Criminal case guidelines for FTZ

The first judicial guidelines for criminal cases involving Shanghai's pilot free trade zone were issued yesterday by local procuratorate authorities.

Its 32 clauses are aimed at detailing principles, policies, standards and methods used in criminal cases involving the FTZ, said officials.

The prosecutors' office in the FTZ has handled 55 criminal cases with 68 suspects involved. Cases include evading foreign exchange controls, embezzlement, contract fraud, note fraud, credit card fraud and trademark infringement.

A total of 35 people have been charged.

The Shanghai People's Procuratorate also announced yesterday that it will crack down heavily on financial and intellectual property cases such as smuggling and money laundering in the zone.

In one case, a suspect surnamed Wang is said to have applied for US$300 million foreign exchange loans with forged documents.

According to prosecutors, Wang lent the money at higher interest rates, obtaining more than 10 million yuan.

Wang has been charged.

The zone opened in September 2013, and by September this year 12,260 enterprises were located there.