The arrest of Hebei Province's top tax collector on bribery charges should serve as a warning to other officials, the Central Discipline Inspection Commission and the Ministry of Supervision said on Monday.
Li Zhen, 39, is accused of taking bribes and embezzling public and private properties worth 10.5 million yuan (US$1.3 million) in his position as director of the Hebei Provincial State Bureau of Taxation. He held that post since April 1998.
During that time, it is alleged, Li accepted 8.7 million yuan (US$1.1 million) in bribes. He accepted 3.1 million yuan (US$367,400) from the manager of a Beijing-based company who wanted to land construction projects in the late 1990s, the allegations said.
Another man now in custody, Wu Qingwu, borrowed 20 million yuan (US$2.4 million) from the Hebei branch of a loan company with Li's help. Wu is alleged to have given Li US$162,050.
The list of Li's alleged crimes indicate he may be guilty of misconduct dating to April 1994, when he served in lower posts in the government. He is accused of accepting 500,000 yuan (US$60,000) and an apartment worth 1 million yuan (US$120,000) from a man who received both loans and contracts for construction projects with Li's help.
Li is alleged to have taken 455 gifts, including golden and jade handicrafts, watches, cameras, antiques and clothes, with a total value of 1.2 million yuan (US$138,500).
Li has been expelled from the Communist Party of China and sacked.
A circular issued this week said young leaders must maintain high work quality and be honest.
The circular also demanded that a stricter system of selecting young cadres be implemented based on morality and talent.
(China Daily December 18, 2001)
