China has uncovered widespread corruption in its funeral services industry, state media reported Wednesday, with crimes including illegal fee-charging and the seizure of cemeteries by long-time funeral home managers and officials. Last week, a Chinese company was embroiled in a scandal over the illegal collection, theft and resale of thousands of corpses, some of them from funeral homes, after a report by state media The Paper went viral on social media.
Investigations by disciplinary authorities in Anhui, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces have yielded numerous allegations of violations by employees of funeral homes and similar organisations, state-run China Daily reported on Wednesday. Dozens of cases have emerged since investigations began earlier this year, it added, and many of those targeted have extensive experience in the industry.
Xi Jinping’s war on corruption appears to have failed
China has waged an all-out war on corruption across many industries since the start of the year, part of a sweeping and aggressive campaign waged by President Xi Jinping since taking power in 2012.
Corruption campaigns in Anhui, Liaoning and Jilin exposed funeral homes charging illegal fees, illegal construction and operation of cemeteries and staff corruption, the Global Times, a mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, said.
In the eastern province of Anhui, Communist Party investigators detained Zhang Duo, an employee of a funeral home in Panji district in Huainan city, for “suspected serious violations of discipline and law,” the local government said. The term is a euphemism that usually refers to corruption cases. In the southwestern province of Sichuan, disciplinary officials in the city of Dazhou launched proceedings against 89 people and detained six, China Daily reported.
A company with 30 years of experience under the radar
Also under investigation is a manager surnamed Yang, who works at two companies in Quxian county in the province and has more than 30 years of experience in the funeral business, the government said in a statement, but gave no details.
Authorities in northeastern Jilin have also stepped up efforts to crack down on misconduct and corruption in the industry in response to public complaints, state media added.
The anti-graft watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), has reaffirmed its commitment to relentlessly carry out Xi’s orders to catch corrupt and disloyal officials. Its website has repeatedly stressed the importance of taking a firm stance against corruption, bribery and the core issues that cause the problems.
(With contributions from the agency)
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