Declarations of innocence come amid efforts by authorities to prevent miscarriage of justice

Zhou Qiang (left), president of the Supreme People's Court, and Cao Jianming, prosecutor-general at the Supreme People's Procuratorate

Chinese courts last year declared 1,039 defendants innocent, a year-on-year increase of 34 percent, the country's top judge said on Sunday.

The defendants were cleared as judicial authorities attempted to prevent miscarriages of justice and protect human rights.

A total of 240 million yuan ($36.4 million) in compensation was paid to those whose legitimate rights were violated by State power last year, a year-on-year rise of 50 percent, Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People's Court, said.

He made the remarks while delivering an annual work report to the ongoing annual session of the top legislature.

"We're doing our utmost to let the public feel equality and justice in every court verdict," Zhou said, adding that the principle of "innocent until proved guilty" had been implemented strictly to prevent wrongful verdicts.

Courts nationwide corrected 1,357 wrongful criminal convictions last year, including a number of high-profile ones. The latest case to attract national attention involved Chen Man, a man who was acquitted on Feb 1 after being jailed for 23 years in a homicide and arson case in Hainan province.

Prosecutors nationwide have also tightened supervision of the police and judges.

A work report by the Supreme People's Procuratorate released on Sunday shows that prosecutors last year rejected police arrest applications for 131,675 suspects due to insufficient evidence, a year-on-year increase of 13 percent.

Under Chinese law, all formal arrests must be approved by prosecuting authorities.

Cao Jianming, prosecutor-general at the Supreme People's Procuratorate, said while delivering the annual report to the top legislature, "We've attached great importance to the factual and procedural justice and intensified supervision of litigation activities to ensure justice."

According to Chinese laws, prosecuting authorities have the right and obligation to supervise judges and the police.