China Intensifies Crackdown on Telecom Fraud, Corruption, and Crimes Against Minors
China's efforts to combat telecom fraud, corruption, and crimes against minors intensified in 2024, according to work reports released by the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
The Supreme People's Court handled a significant increase in cases, concluding 32,539 cases in 2024, a 82.2 percent increase from the previous year. Procuratorial authorities nationwide handled approximately 4.1 million cases, approving the arrest of 753,000 criminal suspects and filing public prosecutions against 1.63 million individuals.
A key highlight was the crackdown on telecom fraud, with 78,000 people prosecuted, a 53.9 percent increase from the previous year. Courts nationwide concluded 40,000 telecom fraud cases, up 26.7 percent year on year.
The ongoing anti-corruption campaign remained a major focus of judicial efforts. A total of 30,000 cases of duty-related crimes, such as bribery and embezzlement, were concluded by courts nationwide in 2024, up 22.3 percent from the previous year. Forty-eight senior officials faced legal penalties, including former Guizhou Party Chief Sun Zhigang.
The top court also took resolute actions against severe violent crimes, particularly mentioning two mass murderers who were sentenced to death. As for crimes against minors, China's top court concluded a total of some 40,000 cases. Yu Huaying, convicted of abducting and trafficking 17 children, was sentenced to death.
Efforts to curb juvenile delinquency included sentencing the main perpetrator of a student murder case to life imprisonment. Additionally, China's courts have strengthened oversight of illicit law enforcement practices to better protect businesses and entrepreneurs. China's credit blacklist saw its first decline in a decade, with 2.46 million new defaulters added in 2024, a 23.4 percent drop from the previous year.
NPC deputy Wang Lianzeng expressed his belief that legislative and judicial measures will further improve the business environment and support private sector growth.
8 Comments
Rotfront
This crackdown is a step backwards for China. It's moving further away from democracy and human rights.
Karamba
78,000 people prosecuted for telecom fraud? Sounds like a witch hunt to me. What about addressing the root causes of poverty and desperation that lead people to commit such crimes?
Matzomaster
The government is using the fight against crime as an excuse to crack down on anyone who disagrees with them. This is a dangerous trend.
Karamba
Sentencing someone to death for abducting and trafficking children? That's barbaric. There are more humane ways to punish such criminals.
Matzomaster
The anti-corruption campaign is a sham. It only targets low-level officials, not the powerful elites who are truly corrupt.
Leonardo
The credit blacklist decline is probably due to fear of the government, not actual improvement in economic behavior. People are just too scared to take any risks.
Michelangelo
This is just another example of China's authoritarian regime tightening its grip on its citizens. There's no freedom left in that country.
Donatello
I'm worried about the impact of this crackdown on minorities and other marginalized groups. They are always the ones who suffer the most under such regimes.