Chinese prosecutors target "money for commutation"

Chinese prosecutors have launched a campaign targeting convicts with money or power that are seeking commutation, parole or non-prison sentences illegally.

More than 88,800 criminals who were illegally released on probation, served their sentence outside of prison or have had jail terms commuted improperly between 2010 and August this year, according to a report submitted by the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) to the top legislature.

Those involved often use connections and personal influence to bribe prison and justice officials in order to claim commutations and evade imprisonment, it said.

"Commutation, parole or non-prison sentences are areas susceptible to corruption or miscarriage of justice," SPP President Cao Jianming told lawmakers during the bimonthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

The SPP has attached great importance to supervising adjustments to criminal sentences, Cao said while delivering the report.

Prosecutors are focusing on prisoners involved in corruption, financial and gang-related crimes and those released on medical parole, said the report.

An amendment to the Criminal Law which took effect on Sunday ruled out commutation for most corrupt figures, saying criminals convicted on serious corruption charges who have received a two-year suspended death sentence will face life imprisonment after the two years.

The amendment aims to prevent the most corrupt criminals from serving shorter prison terms through commutation, and targets officials who illegally seek commutation, parole or non-prison sentences, which experts said shows China's determination to fight graft. Endit