China beefs up judicial protection of people

BEIJING - China has strengthened its judicial protection over people's interests, especially for disadvantaged groups, procurator-general Cao Jianming said Sunday.

A total of 3,492 suspects involved in the trafficking of women and children were prosecuted in 2011, and 5,368 victims or victims' relatives who had difficulties in their livelihood were given assistance, said Cao in a report delivered at the annual session of the National People's Congress, the top legislature.

Cao added that through coordinated efforts with other departments, procuratorates strengthened the investigation into, and prosecution of, cases concerning the unpaid wages of migrant workers last year.

Procuratorates also paid more attention to cases involving people from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and returned overseas Chinese, Cao said.

Meanwhile, by coordinating with police departments and administrative law enforcement organs, procuratorates conducted special campaigns to crack down on "gutter oil," or discarded cooking oil, and other crimes related to food and medicinal safety issues.

Procuratorates approved the arrests of 2,012 suspects and prosecuted 1,562, and over 200 government organ employees involved in dereliction of duty were investigated last year, Cao said in the report.

Procuratorates also dealt with a total of 4,779 cases involving housing demolitions, land seizures, social security, low-income housing projects and the funds that serve agricultural industry, rural areas and farmers.

Procuratorates filed for the investigations of 770 employees of government organs due to dereliction of duty in mining accidents, fire or bombing, according to Cao.

Mechanism for serving and communicating with the people have been improved by procuratorates, with the improved informant hotline and inspection tours, among others, Cao added.