China investigated and punished 829 judges and other court staff for corruption in 2013, up 42.3 percent year on year, the Supreme People's Court (SPC), the country's highest judicial organ, announced on March 2.

Of the 829 court officials, 157 were transferred to judicial organs for prosecution, the SPC said in a statement.

The SPC revealed that 683 judges and court staff turned over illegal gains including cash, securities and payment documents, with a value of 3.32 million yuan ($543,000), in 2013.

The authority will continue to maintain their "high-handed posture" in the fight against judicial corruption, according to the statement.