Society

Shanxi clamps down on leisure activities during work

By Lan Tian (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-21 08:16

Some officials sacked from their positions after latest sweep

TAIYUAN - Another 10 officials in North China's Shanxi province were dismissed after being caught gambling or visiting entertainment venues during work hours in the latest corruption sweep, discipline officials said on Monday.

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Four undercover raids jointly carried out from August to early this month by the provincial disciplinary authority and the police found 296 government officials enjoying a sauna or foot massage at local entertainment venues during work hours, discipline officials said on Sept 12.

The sweep was carried out on almost 1,900 tea houses, saunas, karaoke bars and other entertainment venues across the province.

Before Sept 12, 76 of the 296 officials had received punishment, including the removal of 14 from their posts.

The other 217 officials have also been punished, Li Zhengyin, deputy secretary of the provincial disciplinary inspection committee, said at a news conference on Monday.

Of the punished officials, 14 were sacked, six were removed from their posts, 39 were suspended from duty, 53 were punished according to Party disciplinary policies, 58 received administrative punishments, and 47 were criticized and educated, according to the committee.

"With the provincial Party committee officials paying great attention to the crackdown, we have seriously investigated and punished all these officials who violated disciplines," Li said.

Last week, discipline officers and the police conducted two undercover raids, and 10 officials were dismissed from their posts after they were found at entertainment venues during work hours, Zhang Xiuping, a senior official of the committee, said at the conference.

Four senior officials surnamed Xu, Shi, Du and Jin from a district people's court or police bureau in Changzhi city were found visiting a karaoke bar. In addition to being dismissed, the two policemen surnamed Du and Jin have been put into a seven-day confinement according to the country's Police Law.

Three other officials, including the director of the safety supervision office of Jinzhong Coal Company, surnamed Liang, were found gambling at a hotel. The gambling case has been handed over to the local public security bureau.

Two officials surnamed Gong and Hao from the Datong work safety bureau were found spending work hours at a hot spring resort.

However, authorities did not release the total number of officials who were found violating regulations in the last two raids, or the full names of the 10 who have been punished.

The provincial Party committee recently reiterated that its Party officials are not allowed to play cards, chess or computer games, or go to teahouses, bathhouses, or karaoke bars for leisure activities during work hours, or seek benefits from others by taking advantage of their posts. Those who disobey the order will be sacked.

Also, the leaders of government departments will face punishment if their underlings are found visiting entertainment venues during work hours three times, Li said.

"There will be more raids around the National Day holiday, and the crackdown will continue," he said.