Zhong Guo Jing Ying Bao·2025-07-18 20:14Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the increasing involvement of third-party entities in financial fraud within the A-share market, with regulatory bodies intensifying efforts to combat this issue and hold all parties accountable [3][4][6]. Group 1: Financial Fraud Cases - Approximately 30 companies in the A-share market have been penalized or are under investigation for financial fraud this year, with at least 7 of these cases involving third-party collaboration, accounting for 23% of the total [4][5]. - Notable companies involved in financial fraud with third-party assistance include *ST Suwu, *ST Hengjiu, *ST Guangdao, *ST Jingang, ST Langyuan, ST Zhiyun, and ST Zhongqingbao [4]. - The *ST Suwu case involved its subsidiaries engaging in non-substantive trade activities with multiple related companies, resulting in inflated revenue of 1.771 billion yuan and inflated profits of 76 million yuan from 2020 to 2023 [4]. Group 2: Characteristics of Third-Party Involvement - The trend of third-party collaboration in financial fraud has emerged as a new characteristic of capital market misconduct, driven by factors such as the need to evade regulatory scrutiny and the rise of professional "fraud accomplices" [6][13]. - The complexity of these fraud schemes often involves multiple independent parties, making it difficult for regulators to identify and address the underlying issues [13][14]. - The involvement of third parties creates a network of deceit that can lead to systemic risks and undermine market trust [8][9]. Group 3: Challenges for Auditors - Third-party collaboration in fraud poses significant challenges for external auditors, as these accomplices may manipulate various stages of the auditing process to conceal the true nature of transactions [9][10]. - The effectiveness of traditional audit procedures is compromised when companies and their accomplices coordinate their efforts to mislead auditors [10]. - The prevalence of third-party involvement in fraud is a key reason for the frequent failures of auditing standards and practices [10]. Group 4: Regulatory Response - The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) is actively exploring comprehensive measures to hold third-party accomplices accountable, including administrative, civil, and criminal penalties [11][12]. - The CSRC has begun to impose penalties on third-party entities involved in fraud, as seen in the case of Yuebo Power, where accomplices faced fines for their roles in the fraudulent activities [12]. - Future regulatory efforts will focus on dismantling the "ecosystem" of fraud by targeting both the primary perpetrators and their accomplices [12][15].