Illicit deals taint $35.8b in '05

Chinese auditors have discovered irregularities with US$35.8 billion of government funds in the first 11 months of 2005, state media reported. The National Audit Office (NAO), which monitors the use of government money, said 22,000 officials had been audited with 196 found to have violated regulations. Meanwhile, the China Banking Regulatory Commission said it punished 799 staff members from the Big Four State banks for involvement in US$73 billion of illegal or unauthorized loans.