Missing documents pose legal conundrum

The ruling in a high-profile civil dispute over the ownership of a valuable coal mine has been put into question when it unexpectedly emerged that crucial documents in the case have gone missing from an office in the nation's top court.

Anti-corruption and legal enforcement watchdogs have jointly launched an investigation.

The Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China Central Committee announced on Tuesday night that it would lead the probe and that the facts would be made public. The investigation team's telephone number was published so the public could provide information.