Car plates case reveals ladder of corruption

Traffic grinds to a standstill during the peak rush hour near Liujiayao Bridge, Third Ring Road South, Beijing on Sept 22, 2014 . [Photo/Xinhua]

Song Jianguo, the former traffic police chief of Beijing, went on trial on Monday for suspected corruption. Among other charges, he is accused of accepting bribes for providing "Jing A" plates for automobiles, which receive privileges as they are mostly used by government agencies. Comments:

Reports show that Song told subordinates that he and his department must meet the demands of certain higher officials in supplying Jing A car number plates. The prosecutors did not mention who the higher officials were, but definitely they benefited from Song and protected him from anti-graft investigations; it is time to find out who these higher officials are.

China Youth Daily, May 26

Why do the rich desire to put Jing A plates on their cars? Because Jing A plates imply privileges. The case shows that China's traffic is far from being regulated by law and remains a jungle where those with power rule. It is time to enforce the rule of law so that there is no demand for Jing A and other privileged car number plates.

sina.com.cn, May 26

Song will, of course, get his deserved penalty if found guilty by the court. However, what about the car number plates that he illegally sold? Those who purchased them knew the deal was illegal, yet they paid bribes to get them. According to the law, the plates should be confiscated and put into the pool to meet ordinary people's needs.

Prosecutorial Daily, May 26

Song's case shows that even a low-level official can become corrupt if he controls power without supervision. There are many similar departments deciding how to distribute resources and it is time to regulate them with law.

Zhu Lijia, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, May 25

(China Daily 05/27/2015 page8)