Prosecutors caught receiving 'luxurious entertainment'

Three prosecutors in north China's Shanxi Province were caught receiving "luxurious entertainment" paid for by an entrepreneur, said the supreme procuratorate on Wednesday.

Wen Xiaoping, deputy procurator-general with the Shanxi Provincial People's Procuratorate, attended the activities with Chang Xiangdong and Li Shumin, two district prosecutors in Taiyuan city, Shanxi provincial capital.

They were punished for discipline violations after the local discipline agency investigated their cases and confirmed their misconduct.

As senior officials, the three prosecutors openly violated party discipline and undermined the image of prosecutors at a time when the Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership is pushing to end harmful work styles.

Although the supreme procuratorate did not reveal the details of the prosecutors' case, a statement from the Shanxi provincial discipline inspection agency said last week that on Aug.7 the three attended a feast with three other government officials and went to a club, singing karaoke in the company of hostesses. All expenses were covered by an entrepreneur.

The supreme procuratorate called on all prosecutors, especially senior ones, to learn the lesson from the three and take it as a warning.

All prosecuting agencies should police their staff with a "zero tolerance" attitude and seriously punish those who misbehave, particularly senior officials and those who have drawn strong public complaints, the statement said.

"Once such a case is reported, it shall be investigated and those involved be punished. We shall not show mercy or cover up," it said.

Senior officials and those in charge will be on top of the list for internal scrutiny, the statement said, adding they should clean up their social and daily connections.