Procuratorial departments at all levels have reported handling a total of 14,268 major corruption cases nationwide in the first eight months of this year, up 4.6 percent year-on-year.

The cases involved either abuse of authority involving more than 50,000 yuan (US$6,000) or embezzlement of more than 100,000 yuan (US$12,000), according to information released Tuesday at a national meeting on procuratorial work.

From January to August, Chinese procuratorial departments handled 29,849 cases concerning bribery and abuse of power, involving approximately 7,200 judicial or administrative personnel.

Substantial efforts would be intensified to deal hard blows at functionary crimes involving judicial and administrative personnel, especially their infringement upon the civilian and democratic rights of the ordinary citizens, the meeting heard.

(Xinhua News Agency October 21, 2003)