Nearly 5,000 officials were punished for extravagance in the first half of this year, according to the Chinese Ministry of Supervision (MOS).

In the first half of 2007, the government had took disciplinary actions against 4,866 officials of the Communist Party of China and government organs at various levels, who violated party or government disciplines for squandering public funds.

The MOS, the Ministry of Finance, National Office of Audit, Government Offices Administration of the State Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a joint investigation on officials who had squandered public funds on banquets, overseas tours, purchase of luxurious cars or entertainment.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) announced in early August a prosecutor Xu Wenai had been removed from his post as vice procurator-general of east China's Anhui Province for wasting public fund on an abortive journey to Finland.

The scandal emerged after the delegation had to return to China on Nov. 21 last year after they were refused entry to Finland for providing a fake invitations from the government of Finland on Nov. 20, according to CCDI.

The CCDI investigation found the delegation also changed the route of business travel and added the number of destination countries.

The central authorities urges government at all levels to implement the country's anti-corruption polices and calls on all Chinese officials to practice a frugal working style instead of wasting public funds.
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(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2007)