Upgraded anti-graft office to catch more crooked Chinese officials

Want China Times, Staff Reporter 2014-11-04

Outside the anti-corruption bureau of Taiyuan, the captial of northern China's Shanxi
province. (Photo/CNS)

China's newly upgraded General Office of Anti-Corruption could play an important role in prosecuting high-ranking officials and chasing down criminals who have fled overseas, according to mainland legal experts.

Staff at the office will be increased and its status will be raised to the level of vice-ministry, said Qiu Xueqiang, deputy head of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, according to the state newswire Xinhua.

The office, established in 1995, will remain a part of the Supreme People's Procuratorate and continue to be responsible for prosecuting cases investigated by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), China's top anti-graft watchdog.

Qiu said that over the last 20 years the problems with the bureau have become clear, such as structural flaws, lack of manpower and excessive cases, and that reforms were needed to boost its "fighting capacity, credibility and agility."

A vice-ministerial level, full-time member of the procuratorial committee will now hold a concurrent post as head of the newly reformed anti-graft agency, Qiu added.

At present, mainland crimes are trending towards becoming more systematic, regional, family-oriented and organizational, Qiu said, adding that sometimes a single case or suspect can spark a large number of investigations. This year, for example, an investigation of the National Development and Reform Commission had a "domino effect" that led to 11 bureau-level officials being probed, Qiu said.

Zhuang Deshui, a political expert at Peking University, said the "repositioning" of the anti-corruption office will reduce daily administrative duties and strengthen capacity to handle major graft cases, and may also bolster the independence of local prosecutors to reduce interference from government officials.

Li Tuo, a professor at the China National School of Administration, told Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao that the office's leadership upgrade represents an integration of the system's resources to boost its authority in tackling corruption.

In particular, the revamped office could play a significant role in dealing with foreign governments in tracking down Chinese criminals who have fled overseas, Li said. In July, the CCDI initiated a campaign to bring corrupt officials and businesspeople back home to face justice, though it has faced problems with foreign authorities, Li said, suggesting the anti-corruption office's upgraded powers may be a reflection of practical needs.