Judicial system must regain people's trust

Clearing up the "bad influence" left by Zhou Yongkang is necessary to restoring the people's trust in the judicial system.

Zhou is only one of the more than 60 high-ranking officials nailed since November 2012. His case is special because he once led the nation's judicial and police authorities. He was a member of the standing committee of the political bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) central committee, in charge of political and legal work.

Zhou failed to abide by precisely those laws that he was sworn to uphold. His conduct damaged the judicial system and shook people's faith in judicial authorities, said Monday's Beijing Youth Daily.

Last week a statement by the commission for political and legal affairs of the CPC central committee said Zhou "severely harmed the Party and the country and led a number of other officials astray". The statement went on to say that the CPC must "wash out the stain" left by a man who blatantly traded power for money and sex.

Zhou was expelled from the CPC in December, an investigation opened and Zhou arrested. Zhou's arrest should be a deterrent to other officials, regardless of their rank, who have abused, or who plan to abuse, their power.

Zhou's case lays bare some of the many flaws that still exist in China's legal system and was one of the reasons behind the October decision by the central committee to overhaul the judicial system. Eliminating Zhou's influence demands a rule of law that prevents law enforcers from breaking the law themselves.

This year, two circuit courts of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) will begin handling cases against the judiciary filed by the public and local communities.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) last month guaranteed lawyers' rights to meet suspects and read case files. The new regulations prevent procurators attending meetings between lawyers and suspects, and forbids them from monitoring the meetings in any way. On Tuesday, the SPP banned prosecutors from a number of practices which left room for corruption.

Only a transparent and clean judicial system can clear up the mess Zhou left behind, and as long as the judiciary themselves obey the law, another Zhou will be prevented.