The Supreme People’s Procuratorate (the “SPP”), China’s national prosecutor and investigator, has reported an uptick in investigations and prosecution of bribery cases for the first quarter of 2015. This is consistent with the SPP’s resolve to intensify its actions against bribery in 2015, as stated in its 2014 Work Report. Xu Jinhui, the SPP’s Central Office Director for Anti-Corruption and Bribery, confirmed that the PRC will continue its zero-tolerance policy against corruption and bribery. The following are some of the highlights of the SPP’s activities:
- In the first quarter of 2015, the SPP investigated 1,891 individuals for offering bribes – this is an increase of 6.1% when compared to the first quarter of 2014. The SPP also investigated and closed 3,565 cases and 4,579 individuals for bribery and corruption; prosecution was commenced for 3,265 individuals; and 4,384 individuals were convicted. 88% of all cases prosecuted involved bribes with amounts greater than RMB 50,000 and misuse of public funds greater than RMB 100,000.
- In 2014, 4,056 public servants were prosecuted for commercial bribery. The SPP prosecuted 14,062 individuals for accepting bribes – an increase of 13.2% from the previous year. The SPP also prosecuted 7,827 individuals for offering bribes – an increase of 37.9% from the previous year.
- In 2013, 4,549 public servants were prosecuted for commercial bribery. 5,515 individuals were prosecuted for offering bribes – an increase of 18.6% from the previous year.
- On 16 February 2012, the SPP created the Bribe-giving Crime Record System (the “Bribes Record System”) by linking the similar systems of all local procuratorates nationwide. The Bribes Record System provides for information on the nature of bribery charges, the name of the party offering a bribe, the amount of bribe involved, the punishment handed down, among others. Since the creation of the Bribes Record System, the SPP had accepted around 5 million enquiries regarding the offering of bribes. The SPP also regularly releases corruption and bribery statistics.
