The Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on Thursday disqualified Chen Shili.

Chen was involved in an investigation in a criminal case, in which he was suspected of taking bribes.

According to a statement released late on Thursday by the top legislature, the decision was made by a vote within the Standing Committee.

Chen was the former Party chief and mayor of Huainan City in the eastern province of Anhui and was deposed in July last year.

(Xinhua News Agency February 29, 2008)