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According to an estimate by the International Monetary Fund from 2016, up to 1,75 trillion euros are destroyed worldwide every year through corruption. This not only weakens the global, but also the individual economies.
What is more dangerous, however, is that corruption destabilizes entire states and also severely damages democracies by eroding trust in one another and in state institutions. Corruption is probably one of the crimes most damaging to the state and society.
Even though Germany currently occupies a good 12th place in the perceived level of corruption out of 180 countries compared in the public sector, one should not underestimate the overall social consequences of corruption.
It is therefore surprising to me that the offenses of accepting an advantage under Section 331 StGB, taking a bribe under Section 332 StGB, granting an advantage under Section 333 StGB and bribery under Section 334 StGB are currently subject to a statute of limitations of five years in Germany, Section 78 (3). No. 4 StGB!
Our politicians must finally set clear signals here and both increase the maximum penalties very significantly and, as a result, extend the statute of limitations accordingly, in my opinion at least to 30 years. In view of the serious consequences of corruption, I think it is even justified that corruption is no longer subject to the statute of limitations.
"Corruption, infidelity, and stupidity in moderate doses are, like occasional wars, evidence of humanity."
Robert D. Kaplan, The coming anarchy: shattering the dreams of the post Cold War (2000: 174)
