BEIJING, July 30 (Xinhua) -- The top anti-graft body of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said that 36,618 officials, including a ministerial-level official, were punished for violating Party frugality rules in the first half of 2018.

The officials were involved in 25,677 cases, said the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in a statement Monday.

Awarding an unauthorized allowance or bonus was the most common misdemeanor, followed by giving or accepting gifts and misuse of public vehicles.

In June, 9,519 officials involved in 6,692 cases were punished, said the CCDI.

The CPC released its eight-point rules in late 2012 to reduce undesirable work practices and maintain close ties with the masses, which include requirements on frugality.

The CCDI has a monthly reporting system on the implementation of the austerity rules within provincial-level governments, central Party and government agencies, centrally administered state-owned enterprises, and central financial institutions.