State regulators call for severe punishments for those who accept bribes

The Chinese government cracked down on over 6,000 commercial bribes in 2008, reported official sources.

6, 227 business related bribes involving 1.65bn yuan () were uncovered in 2008, said the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC).

Among them were 726 bribes involving medicine sales. Construction projects accounted for 216 cases.

“Industry and commerce departments across the country will this year focus on briberies emerging in the post-earthquake reconstruction.

Industry and commerce departments across the country will this year focus on briberies emerging in the post-earthquake reconstruction and the government funded projects designed for economic expansion, according to the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

Regulators are also watching for bribes in fields such as land transactions and resources exploitation.

SAIC director Zhou Bohua called for severe punishments for officials of industry and commerce departments who accept bribes.