10 judges quizzed in bribes inquiry

Ten county-level court judges in Liaoning province are being investigated on suspicion of dereliction of duty and taking bribes, according to provincial prosecutors.

The 10 judges, from the court in Qingyuan Manchu autonomous county in Fushun, were questioned one after another between May and July, and the provincial people's procuratorate said most of them are suspected of accepting bribes, perverting the law, abusing their power and rendering illegal verdicts.

The 10 judicial officers - including three deputy presidents, five chief judges, one assistant chief judge and the director of the court's enforcement department - were reported by residents, the prosecuting authority said, adding that it had approved the arrest of five of them and confirming that one of the deputy presidents is still at large.

The prosecutors said on Tuesday that the case is still under investigation, but they declined to provide further details.

It is not the first time that judicial officers in the province have been investigated for alleged violations.

In July, authorities confirmed that Li Wei, president of Dalian Intermediate People's Court, was being investigated for alleged serious disciplinary violations.

Wang Yanshu, a Dalian resident, showed anger toward these judicial officers, saying violations by a judge are more serious than by other officials.

China's top court issued a five-year plan in July, stating that a verdict must be decided by the presiding judge, rather than being approved or influenced by the chief judge or president of a court.

However, Wang said she is still worried.

In reality, said Wang, who once reported Li, a verdict is usually decided by the president of a court through administrative power.

Yang Weidong, a law professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, said it is rare to see 10 judicial officers in a court being investigated at the same time, "which also means self-discipline in the legal system is still far from enough".

Yang Xiaojun, another professor in the academy, echoed him and said the exposure of a number of judicial officers reflects that the central government has highlighted violations in the judicial system.

Contact the writers at liuce@chinadaily.com.cn and caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn