The Supreme People's Procuratorate ("SPP") has recently distributed the Circular on Issuing Typical Cases Concerning Procuratorial Organs' Efforts to Serve and Safeguard the Development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (the "Circular") which is intended for introducing "ten procuratorial initiatives" for serving the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and providing all levels of procuratorates, particularly procuratorial organs in provinces and municipalities along the Yangtze River, a reference for and guidance on their relevant work.
According to the Circular, among the four typical cases are "the public-interest civil litigation collateral to a criminal proceeding where 12 criminals, including one named Wu Xiang, carried out unlawful activities to catch aquatic products", "the case where 16 criminals, including one named Liu Yang, organized, led and joined an underworld organization" and "the case where six criminals, including one called Zhao Chengchun, carried out illegal mining activities". As for the first litigation against Wu Xiang, it is made clear that catching fish with electric devices, if deemed a severe violation, will constitute the crime of illegally catching aquatic products. With regard to the legal action against Zhao Chengchun, clarity is provided on certain difficult issues which include how to determine the value of sand and rock particles obtained through the illegal sand dredging and how to determine the liability of individuals engaged in the illegal sand dredging.