MOSCOW, November 4 (RIA Novosti) -- A top Chinese judge said the threshold for filing corruption charges should be raised to bring it more in line with current conditions, China Daily reported Wednesday.

"The 5,000 yuan ($730) [threshold] in 1997 and 2009 is so different considering the social and economic changes over the last 12 years, yet the law has not changed at all," said Zhang Jun, vice-president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC).

Fan Chongyi, a law professor from China University of Political Science and Law, said provinces or cities should be allowed to set their own thresholds, as economic standards differ from region to region.

"For example, two officials, one from Shanghai or Beijing and the other from the mountainous area of Yunnan province, both embezzle 1 million yuan. In most cases the one from Yunnan should receive a harsher punishment, as his incentive and the result of his crime are more severe compared to the other," Fan said.