Colleagues are no judge of corrupt officials

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opens a website to allow people to tip off the CCDI to corruption and other disciplinary violations. [Photo/IC]

When Ye Jun, a former deputy division chief in a water department in Shenzhen, Guangdong province in South China, was on trial, the water department sent a letter to the court asking it to show leniency, as they said that Ye "worked very hard" in his daily duties. Comments:

Ye used to be an official and if he is corrupt he must have made use of his power in hand. Under such circumstances, the harder he worked, the more money he grabbed. So even if what the letter claims is true, that's no excuse to grant him a lighter penalty.

rednet.cn, Oct 22

By composing such a letter, the water department where Ye formerly served was actually trying to intervene in judicial procedure. The top leadership forbids officials from interfering in judicial affairs in the name of their offices and requires courts to record any such letters or other material as evidence.

Beijing News, Oct 22

Corruption is so hated a crime in China that people always forget suspects have the right to a defense. Ye's former colleagues used to work with him and they can give references as to his character and performance. Of course, the court can decide whether to trust the letter, but his former colleagues were not intervening in judicial affairs by sending it.

Legal Daily, Oct 22

Ye is suspected of accepting bribes yet neither his supervisor nor the disciplinary staff in his former office uncovered this. Thus it is safe to conclude they do not have good knowledge of Ye's true activities. In which case, can their letter claiming Ye worked hard be trusted? That letter is a joke.

china.com.cn, Oct 22