China's auditors said Saturday that they have found that 22.3 billion yuan was used in violation of financial regulations and 9.9 billion yuan was wasted in 184 units audited in the first half of the year.

According to the National Audit Office (NAO), 252 people were involved in the inappropriate use of the money, such as embezzlement. Ninety-eight law case clues have been sent to judicial, discipline inspection and supervision departments.

The NAO will strengthen its audit work in agriculture-related use of money in the second half of the year to improve the efficacy of funds used for agriculture and rural construction, according to the NAO.

About one week ago, the NAO said that 19.2 billion yuan of government funds for supporting agriculture was embezzled and 890 million yuan wasted in 2004 and 2005.