Corrupt female officials on the rise

Shenzhen prosecutors release data, reasons for graft

The number of job-related crimes among female civil servants in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province has increased remarkably from 2012 to 2014, with 54 officials investigated, according to a report released by prosecutors in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.

Twenty-seven women were investigated for duty-related crimes in 2014, while the numbers in 2012 and 2013 were nine and 18, according to a report sent to the Global Times on Thursday.

"The rising numbers are firstly due to the greater efforts to crack down on corruption in recent years. And secondly, the recent investigations have been focusing more on cases related to the area of people's livelihood, which involves more women," read the release.

Most of the 54 women worked in areas related to public security, taxation, education, and the medical field. Most of them were charged with taking bribes, embezzlement and dereliction of duty.

"This is closely related to the types of jobs that women do. Many accountants or other financial officers are women, and it's easier for them to take advantage of their duty," an official surnamed Wang of the People's Procuratorate of Shenzhen told the Global Times on Thursday.

Compared with male officials, females are more emotional and this is a very important incentive to commit duty-related crimes, Wang said.

It is necessary for the prosecuters to take precautions in the face of rising cases of crime involving female officials, but it is unfair to conclude that a woman's emotional situation has caused this, according to a commentary on news portal southern.com.

It added that a loss of values and morality had led to corruption, no matter whether they are men or women.

Some female officials just take bribes in conformity with their leaders or colleagues, according to the release.

The release added that to pursue a high living standard or to purchase luxuries out of vanity also led these women to commit these crimes.

According to Criminal Science magazine, 3,949 women were charged with taking bribes and 1,167 with dereliction of duty nationwide in 2013. Most of the money was spent on supporting their families, shopping or even in beauty salons.

Cao Shujie, an ex-deputy director of the General Office of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for using public funds in personal expenditure, including shopping, dining out and cosmetic care, totaling 130,000 yuan ($20,759), the Beijing Times reported on April 13, 2014.

The improvement of supervision over power and stricter regulation of officials will also help curb corruption among all civil servants, Wang noted.