THE FORMER DIRECTOR of a sub-district land acquisition and resettlement office in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, has reportedly appealed against his sentence on charges of corruption and bribery. He attributed his crimes to his job and position, as they "demanded" he take bribes to get things done. Comments:

The Nanjing official's audacious excuse for being corrupt should serve as a wake-up call for all, because the country's political ecology is being undermined by corrupt civil servants. Therefore, all departments should put the power in an institutional cage, and eliminate the unspoken rules that prompt officials to turn a blind eye to corruption. Also, boundaries have to be drawn to warn officials at all levels of what they can and cannot do with the powers vested in their hands, and prevent them from abusing them.

rednet.cn, Aug 19