By GAO YAN & XU YING

IN 2013 we filed and investigated 1,393 cases of bribery and corruption involving 1,646 people, 107 of whom were officials at Division Chief level or above. We approved the arrest of 114 suspects on charges of producing and selling poisonous and harmful foods and bogus medicines, and prosecuted 891 people embroiled in 464 cases of economic crimes involving mass participation, such as the Ponzi scheme and illegal solicitation of funds. We also issued 405 proceedings against people believed to be damaging the environment and natural resources, investigated 52 suspects in jobbery crimes such as corruption and malfeasance in the field of environmental protection, redressed 375 false claims in which the accusers collaborated with the shared intent of impinging on national, collective or personal interests, and brought criminal charges against 71 of them. We hosted 13 forums in which People’s Congress deputies, members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, retirees and journalists participated, set up an on-line program soliciting public opinions on our work, and visited concerned parties in concluded cases to get their feedback. We promptly worked out and brought into effect solutions to the problems these measures exposed within specified deadlines. Progress was reported to facilitate public supervision.”

The above is an extract from a statement that the People’s Procuratorate of Jiangsu Province made at the news conference it held on January 9. Along with the figures mentioned, the procuratorate also detailed eight cases it handled last year on a wide range of public concerns, from corruption, food safety, public security and environmental protection to judicial justice.  

“Serving the people, maintaining a strong bond with them, and safeguarding justice are the procuratorate’s missions,” said Xu An, procurator-general of the People’s Procuratorate of Jiangsu Province and Grand Procurator of the Second Rank. His institution is a pillar state organ of legal supervision that safeguards the interests of the nation and individual citizens, and consolidates public trust in the rule of law.

Response to Public Concerns

Records show that it is information from individual citizens that brings many corruption cases to light. As one citizen anonymously commented, “Few of us ordinary people are acquainted with big fish, but many observe instances of minor corruption during our lives.”

The People’s Procuratorate of Jiangsu Province follows up every item of information it receives and assigns specific staff members to each disclosure within seven days. In instances of revelations from named sources the procuratorate starts an investigation within 30 days and apprises the informant of the results within three months.

Last year the procuratorate ratcheted up efforts to combat jobbery crimes that threaten public interests and people’s livelihood. They include jointly issuing with the provincial court, police and judiciary administration four decrees relating to food safety, environmental protection, illegal fund raising and false litigation. These documents clarify law enforcement issues and pool the strengths of various departments.  

The procuratorate also launched an outreach program in 2013 covering institutes, enterprises, urban and rural communities and schools. Its aim is to better serve the local economy and society. In cases of broad concern that threaten the public health, such as gutter oil, toxic capsules and fake vaccine, the procuratorate has stepped up investigation and prosecution within the legal framework. This entails procurators meeting citizens by appointment and carrying out regular field studies. Procurators at provincial and municipal levels have hence set up hotlines where local residents can file complaints and gain access to legal support.

Specific campaigns have been launched to protect the people’s legitimate rights and address issues that threaten their interests and so arouse strong protests. Procuratorate workers are required to maintain direct grassroots contacts that keep them informed of the people’s concerns and needs. They are also charged with building outposts in rural towns and neighborhoods that strengthen law enforcement at the grassroots level. To give the public better access to their services, all 105 procuratorates in Jiangsu Province have set up integrated service centers. Their broad spectrum of functions includes keeping the public abreast of cases in process and giving legal consultations. The legal aid program rolled out in these centers last year spent RMB 4.65 million on alleviating the predicaments of impoverished victims of 1,170 criminal cases.

Procurator-general Xu An talks with visitors on June 24, 2010 on the occasion of the first time the People’s Procuratorate of Jiangsu Province opens its offices to the public.