Society

Embezzlement in Sichuan reconstruction

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-17 23:04

BEIJING - China's top auditing authority on Friday reported irregularities in a total of 36 reconstruction subjects following a major earthquake in Sichuan three years ago, including the embezzlement and misuse of funds worth 188 million yuan ($29 million).

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Other irregularities included construction projects that were conducted without proper feasibility reports or environmental impact reports, as well as cases of excessive investment. Cases where construction projects were randomly changed were also found, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO).

The findings are based on a fourth round of auditing by the NAO on more than 8,000 reconstruction projects, with a total investment of 280.8 billion yuan.

The NAO also said that a total of 16 companies were found to be operating without following relevant standards or designs, using inferior materials and illegally subcontracting some of their projects.