BEIJING, March 7 -- A total of 31,555 officials were convicted of work-related crimes in China last year, 23 percent of whom were given prison terms in excess of five years, a court official said Friday.

More than 680 held high positions (above county level) and nearly 70 percent of them were sentenced to at least five years, said Pei Xianding, director of the second criminal court under the Supreme People's Court.

Work-related crimes include embezzlement and bribery; dereliction of duty; infringement of citizens' personal rights and democratic rights.

The number of corrupt officials dropped slightly, perhaps as a result of the anti-corruption campaign which has been running since late 2012. Officials are no longer so free to take advantage of their positions, Pei said during a webcast interview.

More than 90 percent of the senior officials stood trial in places where they had not held positions to avoid interference, he said.

The method is crucial to smooth trials, he added.

Twenty-one officials holding provincial and ministerial positions have fallen since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was held in November, 2012.

Pei reaffirmed the determination to continue the anti-corruption drive which targeted both "tigers and flies" - both high and low officials.

Whoever violates CPC rules and the law must be punished, no matter how high the position they hold, he said.

Talking about transparency of trials, he said the SPC attached "special importance" to publicizing trial procedures, verdicts and the information on the execution of judgements to ensure judicial fairness and justice.