BEIJING - A total of 28 officials at the provincial or ministerial level and higher were placed under judicial investigation for corruption last year, according to a report of China's top procurator.

The officials included Zhou Yongkang, a former member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Xu Caihou, former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, according to the report distributed Thursday at the annual session of the National People's Congress.

Thursday's figure was compared to eight officials at the provincial or ministerial level who were investigated for suspected embezzlement and bribery in 2013, according to a report delivered last year by Cao Jianming, procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP).

From 2008 to 2012, a total of 30 officials at the provincial or ministerial level and higher faced investigation for corruption or other job-related crimes, according to Cao's report delivered in 2013.

Prosecutors investigated the cases of Bo Xilai, a former member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in 2012.

The SPP had the resolution to fight every corruption and punish every corrupt official, focusing on duty-related crimes committeed by leading officials in key positions, according to Thursday's report.