People who seek to use the influence of spouses, parents or relatives working for government to illegally benefit their own interests could face prosecution under a draft law discussed by China's lawmakers on Wednesday.

The amendment to the country's Criminal Law could ban relatives of or the people who have close relations with government employees from brokering corrupt deals between the employee and the bribe-givers.

Offenders in "very serious cases" could face a minimum jail term of seven years, or in less serious cases they may be jailed up to three years, according to the draft that was submitted to a four-day session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee for discussion.

Proposed punishments also include fines and confiscation of personal property, but the draft does not define the seriousness of a case or the exact amount of fines.

The Supreme People's Court would make judicial interpretations when dealing with real cases, according to a proposal of the NPC Law Committee, which is responsible for drafting the amendment.

The draft, if adopted on Saturday, could also be applied to government employees who have already left their posts, as well as their family members, if they are involved in power-for-money deals.

"Many lawmakers have appealed to add articles in the Criminal Law in this regard, in order to regulate behavior of not only government officials and employees, but also their family members," Li Shishi, vice chairperson of the NPC Law Committee, told NPC Standing Committee members.

"Graft cases involving such relationships are on the rise. It's really necessary to make the law more specific to fight corruption," said Zhang Wenxian, an NPC deputy.

The draft also proposes raising the minimum jail term for kidnapping to five years from three years at present, in order to curb aductions and ransom demands.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2009)