The Fujian provincial discipline inspection authorities in East China handed down punishments to three county-level civil servants in late May for having sexual relations with some "teahouse waitresses", who were actually prostitutes working for a suspected criminal who was blackmailing the officials for money. The case is similar to the one in Chongqing in Southwest China in 2012. The Fujian authorities have said they are investigating the case. Comments:

The Fujian provincial authorities should not regard the three officials' case as just a moral or disciplinary issue. The investigation into the case must continue and be submitted to the judiciary, because people suspect corruption is part of the sex and blackmailing rackets, and the officials might have traded public interests for personal gains. The authorities should exercise the utmost transparency in the probe to prevent public speculation.

Scol.com, July 2