In one case in Sichuan province, prosecutors helped resolve a nine-year pension dispute after reviewing archival records and finding that an elderly claimant had 14 years of continuous service that should have counted toward pension eligibility. They recommended a retrial and worked with the court and human resources authorities to facilitate a settlement, under which the claimant received compensation for pension losses.

　　Public-interest litigation has also targeted problems affecting larger groups of elderly people, including unsafe facilities, inaccessible environments and misleading marketing campaigns, according to the SPP.

　　In Shanghai's Minhang district, prosecutors investigated six businesses that used closed-door livestreams and private social media groups to promote ordinary food products as having medical or health benefits. Elderly volunteers with expertise in communications, food and medicine assisted in collecting evidence.

　　Following procuratorial recommendations, market regulators penalized the six operators, closed three stores and imposed fines totaling 550,000 yuan ($83,565).

　　The SPP said prosecutors will continue to combine criminal punishment, rights protection and source-level governance, strengthen coordination with regulators and expand public legal education to help elderly people identify fraud and protect their rights.

　　yangzekun@chinadaily.com.cn