If the recent corruption trials are a manifestation of the central authorities' resolve to root out corruption, not following up on the clues revealed in the process does little to the credit of the judiciary and the fight against corruption.

For example, Zhang Shuguang, the former deputy chief engineer of what was then the Ministry of Railways, confessed during his trial that he spent 23 million yuan ($3.7 million) on buying votes to try and gain membership of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Many have wondered where the money went, but not a single word has been heard about any investigation into the whereabouts of the money.

Gong Aiai, who allegedly owns 41 apartments in Beijing, went on trial on Tuesday at the local court in Jingbian county of Northwest China's Shaanxi province accused of making and selling forged official certificates. She had four identity cards and several household registration certificates, and she confessed that she bought two of the household certificates in Beijing.