Pursue corruption clues

If the recent corruption trials are a manifestation of the central authorities' resolve to root out corruption, not following up on the clues revealed in the process does little to the credit of the judiciary and the fight against corruption.

For example, Zhang Shuguang, the former deputy chief engineer of what was then the Ministry of Railways, confessed during his trial that he spent 23 million yuan ($3.7 million) on buying votes to try and gain membership of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Many have wondered where the money went, but not a single word has been heard about any investigation into the whereabouts of the money.

Zhang Shuguang, former director of the transport bureau for the now-defunct Ministry of Railways, pleaded guilty to corruption on Sept 10, 2013 morning during his trial at a Beijing court. [Photo/Xinhua] 

Gong Aiai, who allegedly owns 41 apartments in Beijing, went on trial on Tuesday at the local court in Jingbian county of Northwest China's Shaanxi province accused of making and selling forged official certificates. She had four identity cards and several household registration certificates, and she confessed that she bought two of the household certificates in Beijing.

However, except for the information that the police officers involved have been given disciplinary punishments, nothing has been revealed about how she bought the certificates, whether other police officers were involved and who else was party to her crimes. And details about the dozens of properties she allegedly owns, a focus of public attention, remain in the dark.

There have long been rumors about the selection of academicians to the Chinese Academy of Sciences involving under-the-table deals. What Zhang Shuguang confessed has provided a chance for a thorough investigation to either uncover the alleged malpractices or prove the innocence of the academy.

The same is true with the clues provided by Gong about the sale of Beijing household registration certificates.

The central authorities have said on many occasions that the fight against corruption will show no leniency to anyone who abuses power, no matter who he or she is.

They may still be under investigation, and maybe not every clue that emerges from these cases is worth following up. But clues to obvious abuses of power should not be allowed to remain a mystery.

Hopefully the mysteries surrounding these corruption cases will be unraveled as early as possible.

(China Daily 09/26/2013 page8)