17 officers face trial in 'Sin City' cleanup

Thirty-six policemen have been disciplined for dereliction of duty following the crackdown last year on prostitution in Dongguan - dubbed "Sin City" - in South China's Guangdong province.

According to the Public Security Ministry, 17 of the policemen now face trial. The ministry pointed out that some Party officials and policemen provided cover for the offenders, as well as hiring prostitutes themselves.

Police in Guangdong launched a months long crackdown on the sex industry across the province last February. More than 3,000 suspects were arrested. Yan Xiaokang, Dongguan's deputy mayor and police chief, was fired and 10 other senior police officers have been given a range of punishments.