Bribery: Can Purchasing Agents Inflate Prices to Receive Personal Gains from Sellers?

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Bribery: Can Purchasing Agents Inflate Prices to Receive Personal Gains from Sellers?

English:

Question #1246:

Are purchasing agents working for government departments or private companies justified in buying goods for a higher price with a view to taking the extra money for themselves? And is it permissible to receive the extra money from the seller as a favour?

Answer #1246:

Should the goods be bought for prices higher than the usual market price, or should it be possible for them to buy the goods for less, the original contract of sale for the inflated price is regarded as fud ﭼ ūl ī , in that it is contingent on the permission of the related official. At any rate, the agent does not have the right to receive any money from the seller for himself in return for his buying from him.

-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Importance and Conditions of Bribery - PDF Version Page 204