Procuratorates urged to respond to online appeals

BEIJING - Official WeChat accounts of procuratorates should properly respond to users' tip-offs and appeals, said a guideline issued by the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Friday.

According to figures provided by the SPP, procuratorates at all levels have registered more than 3,800 official accounts on WeChat, China's leading instant messaging service, attracting 5.2 million followers.

The guideline said that, via WeChat, people should be able to access information about cases, bribery crime files, legal interpretations and consulting services as well as make reservations to file charges and report tips.

All procuratorates should innovate to provide convenient service through their WeChat accounts, it said.

Official accounts should not carry out commercial activities nor should they publicize speeches that are not relevant to prosecution. Those who violate the norms and bring about negative consequences will be punished, it added.