Four high-profile inmates have had their sentences reduced, according to information disclosed online on Monday.

Judicial experts described the move as part of the government's efforts to increase judicial transparency after authorities tightened up the sentence reduction process.

The Supreme People's Court issued a guideline on commutation and parole in March last year, asking courts to disclose case information within five days of a decision being made, to deal publicly with commutation cases and to announce case results online.

Bogu Kailai, 57, the wife of Bo Xilai, the former Chongqing Party chief, has had her death penalty with a two-year reprieve - which was handed down on Sept 25 last year - reduced to life imprisonment. She had been convicted of murdering a British man on Nov 15, 2011.

The commutation was made last year by Beijing Yancheng Prison, which said Bo had repented, had not committed any new crimes and had been commended three times while serving her sentence.

All these factors enabled her to meet the legal requirements for a commutation according to Chinese laws, the Beijing High People's Court said on its website.

Cheng Lei, an associate professor of law at Renmin University of China, said the commutation process, which has become more transparent, will help to prevent anyone seeking lighter sentences by using power or money. It will also help to build the rule of law.

Information about sentence commutations for three other convicts was also announced online on Monday.

Liu Zhijun, the former railways minister, had his death sentence with a two-year reprieve reduced to life in prison. Liu was convicted of abuse of power and bribery.

Zhang Xiaojun, who was sentenced to nine years in prison for homicide in the case involving Bogu Kailai, had his sentence cut by six months.

Huang Guangyu, the founder of Gome Electrical Appliances, who was sentenced to 14 years for an illegal business operation, was given a one-year reduction.

Cheng said, "The regulated procedure for handling commutation is effective in enforcing the rule of law, and will prevent people from using connections with prison officials to escape punishment or serving sentences outside jail."

He said that an inmate who has a suspended death sentence reduced to life imprisonment will still face an average of 18 years in prison after the commutation.

Yi Shenghua, a Beijing criminal lawyer, said, "Many inmates are given commutations for good behavior in prison, including getting study certificates or for innovative work."

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn