The Ministry of Public Security has told police to handle economic crimes "prudently" to avoid harming normal business operations amid the global financial crisis.
"Given the present economic situation, police must take action cautiously. Normal business operations should not be affected because of improper enforcement of law," Zheng Shaodong, assistant minister of public security, told a national teleconference on Tuesday.
The ministry's website quoted Zheng as having said: "Police should not interfere with normal business activities for the interest of a certain region or department, or give rise to mass incidents" because of their actions.
The ministry told police to be prudent while seizing assets or freezing accounts of even enterprises suspected of being involved in crimes.
They should think twice before detaining or arresting senior managers, in charge of firms' operations, Zheng said.
"Harsh measures must be taken properly. The legal and social impact of such actions should be considered before they are taken," he said.
Zheng's remarks followed Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu's call to police late last month to be "fully aware of the challenge posed by the global financial crisis and try their best to maintain social stability".
Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee's Political Bureau and former public security minister, too, has said local governments must exercise restraint while dealing with social issues.
The financial crisis has given rise to some crimes that might not have taken place in other times. For example, Tao Shoulong, head of one of the mainland's largest textile and dyeing companies, was arrested last month for allegedly raising funds illegally and tampering with accounts.
Tao allegedly made his friends and his Zhejiang Jianglong Textile Printing & Dyeing Co employees borrow more than 80 million yuan ($11.7 million) on his behalf. The amount was loaned out by individuals and companies in Shaoxing and Hangzhou at high interest rates. But Tao failed to repay about 70 million yuan because of the financial crisis, Xinhua reported.
Experts said the statements from senior security ministry officials indicate the central government's growing concern that the financial crisis could cause social unrest.
Wang Taiyuan, a professor in Chinese People's Public Security University, said the current economic situation could intensify existing conflicts and create new ones.
"Tight cash flow and mass unemployment caused by the financial crisis could trigger more crimes," he said.
Source: China Daily
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article