Crimes to be punished severely

Telecom and online fraudsters will face heavier punishments if their behavior causes death or long-term mental distress, according to a new judicial guideline.

The guideline, released on Tuesday by the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security, stipulates that telecom and online swindlers should be given heavier penalties under 10 circumstances, including causing the death of a victim, cheating the disabled or the elderly, or defrauding by pretending to be legal officials.

"The guideline aims to step up punishments for defrauders or people with such intentions, as the number of cases of telecom and online scams has soared in the past few years," said Li Ruiyi, deputy judge of the top court's No 3 Criminal Tribunal.