China warns court personnel ahead of New Year

BEIJING - The Supreme People's Court (SPC) on Tuesday named and shamed a batch of court officials for violating frugality rules, warning against luxurious gifts and banquets as New Year nears.

Ranging from city court presidents, judges to bailiffs, the wrongdoers were either warned or sacked, the SPC said in a statement.

In one case, Peng Shaoquan, former head of Wuchuan city court in Guangdong, spent more than 90,000 yuan (14,000 US dollars) of court funds in a single month in 2013 on sightseeing trips in the name of official businesses.

Peng was also found to have bought drinks and cigarettes in the name of official business receptions, borrowed a car from a local company for personal use and illegally handed out over 500,000 yuan as bonuses for court staff. Peng was sacked.

Violations in other cases include using office vehicles for private errands and holding luxurious weddings and funerals.

The SPC urged court personnel across the country to take these cases as warnings while calling on disciplinary departments to increase supervision.