I would like to add my support to Chuks Abdi’s criticism of China’s approach to punishing corruption in that it lacks transparency in judicial procedure (‘Transparency is key’, Letters, African Business, May 2010 issue). For as long as this is the case, there will always be a lingering suspicion that Beijing’s tough approach to economic crime is highly selective, directed towards those that the government has fallen out with.

I write this letter having just read reports that Huang Guangyu, once China’s wealthiest businessman, has been jailed for 14 years for insider trading, bribes and illegal dealings. What is noteworthy (other than the fact that he was not given a death sentence) is that none of the evidence against him was revealed to the public and, furthermore, it does not appear that any official that took a corrupt payment from Guangyu has been prosecuted.