New scrutiny aims at organized crime

Aspiring officials at the grassroots level will be more closely scrutinized to prevent gangsters from being elected to public office and to prevent officials from associating with gangs and committing crimes, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Wednesday.

The move is part of the country's latest effort to crack down on gang-related crimes. The ministry will further supervise election processes and strengthen qualification exams for grassroots officials to prevent any gangsters or "gangster representatives" from becoming officials in village committees, the ministry said on its website.

However, local civil affairs authorities should differentiate between gang-related crimes and less serious wrongdoings of grassroots officials, the statement said.