Top legislature reviews tougher punishment for those offering bribes

People who give bribes to staff members of supervisory, administrative or judicial departments can expect severe punishment, according to a draft amendment being reviewed by Chinese lawmakers.

If bribes are used for seeking job promotions or adjustments, the briber will also face harsher punishment, according to a draft amendment to the Criminal Law that was submitted to an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress, China's top legislature, on Monday for a second review.

In July, when the draft was read by the NPC Standing Committee for the first time, it clarified several circumstances that merited severe penalties for bribers, such as offering bribes repeatedly, to multiple people, or to parties involved in major national projects.

The NPC's Constitution and Law Committee said on Monday that further specifying the circumstances in the draft amendment aims to fully implement the central leadership's requirements on combating bribers while punishing those who receive bribes.