Retirement of 'naked official' reflects tightened corruption control(2)

HIGH-RISK

However, some have questioned whether Fang's early retirement was actual punishment. The public's impression is that such officials must be corrupt.

Xiao Bin, professor with the School of Government, Sun yat-sen University, said "naked officials" are considered high-risk when it comes to corruption. Some have transferred large amounts of assets overseas and sent relatives abroad to escape punishment.

"These officials who can easily escape to foreign countries are more inclined to act in a corrupt manner, which damages the credibility of the government and the Party," Xiao added.

China has grappled with the "naked official" problem for a long time.

Statistics from the Supreme People's Procuratorate in 2011 showed that 1,631 corrupted fugitives were arrested, a 27 percent year on year increase. Proceeds from their crimes worth 7.7 billion yuan (1.25 billion U.S. dollars) have been recovered.

In 2011 Luo Yinguo, deputy party secretary of Guangdong's Maoming City, was detained for accepting bribes and power abuse. Luo had fake identity cards so he could easily cross the border. Luo's children had acquired foreign nationality.

Another corrupt cadre from Dongguan City in Guangdong was arrested in 2012. His wife and children had moved to Hong Kong and bought properties there.

Xin Ming said the problem has been because of a shortage of sufficient and effective measures to control this group of people.

The anti-graft body issued regulations as early as 1997 ordering officials and cadres to disclose details of their spouses and children who had emigrated.

A reporting system was implemented in 2010 but has had little impact.

ROOT OUT CORRUPTION

"More clearer rules and specific regulations targeting this group should be in place to prevent such situations," said Xin.

Xiao agrees. "What is more important is not to allow the chance of becoming a 'naked official'." He said this would help curb corruption.

Fighting corruption has made the front pages of Chinese newspapers since President Xi Jinping became CPC leader in November 2012.

Xi has warned that graft is such a serious problem that it threatens the Party's very survival. He has vowed to go after powerful "tigers" as well as lowly "flies".

"As the ruling party, we should not allow the existence of 'naked officials', and Guangzhou is doing what we should have done before. It should be modeled nationwide," Xin Ming said.