MORE THAN 1,000 CANCER PATIENTS in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, reportedly invested in a local company promising an annualized return rate of 13 percent and funding for a recovery program. However, those behind the company fled after taking their money. Beijing News comments:

The company is not registered to attract public deposits, and this means it has already broken the law.

Besides, some suggest the company was not a genuine business, but rather a scam.

More detailed reports also show that some patients decided to invest because the program boasted the support of local officials. It is not yet clear whether the local officials intentionally "supported" the company. If yes, they deserve punishment for that.

Therefore, we call for both the local police and the local disciplinary departments to probe the case. And if it was a case of fraud, when the fraudsters are sentenced they need to face severe penalties, because many of the cancer patients invested the money they should have spent on their treatment.

That means those involved may be guilty of causing the deaths of some of the patients. If anyone is found guilty of any wrongdoing, it is to be hoped this fact is taken into consideration, because the value of human life should be highlighted.