[DAWN] CORRUPTION suspects are being nabbed and plea bargains struck -- the national exchequer will soon swell thanks to the amount recovered from plea bargains. This can even help cut the fiscal deficit.Would the suspects be punished if found guilty? The plea bargain option allows the guilty to at least avoid jail -- the suspect's consent to return 80pc of the money and his or her being barred from holding public office is considered punishment enough. So, almost anybody who finds himself in the dock settles for the plea bargain route. The beauty of a plea bargain is, transfer Rs2 billion from the national kitty to your personal account, return 80pc in instalments and the balance Rs400 million is yours to enjoy. Yes, you lose your reputation and the right to hold public office. But to save your reputation you can easily play the Dire Revenge or conspiracy card.
To hold public office, you can wait for a change in climatic conditions to sign a re-entry pact.
Voluntary return of the entire amount in question, before you are in the dock, would not even debar you from holding public office. Dip your hands in the pot; if you go unnoticed, enjoy the entire booty. If noticed and still in the country, which would be rare, return the money before a formal investigation begins and you are cleaner than a newborn.