China Investigates Funeral Service Corruption

ILLUSTRATION OF UNSPLASH/Janne Simoes

JAKARTA - China has uncovered widespread corruption in its funeral services ranging from illegal levies and funeral processions carried out by the old manager and funeral home officials.

As reported by Reuters, last week Chinese companies were involved in an illegal pick-up scandal, theft and re-sales of thousands of bodies, some of which came from funeral homes, after reports from state-backed media, The Paper, went viral on social media.

"After the case, investigations carried out by disciplinary authorities in the provinces of Anhui, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Sichuan and Yunnan showed that many cases of violations committed by funeral home employees and similar institutions," said the state-run China Daily on Wednesday, August 14.

Dozens of cases have emerged since the investigation began earlier this year and many of them are targeted to have extensive industrial experience.

Anti-corruption campaigns in Anhui, Liaoning and Jilin have revealed funeral homes that charge illegal costs, construction and operation of illegal graves, as well as staff corruption, the Global Times said, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party.

In eastern province of Anhui, Communist Party investigators detained Zhang Duo, an employee of the Panji district funeral home in Huainan city, for alleged serious violations of discipline and law.

The term is an euphemism that usually refers to corruption cases.

In the southwestern province of Sichuan, authorities in the city of Dazhou carried out legal proceedings against 89 people, and detained six people, China Daily reported.

Also under investigation is a surnamed manager Yang, who works for two companies in the Quxian region of the province, with more than 30 years of experience in the funeral business.

Authorities in northeastern Jilin have also stepped up efforts to combat abuses and corruption in the industry, in response to complaints from the public.