Chinanews, Beijing, December 18 – Twenty-four out of all the thirty-two provincial procuratorates have upgraded their anti-dereliction and infringement sections to anti-dereliction and infringement bureaus to better tackle dereliction of duty and abuse of power.

 

A regulation on the definition and categorization of dereliction of duties and infringement of rights was issued last July, which reflected China's determination in wiping out these undesirable practices.

 

In the first ten months of 2006, 5,715 dereliction and infringement cases were confirmed (involving 7,082 people), which caused the death of 425 persons and severe injuries to 660 people. They also caused 3.55 billion yuan of direct economic loss, of which procuratorates were only able to recover some 264 million yuan.

 

Unlike taking bribes, derelicts and infringers do not appropriate money to themselves; however, they cause no less harm than bribe-takers at all. “Averagely, economic loss caused by a bribe taker is some 258 thousand yuan, while that caused is about 2.85 million yuan, not to mention the injuries and deaths caused by the latter, ” said Song Hansong, vice director of the Anti-Dereliction and Infringement Section of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.