New office to probe work safety misconduct

Official misconduct behind major work safety accidents will be investigated by a new office of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP).

The move is part of the SPP's efforts to fight dereliction of duty in work safety accidents. Officials whose malpractices lead to accidents or postponement of rescue operations can expect little mercy.

Officials must not conceal, delay or give false information about work safety accidents, or instruct others to do so in sectors related to the transportation of dangerous chemicals, natural gas, and oil, infrastructure construction, environment, and food safety, according to the SPP.

From 2008 to 2013, nearly 5,500 officials were implicated in more than 4,000 cases in which they were investigated or prosecuted for dereliction of duty. In the meantime, Prosecutors have recovered economic losses worth more than 2 billion yuan ($320 million).