(Yicai Global) Jan. 25 -- Tencent Holdings laid off nearly 70 staff members in 2021, 10 of whom were handed over to the police, as the Chinese tech giant cracks down on employee fraud. Thirteen companies were blacklisted.

Crimes included receiving backhanders from suppliers and creating fake intern positions to earn fees from agencies that place interns in much sought-after positions at big tech companies, the Shenzhen-based company said on its WeChat account today.

Other staff kept the props and costumes bought by the firm for shoots, some used companies they owned to embezzle funds and some sold other people’s accounts that they had commandeered, it added.

Tencent has a zero-tolerance policy towards bribery and corruption, an insider told Yicai Global. Anyone found breaking the rules will be dismissed immediately, and any outside firms involved will be boycotted.

Tencent plans to adopt more digital methods to combat fraud, President and Chief Executive Officer Ma Huateng said recently.

Editor: Kim Taylor