BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) -- A total of 42 officials in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region have been held accountable for statistical fraud, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
At least 25 businesses and some government agencies in Lingwu city, Ningxia, were found in March last year to have reported fake data and even used them for illegal material gains.
Those held accountable include the city's Party chief and the mayor, who received disciplinary punishment. Heads of the city's economic planning and statistics departments have been demoted, the NBS said in a statement.
Supervision will be enhanced over data fraud to pressure against irregular practices, the statement said.
China's central authorities have introduced a new regulation to prevent statistical fraud, with the NBS responsible for conducting inspections and pushing for rectification.
