The Communist Party of China (CPC)'s top anti-graft body on Tuesday said 9,361 officials were reprimanded for violating austerity rules in the first three months this year.

Those punished, including four ministerial-level officials, were involved in 8,788 cases, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in a report posted on its website.

In March alone, 2,701 officials were reprimanded in 2,672 cases, the report said.

It said about one fourth of the cases involved illicit allowances and benefits. Other prominent problems include unwarranted use of public vehicles as well as offering and accepting gifts and cash in violation of regulations.