Watchdog reports 41 high officials punished for graft

The ongoing nationwide anti-corruption campaign has resulted in the punishment of 41 high-ranking officials in the first half of this year, the country's top disciplinary watchdog said.

A total of 163,000 officials at various levels were punished during the first six months, including 41 at provincial or ministerial levels, as well as 96,000 others from rural areas and enterprises, the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said on its website on Thursday.

In the first half of the year, 193,000 cases were filed by the CCDI. It said it received 1.2 million tip offs in that period.