Here are some expressions commonly used in discussing wrongdoing and corruption matters.
arson - fire raising, malicious burning to destroy property assault - a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped blackmail - a threatening to reveal substantially true information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a monetary demand is met bribe - make illegal payments to in exchange for favours or influence bribery - the practice of offering something (usually money) in order to gain an illicit advantage corruption - inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (as bribery) counterfeiting - make a copy of with the intent to deceive, forgery embezzlement - take or use dishonestly (money or property with which one has been entrusted) fake - not genuine or real; being an imitation of the genuine article fraud - something intended to deceive; deliberate trickery intended to gain an advantage hijack a plane - to take control of a vehicle, especially an aircraft, and force it to go to an unscheduled destination, often taking any passengers present as hostages, skyjack a plane hit-and-run driving - departing or leaving quickly and usually secretly, especially because one has done something wrong and wants to avoid punishment or arrest hostage taking - taking a prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another party will meet specified terms joyriding - borrowing a car illegally without the owner's permission although intending to return the car kickback - an illegal, secret payment made in return for a referral which resulted in a transaction or contract; a commercial bribe paid by a seller to a purchasing agent in order to induce the agent to enter into the transaction kidnapping - the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonment money laundering - concealing the source of illegally gotten money mugging - assault with intent to rob murder - unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by a human being pickpocketing - stealing from the pockets or purses of others in public places pimping - arranging for sexual partners for others racket - a dishonest business or practice, especially one that obtains money through fraud or extortion racketeer - someone demanding ‘protection money’ from businesses rape - the crime of forcing a woman to submit to sexual intercourse against her will robbery - the act of unlawfully taking the property of another by the use of violence shoplifting - the act of stealing goods that are on display in a store smuggling - secretly importing prohibited goods or goods on which duty is due tax evasion - failure to pay taxes legally due the government, often by failure to report some income received or claiming false deductions theft - stealing trespassing - entering unlawfully on someone's property vandalism - malicious destruction of the property of others violence - an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
Now we put new vocabulary into context, so you can see how you might use these terms yourself. The expressions are in boldface in the text.
He was accused of accepting or taking bribes from wealthy businessmen. Corruption is a greatest obstacle to economic and social development. The counterfeiting of money is one of the oldest crimes in history. No trespassing. Trespassing will be prosecuted. According to one recent estimate, worldwide money laundering activity amounts to roughly $1 trillion a year. Tax evasion is one of the most common economic crimes. The authorities can get the kidnap victim back if it is possible to do so if you contact them right away at the first sign of trouble. Hostage taking has proved to be immensely successful in generating terror. The word blackmail became popular in the 1800´s and comes from the clan chieftains who ran protection rackets on farmers in Scotland. If the farmers didn´t pay the mail (an old term for rent), the chiefs would steal their cattle and crops. Since this was considered evil, it was considered black. Smuggling now is considerably diversified: the smuggling of immigrants, armaments, illegal drugs, as well as smuggling of alcohol and tobacco are widespread throughout the Western world. In California, the penalties for hit-and-run driving are severe. You may be jailed for up to four years, fined up to $100,000.00, and could lose your license. Theft is the unlawful taking of property from another person. Some more common examples include shoplifting, pickpocketing, theft from buildings. Joyriding is: the crime of stealing a vehicle and driving fast and dangerously for fun.
