China punishes 26,900 officials for violating austerity rules

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Awarding unauthorised bonuses was the most common misdemeanour (4,793), while misuse of public vehicles (3,449) and sending or accepting gifts (3,370) were the second- and third- most common, the CCDI figures show.

Violations also included the use of public funds to finance travel and meals, and extravagant weddings and funerals, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The CPC released its eight-point rules on austerity in late 2012 to reduce pomp, ceremony, bureaucracy and other undesirable work practices.

In the first half of the year, four ministerial-level officials broke the rules, CCDI said.