China's disciplinary watchdog urged officials who have traded power for money to confess their misconduct before the end of June or else face severe punishment when their wrongdoings are discovered.

 

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China issued a new set of regulations targeting official corruption, which took effect on May 30.

 

The government will show leniency to those who confess their wrongdoings by themselves within 30 days, according to a CCDI meeting Friday morning on implementing the regulations.

 

But those who do not correct their mistakes or violate the regulations after they took effect will be severely punished, according to the meeting.

 

The CCDI reiterated that officials are prohibited from taking advantage of their posts to seek unlawful profits. Buying commodities such as houses or automobiles at ridiculously low prices from those who ask them for favors were cited as examples of illicit behavior.

 

Officials must not accept free gifts of stocks and shares or bribes, the regulations read.

 

According to CCDI statistics, 97,260 of the CPC's 70 million members were punished for corruption in 2006.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2007)