CHINA’S first research center for duty-related crimes was inaugurated in Shenzhen on Saturday, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported yesterday.

    The center was launched by the Beijing-based Dacheng Law Firm. A total of 12 senior consultants and 22 researchers have been stationed at the center, most of whom being prominent lawyers and academics in China.

    The center will study duty-related crimes committed by public officials as well as non-governmental employees, such as crimes related to embezzling funds or taking bribes.

    “There are so many high-tech companies in Shenzhen, and a growing number of young people are involved in duty-related crimes,” said Ma Cheng, a senior partner of the Shenzhen office of Dacheng Law Firm.

    He said that many duty-related criminal cases in Shenzhen involve bribery and intelligent methods of committing crimes, which is why the center was launched in Shenzhen instead of other cities.

    The center will focus on researching new patterns and features of duty-related crimes, and exploring standardized, professional and detailed practices of the criminal defense in duty-related criminal cases, according to the report. (Zhang Yang)