China’s Funeral Industry Corruption Unveiled: A Nationwide Crackdown

BEIJING:
China has unearthed widespread corruption within its funeral services industry, according to state media reports on Wednesday. Instances of illegal fees and cemetery management violations by seasoned officials and managers have come to light.

A report by The Paper went viral, revealing the illegal harvesting, theft, and resale of thousands of corpses by a Chinese company. Subsequent investigations by disciplinary authorities across provinces like Anhui, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Sichuan, and Yunnan have led to numerous accusations against employees of funeral parlours, as noted by China Daily. Dozens of cases have emerged since the beginning of the year.

This crackdown is part of President Xi Jinping ‘s sweeping anti- corruption campaign that began in 2012. Graft cases, illegal constructions, and staff corruption have been exposed. In Anhui, Panji district funeral home employee Zhang Duo was detained for ‘suspected serious violations of discipline and law.’

Meanwhile, in Sichuan, 89 people are under scrutiny, with six detained. A manager with over 30 years in the industry in Quxian county is also being investigated. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection ( CCDI ) has reiterated its commitment to eradicating corruption .