Not in China of course, where you risk execution with a bullet in the back of the head. But in Belgium, if and when you are found out, you only have to pay the money back. After that, or even before that, you can start again. Maybe next time you will be more lucky and the police won't find out.
A couple of years ago, some Navy guys wrote invoices in advance so Navy credits could be used up before year's end. This is standard practice in many government departments, because if you don't use up all the money budgeted, you'll get less next year. Nobody wants that. Of course the money should still be used for acceptable purposes. But those guys credited the accounts of friendly contractors who refurbished their properties. They were even so nice to give prince Laurent 150,000 euro to brighten up his villa, who didn't ask how the money was obtained, or so he claims.
A court in Flanders convicted the men involved in the scam. Of course it didn't touch the prince. The top criminal received a jail sentence of three years, but only six months will be 'effective'. The former advisor of the prince, Noel Vaessen, got two and a half years, again only six months 'effective'. Since short jail sentences are not enforced, the men will not see the inside of a jail. They are only supposed to pay back the money. Also the prince will refund his share, although it is not clear where he will get the money for the refund, because he is perpetually short of pocket money.
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