Anhui Deputy Governor He Minxu, who has been
held in custody for several months, has had his Party membership
revoked and been sacked from his post for taking bribes and abusing
his powers.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the
Communist Party of China found He guilty of taking bribes worth
several million yuan, Anhui Daily reported yesterday.
According to the newspaper, He abused his powers by offering
cheap land use, tax cuts and job promotions to people who paid him
bribes.
He was also alleged to live a "villainous life," it said. "He's
suspected crimes will be handled by judicial organizations," it was
reported. He is the latest corrupt high-ranking official to be
exposed during this year's anti-corruption campaign.
In late September, Shanghai Communist Party Secretary Chen
Liangyu was sacked for diverting pension funds into illegal
investments, helping enrich companies and his relatives.
The latest scandal involves the alleged illicit investment of at
least a third of the city's 10-billion-yuan (US$1.2 billion) social
security fund in potentially risky real estate and road projects,
reports said.
In a bid to tighten discipline over officials, particularly
those in senior positions, the central government issued a rule in
August requiring them to report personal business matters including
all property transactions and developments by them or their
immediate family members.
The rule bans officials from holding posts that control or
supervise an industry or enterprise in which their family members
hold shares, reports said.
Earlier this year the State Council and the Party's discipline
body announced that clamping down on commercial bribery would be
the focus of anti-corruption efforts for some time to come.
Gong Weibin, a scholar with the National School of
Administration, said the ongoing anti-graft campaign had revealed
the challenges the Party was facing as it goes through a crucial
period of social development.
"Corruption is not unique to China," said Gong "It also afflicts
developed countries and sometimes leads to the downfall of
governments. It's necessary to take an iron fist and crack
corruption otherwise the Party could lose public support or even
the support of ordinary Party members."
(China Daily November 6, 2006)