Campaign puts the heat on anti-graft officials

As China's anti-corruption campaign progresses, those responsible for rooting out graft are being placed under increasing scrutiny.

On Tuesday, the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China Central Committee publicized 10 cases involving disciplinary or legal violations by police officers, judges and prosecutors.

"This sends a signal that the disciplinary as well as the political and legal systems are not being shielded," said Xin Ming, a professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

The cases include a Supreme People's Court official suspected of taking over 2 million yuan ($327,500) in bribes to intervene in trials; a prosecutor in Shanxi province who was charged with taking bribes and failing to explain assets that include more than 40 million yuan in cash and 1.8 kg of gold; and a Ministry of Public Security director suspected of abusing his position to grant favors to others and accepting more than 2.23 million yuan in bribes.

Publicizing cases of politicians and court officials suspected of corruption is a first for the commission. On Monday, four disciplinary officials who worked for the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection were reportedly punished for breaking Party anti-graft guidelines and regulations.

In the most egregious case, Wu Qiang from Jiangxi province was stripped of his Party membership and expelled from public office for killing a pedestrian while driving under the influence of alcohol in 2013.

In another case, Wu Jimian from Hubei province was prosecuted for killing a hotel worker and injuring two others while driving a police car after leaving a banquet.

Shen Wanhao from Hebei province was dismissed from his post for beating another disciplinary official during a banquet.

The fourth official, Ren Jiangang from Shanxi province, received a Party warning for holding banquets to commemorate his father's death and accepting 7,900 yuan in cash.

While these cases may not constitute the powerful "tigers" the CPC vowed to take down in the latest anti-graft campaign, they will act as an alarm to disciplinary, political and legal officials, said Xin.

"Officials of the disciplinary, political and legal systems are fighters against corruption and guardians of justice. ... They cannot do their job if they themselves are crooked," he said.

Wang Yukai, professor with the Chinese Academy of Governance, said the public naming of officials suspected of corruption could improve the image of anti-graft forces and spur the public to be more involved in the campaign.

The central government's fight against corruption has made headlines since President Xi Jinping became Party chief in 2012.

Addressing the third plenary session of the CCDI in January, Xi described corruption as "a disease that calls for powerful drugs". He stressed a stance of zero tolerance on graft and promised to severely punish every corrupt official.

Premier Li Keqiang pledged on Tuesday to combat corruption, boost government transparency and build a clean government as he presided over a meeting of the State Council, or China's cabinet, to map out this year's anti-graft plans.

A total of 31 high-profile officials were investigated by the CCDI in 2013, including Jiang Jiemin, former head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, and Li Dongsheng, former vice-minister of public security.

Nationwide, about 182,000 officials were punished by the CPC's discipline inspection agencies.

The CCDI updated its website in September, allowing the public to provide tip-offs. Many lower-level anti-graft agencies soon followed suit.

"Law enforcement usually breaks the rules, while they are fully aware of what they have done wrong and that creates a negative impact on society," said Zhou Hanhua, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.