Testigos competentes y prácticas de licitación desleal en Washington

Explicación Simple

Si alguien comete un delito de soborno, puede ser obligado a testificar contra otros que hagan lo mismo. Además, es ilegal ofrecer dinero para evitar que otros participen en una licitación pública.

Es como si en una competencia de cocina, un participante intentara sobornar a los jueces para que descalifiquen a sus rivales en vez de mejorar su propia receta.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan trabaja para la ciudad y está organizando una licitación para construir un parque. Si Marta, una empresaria, le ofrece un soborno para que no acepte las propuestas de otros, tanto Marta como Juan estarían cometiendo un delito. Juan podría ser obligado a testificar en contra de Marta si se descubre el soborno.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

RCW 9.18.080 - Offender a competent witness Every person offending against any of the provisions of law relating to bribery or corruption shall be a competent witness against another so offending and shall not be excused from giving testimony tending to criminate himself. RCW 9.18.120 - Suppression of competitive bidding (1) When any competitive bid or bids are to be or have been solicited, requested, or advertised for by the state of Washington, or any county, city, town or other municipal corporation therein, or any department of either thereof, for any work or improvement to be done or constructed for or by such state, county, city, town, or other municipal corporation, or any department of either thereof, it shall be unlawful for any person acting for himself or herself or as agent of another, or as agent for or as a member of any partnership, unincorporated firm or association, or as an officer or agent of any corporation, to offer, give, or promise to give, any money, check, draft, property, or other thing of value, to another or to any firm, association, or corporation for the purpose of inducing such other person, firm, association, or corporation, either to refrain from submitting any bids upon such public work or improvement, or to enter into any agreement, understanding or arrangement whereby full and unrestricted competition for the securing of such public work will be suppressed, prevented, or eliminated; and it shall be unlawful for any person to solicit, accept, or receive any money, check, draft, property, or other thing of value upon a promise or understanding, express or implied, that he or she individually or as an agent or officer of another person, persons, or corporation, will refrain from bidding upon such public work or improvement, or that he