FAMILIES falsifying documents when applying for government-subsidized housing could face fines of up to 200,000 yuan (US$30,760) if lawmakers pass a draft revision of existing rules.
The revision will criminalize fraud in an attempt to curb rampant cheating. Under the revised rules, offenders would be deprived of the right to apply for any kind of government-subsidized housing for life, the city s legislation office said Monday.
Existing rules impose a 5,000 yuan fine and ban violators from reapplying for three years. Many say these penalties are too light to be a deterrent. Offenders assume no criminal liability under the existing rules, which took effect July 1 last year.
Those who help applicants in falsifying documents to conceal assets would also be punished according to the draft. The person who issues forged documents for an applicant would face prosecution and a fine of 30,000 yuan.
Owners or tenants of subsidized housing who rent out homes against the regulation would be fined 50,000 yuan, compared with a 20,000 yuan fine under existing rules.
The offenses would be added to personal credit records.
The fraudsters should pay the price for cheating, said Yang Jianchang, deputy to the Shenzhen Municipal People s Congress. He suggested name-and-shame tactics to curb cheating.
The draft revision has already been approved by an executive meeting of the city government and will be submitted to city s legislature tomorrow.
Many applicants for low-cost government housing were suspected of falsifying their applications last year, claiming they had no family assets.
Earlier media reports said some applicants were found to be living in upmarket housing estates after a list of eligible applicants was published for public scrutiny. Some were found to have personal assets worth millions of yuan.
(Tina Chen)
