China to strengthen fight against railway crimes

BEIJING - China's procuratorial organs will launch a year-long campaign to ensure safety on railways by stepping up investigations into criminal cases concerning the means of transport.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said Thursday in a statement that the move, to be joined by railway transport procuratorial organs nationwide, will last until May 2014.

Theft and damaging of goods and equipments, transport and trade of drugs, as well as abduction and trafficking of women and children through railways, will be targeted, according to the statement.

It said China will further fight severe crimes involving collusion between personnel within and out of railway systems.

Procuratorial organs will exert more strength in investigations into criminal cases regarding dereliction of duty in shipping arrangements, rail construction and materials purchase, the SPP said.

Those criminal cases concerning graft and power abuse of government employees which result in major safety accidents will also be targeted, it added.