China will launch a special investigation of public servants involved in energy and environment-related cases, it was announced at a conference held by the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Wednesday.

The 18-month special investigation, starting this month, will target public servants' dereliction of duty involving criminal acts that harmed energy resources and biological environment.

It will also investigate those who helped criminals evade punishment arising from such instances.

Further, it will investigate public servants who illegally approved land acquisitions or use, or who illegally transferred land ownership at below-market prices.

The investigation will probe dereliction of duty involving crimes leading to serious losses of public property including land, coal, forests, water, electricity and roads, according to the conference.

It will also investigate malfeasance involving crimes related to fatal work accidents.

From 2004 to 2007, SPP statistics showed, 3,822 functionaries were punished for dereliction of duty involving crimes that harmed energy resources or the biological environment.

From 2006 to 2007, the figures also showed, 1,193 functionaries were penalized for dereliction of duty involving crimes related to fatal work accidents.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2008)