Harbin targets fraud in funeral industry

Authorities in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, initiated a campaign to overhaul the funeral industry and crack down on organized crime in the industry. The campaign began at the end of July and will last to the end of the year.

Purchasing and selling information about the deceased, transporting bodies illegally, building cemeteries without approval and violating price regulations when selling or renting tombs, are major problems they uncovered through tips from the public.

The effort targets offenders who operate funeral-related businesses without approval or exceed the authorized scope of operations.

Those offering funeral services and selling items without a marked price and who mislead buyers or bundle sales to force purchases would also be targeted.

In May, police in Wuchang city, under the administration of Harbin, arrested six people including former and current leaders of a local funeral parlor on charges of monopolizing the market and forcing sales of caskets for urns.

Furthermore, city authorities are going to investigate tips and audit agencies in the industry. The campaign would also expose people who take bribes in cemetery construction and provide shelter to illegal funeral-related services and activities.

The city’s authorities set the prices of four basic services — body storage, transportation, cremation and ash storage. Other optional services are open to the market, but the price must be marked.

Offenders would be punished by laws and regulations, said Chang Liping, director of funeral affairs management of Harbin.

In June 2018, nine departments, including the Ministry of Civil Affairs, National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Public Security, released an action plan for punishing misconduct in funeral services, the sale of funeral items, ash storage facilities and the construction and operation of cemeteries.