Countries › Panama › Guide › 13. Regulation › Anti corruption in Panama: bribery offences, foreign bribery and sanctions on companies under the Penal Code

Anti corruption in Panama: bribery offences, foreign bribery and sanctions on companies under the Penal Code

Last verified: 2026-10-29 · Status: Stable

Panama's Penal Code punishes officials who take bribes (2 to 4 years, 4 to 8 for judges and decision makers) and anyone who offers or pays one (3 to 6 years). Bribing a foreign official or an official of an international organisation carries 5 to 8 years. Companies used or created to commit a crime and that benefit from it face licence suspension, fines of at least B/.5,000 up to double the harm or benefit, loss of tax benefits, a ban on public contracts and dissolution.

Panama's currency, the balboa (B/.), is at par with the US dollar, which circulates as legal tender; the Superintendencia de Bancos states that the balboa's value is on a par with the US dollar (checked 29 October 2026). USD figures therefore equal the balboa figures.

Key facts

Sanctions on companies for crimes	Criminal sanctions on legal persons used or created to commit a crime and benefiting from it textCódigo Penal art. 51, as of 2026-10-29 · in force
Minimum fine on a legal person	5000 PABCódigo Penal art. 51 num. 2, as of 2026-10-29 · in force
Prison for bribing a foreign public official	5 to 8 years textCódigo Penal art. 350, as of 2026-10-29 · in force
Prison for bribing a domestic public servant	3 to 6 years textCódigo Penal art. 347, as of 2026-10-29 · in force

The rule

1. A public servant who, personally or through another, accepts, receives or requests a gift, promise, money or any benefit to perform, omit or delay an act in breach of duty, or even to perform a proper act of office, is punished with 2 to 4 years in prison.Código Penal (Texto Único 2010), art. 345, 2010-04-26 official text · verified 2026-10-29

2. Judges, prosecutors, administrative authorities, arbitrators and anyone deciding a matter who take a benefit to harm or favour a party face 4 to 8 years.Código Penal (Texto Único 2010), art. 346, 2010-04-26 official text · verified 2026-10-29

3. Anyone who, in any form, offers, promises or gives a public servant a gift, promise, money or any benefit to perform, delay or omit an act of office or in breach of duty is punished with 3 to 6 years.Código Penal (Texto Único 2010), art. 347, 2010-04-26 official text · verified 2026-10-29

4. When the conduct of arts. 345, 346 or 347 targets a public servant of another State or an official of a public international organisation, to act, omit or delay an act, or as a consequence of acts already performed, the penalty is 5 to 8 years in prison.Código Penal (Texto Único 2010), art. 350, 2010-04-26 official text · verified 2026-10-29

5. Unjustified enrichment of public servants during office and up to five years after leaving is punished with 3 to 6 years, and 6 to 12 years above B/.100,000; the same applies to the front person. Influence peddling is a separate offence.Código Penal (Texto Único 2010), arts. 351 and 354, 2010-04-26 official text · verified 2026-10-29

6. When a legal person is used or created to commit a crime and benefits from it, the court may apply: cancellation or suspension of licence or registration for up to five years; a fine of at least B/.5,000 and up to double the harm or the financial benefit; total or partial loss of tax benefits; a ban on contracting with the State for up to five years (imposed together with another sanction); or dissolution.
Cost to do it: Minimum corporate fine B/.5,000 (US$5,000); no maximum other than double the harm or benefit.
Example: A bribe that won a contract with a B/.300,000 profit exposes the company to a fine of up to B/.600,000 plus a public contracting ban of up to five years. / US$300,000 benefit, fine up to US$600,000.Código Penal (Texto Único 2010), art. 51, 2010-04-26 official text · verified 2026-10-29

7. Ley 40 de 2012 added a sixth sanction to art. 51: a fine of at least B/.25,000 up to double the harm or benefit where the legal person provides the transport service used to bring drugs into Panama.Ley 40 de 4 de julio de 2012, art. 1 (Código Penal art. 51 num. 6), 2012-07-04 official text · verified 2026-10-29

Conduct	Article	Prison
Official accepts or requests a bribe	345	2 to 4 years
Judge, prosecutor, arbitrator or decision maker takes a bribe	346	4 to 8 years
Offering or paying a bribe to a public servant	347	3 to 6 years
Bribery of a foreign or international official	350	5 to 8 years
Unjustified enrichment above B/.100,000	351	6 to 12 years

Main bribery penalties, Código Penal (Texto Único 2010).

Worked example

A sales agent paying a customs officer B/.2,000 (US$2,000) to speed up clearance commits the offence in art. 347 (3 to 6 years) even if the clearance itself was lawful, and the importer that benefited risks art. 51 sanctions.
A Panamanian company paying an official of another country to win a contract there faces art. 350 (5 to 8 years) for the individuals involved.

Step by step

Adopt a written anti bribery policy covering gifts, facilitation payments and third party agents.
Run due diligence on agents, customs brokers and consultants dealing with government on your behalf.
Keep records of all payments to or for public servants.
For public contracts, remember that a State contracting ban under art. 51 can last up to five years.

Common traps

The Penal Code text cited contains no compliance program defence for companies; a program helps in practice but does not by itself exclude art. 51 sanctions.
Payments for a lawful act of office (facilitation payments) are covered by arts. 345 and 347.
The official consolidated Penal Code dates from 2010; check later amending laws before relying on articles not cited here.

Sources

← Anti money laundering in Panama: Ley 23 de 2015, UAF reporting, B/.10,000 cash reports and fines up to B/.5,000,000Environmental rules in Panama: impact studies before works start, MiAmbiente sanctions and ten year civil liability →

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