A total of 52 judges in China were investigated for criminal liability last year, a top official said Thursday.

They were charged with abuse of adjudicative power and executive power, said Cao Jianming, vice president of the Supreme People's Court, at a national conference on the enhancement of disciplinary inspection and supervision in courts.

Citing the fact that violation of law and discipline appeared occasionally in some local courts last year, Cao urged all court leaders to earnestly and strictly carry out related regulations on disciplinary supervision and plug the loopholes in the work of courts.

Efforts will be intensified to fight against corruption in the judicial department, and strengthen education and improve related mechanisms on building a clean government, Cao said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2004)