Prosecutors take tough stance against bribers

Over 2,700 indicted for offering bribes last year as corruption battle intensifies

Chinese prosecutors will intensify their anti-corruption crackdown this year, with harsher punishments for those who offer bribes while maintaining a high-pressure stance against officials who accept them, an official from China's top procuratorate said on Wednesday.

From January to November 2024, prosecutors indicted 2,772 individuals on bribery offering charges, a 20.2 percent increase from the previous year, according to Zhang Xiaojin, head of the Supreme People's Procuratorate's division on duty crimes.

The rise reflects China's determination to dismantle the chain of corruption, Zhang said.

"Investigations into both bribe-taking and bribe-giving will be further deepened," he added.

China has long pursued bribery cases, but authorities stepped up efforts against those who offer bribes with amendments to the Criminal Law last year.

The revised law, which took effect on March 1, mandates heavier punishments for those who repeatedly offer bribes, try to bribe multiple people or seek job promotions through bribery. It also calls for severe penalties for those who bribe officials in supervisory, administrative or judicial departments, as well as in the fields of environment, finance, workplace safety, food and drug regulation, disaster relief, social insurance, education and healthcare.

Bribe-giving and bribe-taking are equally serious offenses that must be tackled, Zhang said, noting that the categories of bribery outlined in the law were key targets for prosecutors over the past year.

"To deter bribe-giving, we have also improved case-handling efficiency and worked with supervisory authorities and courts to expose offenders," he said.

Authorities are also ramping up efforts to pursue fugitives and recover illicit gains, with intensified measures against money laundering.

From the beginning of last year to Dec 15, prosecutors approved the arrests of 21 corrupt officials who had fled overseas. Twelve have been prosecuted for duty-related crimes, including eight listed as Interpol Red Notice fugitives, according to data from the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

From January to November, 955 individuals were prosecuted in 890 money laundering cases, marking year-on-year increases of 39.4 percent and 37.6 percent, respectively.

Zhang emphasized the need to prioritize money laundering cases, calling them crucial to national security and broader anti-corruption fight.

"If we uncover money laundering clues while investigating corruption, we must promptly notify supervisory authorities to gather evidence," he said. "If we detect management loopholes or risks in enterprises or government agencies linked to money laundering, prosecutors should strengthen communication with them and provide legal assistance to address the problems."

Between January and November, more than 23,000 people were indicted on duty-related crimes, a 33.9 percent increase from the same period in 2023. The number of corruption cases involving Stateowned enterprises, as well as the finance, energy and infrastructure sectors, also saw significant growth.

Fifty-eight officials supervised by the central leadership were investigated for disciplinary violations between January and November last year by the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission.