Arresting bought leniency

The death penalty with two year's reprieve usually represents a guarantee that the convict will never be executed and will probably have a chance of being released on bail for medical treatment or have his or her term of imprisonment reduced.

This supposedly severe legal penalty has provided convicted corrupt officials with a lot of leeway to maneuver for medical treatment on bail or a reduction in their terms of imprisonment.

But if a draft amendment to the Criminal Law is approved by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, life imprisonment without parole could be meted out to those convicted of serious corruption after their death penalty with two years' reprieve is commuted to life imprisonment.