New Criminal Law to Punish Officials For Accepting Gifts Proposed in China

Hehehe.... China is about to make history as sources have confirmed that a proposed law preventing and punishing Government officials for receiving gifts would be heard on Thursday.
According to Epoch Times, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress will discuss new legislation at meetings from Oct. 27 to Nov. 1, according to the English-language China Daily on Tuesday.
The report says many corrupt officials defend themselves in bribery cases by saying that they simply accepted gifts, which is not considered a crime under current law. The draft proposal is to punish government officials who accept gifts or money reaching a considerable amount.
Giving gifts or red envelopes containing cash to friends and family is a custom in China during holidays and important events such as birthdays and weddings. However, it’s also been taken advantages of by people as a means for bribery. Luxury watches, handbags, belts, and so on have all been used as gifts to officials, the report says.
Compared to the punishment for accepting bribes, the sentence for accepting gifts would be lighter. Analysts suspect that by creating the new law it may offer a chance for corrupt officials to seek the lighter charge to avoid heavy punishment of accepting bribes.
Senior Chinese political commentator Shu Shengxiang published an opinion article on the website of the state-run Xi’an Evening News, urging the line between gifts and bribes be clarified if the new law is to be created.
“If [the officials] simply take gifts, then they shouldn’t be punished. If a law is established to punish the action, it means the gifts accepted are actually disguised bribery. If it’s bribery, why not punish [the officials] with the sentence for accepting bribery. Isn’t that contradictory?” Shu wrote.
Culled from Epoch Times.
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