“封口费”的法律性质辨析

An Analysis of the Legal Nature of "The Money to Keep it a Secret"

当事人为了隐瞒某些违法行为或事实而给知情人一定的物质利益作为"封口费"。由于这种行为可能涉及刑事犯罪,或者其先前行为可能违法,因而往往受到公安机关的干预。但从民法的角度来看,这种给付与收受金钱的关系应界定为附义务的赠与,且由于其违反公序良俗而应视为一种无效的契约。"封口费"不应由公安机关"追回",而应当按照不当得利进行民法上的处理。

When some illegal events happen,interested parties will give some material interest to insiders to keep it a secret.Public security organs usually make intervention because the behavior or antecedent act may be illegal.In civil law the action between the party and insider is collateral obligation.Because it violates public order and good custom,it is void in whole.Usually,the money is not obtained from crime,so public security organs shouldn＇t recover it.It should be processed in according to unjust enrichment in civil law.