Is it permissible in Islamic law to pay an employee 5,0 Saudi Riyals in exchange for reducing the cost of a commercial water meter from 17,0 to 7,0 Saudi Riyals?

It is not permissible to pay money to an employee to expedite a transaction, as this falls under prohibited bribery, the perpetrator of which was cursed by the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. This is in accordance with the Almighty's saying: "And do not consume your properties among yourselves through falsehood or hand it over to the authorities to consume a portion of the properties of others sinfully while you know [that it is unlawful]."