Corruption in prison becoming a concern as more officials fall
Print Edition
WITH an increasing number of formerly powerful officials finding themselves behind bars, preventing their previously privileged lifestyle from seeping in to their cells has become an issue.
In south China’s Guangdong Province, Yangjiang Prison now holds more than 200 former officials or senior managers of state-owned corporations.
One of them is Luo Yinguo, 60, a former Party secretary in Guangdong’s Maoming City. He was sentenced to death with two years’ reprieve last year for corruption.
He now makes lanterns alongside many of his former colleagues.
“Here, I am an ordinary prisoner just like others. I get nothing special,” he said.
In the past, disgraced officials were scattered among many different prisons, and their privileges hard to eradicate. Those who used to be powerful and had wide social connections found it easy to exert their influence over prison guards and other prisoners, Lin Yingkun, the prison warden said. “Collective management of these prisoners aims at fairness and justice for all. No one enjoys privileges in this prison,” he said.
Prisons in other regions, including Beijing, Chongqing and Hunan, are employing the same collective management of convicted officials.
Anti-corruption has picked up in recent years, especially since 2012, when the current Party leadership took office.
According to the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, 51,306 people were investigated for work-related crimes in 37,551 cases last year involving graft, bribery, and embezzlement of public funds, an annual increase of 8.4 and 9.4 percent respectively. A total of 5,515 people were prosecuted for bribery, up 18.6 percent from the previous year.
With more and more corrupt officials serving prison terms, corruption inside prison has become a source of public anger.
Zhang Hai, former board chairman of beverage giant Jianlibao Group Co Ltd, managed to have his sentence cut by five years on appeal in 2008 and later reduced by another four years through bribery. Zhang was released in 2011 and fled abroad with his girlfriend.
In February, prosecutors investigated the case, in which 24 people were allegedly involved, including judicial staff, prison guards and lawyers.
To prevent similar cases, the Supreme People’s Court in April released a new regulation on commutation of sentences and probation, which took effect on June 1. Hearings are now required on remission for criminals convicted of abuse of power, organizing mafia-style gangs or financial crimes.
Authorities have realized corrupt officials and businessmen could try to bribe their way out of jail, and are exploring ways to prevent the phenomenon.
Zhao Xiaogeng, law professor at Renmin University, said collective management of these prisoners promotes fairness and justice.
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