International treaties and domestic legislation regulating corrupt practices by public officials have appeared in a myriad of jurisdictions and legislations. However the reach and teeth of some legislation calls into question basic principles of international law and the limits that enforcing them must adhere to. The following essay will suggest that the current international system guiding the sanctioning of corrupt practices is tilted towards the interests of hegemonic world players such as the United States. Furthermore, it will highlight that as it stands, anti-corruption legislation places unwarranted and unauthorized prerogatives in the hands of a world elite that sanctions and prosecutes according to its geo-political interests.