China Strengthens Anti-Corruption Measures
Current anti-corruption laws have been amended to add increased prison time and harsher punishments. From AP, via MSNBC:
China’s legislature strengthened anti-corruption laws Saturday, banning officials from extending illicit favors to family and friends, and increasing penalties for possessing unaccountable wealth.
The National People’s Congress Standing Committee amended the criminal law to mandate prison terms of up to seven years for taking advantage of official actions, powers or favorable conditions to gain property or other illegal gains. For the first time, all beneficiaries of corrupt actions are now liable for punishment, not just the officials.
[...]The changes double the maximum prison term to 10 years in cases where officials are found to be in possession of large amounts of income or property that they cannot account for.
One of the most recent corruption scandals occurred this month, when Guangdong official Tan Rigui used public funds to go on a 14-day trip to Africa and the Middle East with 13 other colleagues.
