Top courts demand severe penalties in grassroots corruption cases

China's top judicial authorities have spotlighted five notable grassroots-level corruption cases on Tuesday that have struck the public's immediate interests, reaffirming their firm commitment to combating graft and issuing a stark warning against similar malpractices.

The Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate noted that the five cases span critical areas directly impacting people's livelihoods — from housing and nursing services to medical insurance funds, school meal programs and disability rights.

In one disclosed case, a man surnamed Zhou, who worked for a housing service center in a county in Hunan province, was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison for embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds, along with a fine of 1 million yuan ($141,426), in December 2023.

"Housing is a major issue affecting people's livelihoods, and the special property maintenance fund serves as a crucial safeguard for homeowners' housing safety," the authorities said, adding that illegally withholding such funds severely infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of homeowners.

They highlighted the ruling, calling for harsh penalties against those directly harming people's immediate interests. Additionally, they urged prosecutors and judges nationwide to deploy judicial recommendations as a strategic tool for identifying regulatory blind spots and supervision gaps in government agencies and social organizations, while demanding targeted remedial measures to address such issues.