China punishes 5,023 officials in frugality campaign

The top anti-graft body of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said Tuesday that 5,023 officials had been punished for violating Party austerity rules in April.

The officials were involved in 3,514 cases, according the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) website.

Awarding unauthorized bonuses was the most common misdemeanor, followed by misuse of public vehicles and giving or accepting gifts.

A total of 16,060 officials involved in 11,102 cases were punished in the first four months of 2017, the CCDI said.

The CPC released its eight-point rules on austerity in late 2012 to reduce undesirable work practices.

The CCDI has a monthly reporting system on the implementation of the rules within provincial-level governments, central Party and governmental agencies, centrally-administered state-owned enterprises and central financial institutions.