Legal protections, services upheld during pandemic

Chinese people and enterprises have been given strong legal protection and efficient legal services during the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak thanks to intensified efforts of the country's procuratorates and courts at all levels, according to work reports of the country's top court and top procuratorate.

On Monday, the two judicial authorities showed their determination to fight crime and illegal activities related to the COVID-19 pandemic through work reports delivered at the second plenary meeting of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress, China's national legislature.

While pledging to continue safeguarding people's legitimate rights, both authorities said they would also continue to promote easier access to litigation and better services for enterprises.

From February to April, procuratorates at all levels approved the arrest of 3,751 people and took 2,521 of them to court for criminal charges related to the outbreak, Zhang Jun, procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, said while delivering the SPP work report.

"We quickly issued guidelines on cracking down on pandemic-related crimes, calling for harsher punishment for people disturbing prevention measures, harming medical workers and obstructing control work in border areas," Zhang said.

"The outbreak came unexpectedly, but the importance of fighting offenses by rule of law should always be highlighted," he said.