BEIJING - A total of 54,249 people in 40,834 cases were investigated for work-related crimes by Chinese procuratorates in 2015, according to a white paper issued Monday.

Procuratorates investigated and dealt with 4,490 cases of embezzlement, bribery, and defalcation of more than one million yuan each, a year-on-year increase of 22.5 percent, said the white paper titled New Progress in the Judicial Protection of Human Rights in China.

Issued by the State Council Information Office, the white paper said 13,210 people were investigated for taking bribes and 8,217 for offering bribes, and 13,040 civil officials for dereliction and malfeasance.

From 2012 to 2015, courts at all levels concluded 94,900 cases of corruption and bribery and sentenced 100,200 criminals. A total of 10,300 cases of offering bribes were concluded and 9,219 criminals were sentenced, said the white paper, adding that courts at all levels concluded 21,300 cases of dereliction of duty, and sentenced 23,500 criminals.