Chinese central authorities have issued a guideline regulating how suspects' property is handled during criminal prosecutions, in a bid to protect their rights while preventing malpractice.

Although China has made judicial interpretation on this matter, there have been arbitrary seizures of property by local authorities and inconsistencies in custody of property, the State Council General Office said on Monday.

According to the guideline, issued by the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council General Office, properties must not be sealed or seized, or assets frozen, before a case is filed.

It ordered authorities to keep shared digital records of assets being sealed, seized or frozen, which should be disposed in a fair, open and timely manner.

The hunting of fugitive officials suspected of corruption and stolen money should also be improved by establishing specialized task forces, it said.

China launched its "Fox Hunt" campaign in 2014 to help repatriate such fugitives who have fled abroad.

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2015)