a maximum $10,000 fine. Additionally, as a Columbia bribery attorney could further explain, a person convicted under this statute is rendered permanently ineligible to hold any public office in the state of South Carolina. Any currently serving public official thus convicted automatically forfeits their position or employment.