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Some 15.4 percent of a sample of China's recent online whistle-blowers were mistresses who used the Internet to expose corrupt officials after their relationships ended, a new report on the country's online anti-corruption efforts found. Other informants included businessmen, journalists, fellow officials and Internet users, with merchants accounting for the largest share at 26.9 percent, said the report by the Center for Public Opinion Monitoring under the Legal Daily. The report, published on Legal Daily's website in September, is based on analysis of 26 typical cases of online real-name reporting that occurred in China from the start of 2013 until September. They were mostly cases brought to light through popular Chinese social media platforms Sina Weibo and Tianya. Government officials were the principal target of the accusations in 76.9 percent of the cases, the report said, adding that the ranks of those concerned extended from county up to ministerial level. It noted the recent cases of Li Chuncheng, former deputy Party chief in Sichuan province, and Liu Tienan, former deputy chief of China's top economic planning body, both of whom were sacked for serious disciplinary violations after high-profile online whistle-blowing. The report shows that 76.9 percent of the subjects are accused of embezzlement, taking bribes, or other financial problems. It adds that whistle-blowers have increasingly resorted to erotic photos or tapes featuring corrupt officials, as they believe sex scandals will probably have a sensational effect on the public. | 
