JINAN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- More than 759,230 suspects were convicted in China in the January-November period last year, while a relatively small number -- 1,464 people -- were found innocent, according to supreme court statistics released on Saturday.
The convicted number rose 4.3 percent from the same period in 2005, and crime cases handled in courts also grew to 593,020, 1.6percent higher than a year before, the official statistics shows.
Among the convicts, 276,479 people committed serious violent crimes, such as murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, or taking parts in gang activities, the figure shows.
"Criminals are becoming more organized, violent, and intelligent. And crimes like murder, kidnapping, and setting up explosives are all on the rise," China's chief judge Xiao Yang told a national judicial meeting here as he released the latest courts statistics.
Xiao said "mass incidents"-- mainly violent protests and riots -- should be given additional attention as it has developed into a prominent problem disturbing social stability.
"Serious crimes deserve serious punishment, no matter when and where," Xiao said. But he also noted that all punishments should be given in accordance with the law. "Heavy penalty for petty crime is equally wrong as petty penalty for heavy crime," he said.
On Jan.1, China enacted a milestone law that required all death penalties pronounced by local courts be reviewed and ratified by the Supreme People's Court.
Each death sentence must be reviewed by three judges, who are required to check facts, laws and criminal procedures and precedent.
Xiao said China will continue to strictly control the use of death penalty, instead of abolishing it.
Being cautious does not mean the Supreme Court will loosen the crackdown on crimes, Xiao said, adding that courts should always play its role in safeguarding state safety and social stability.