Corruption | Commission removes official over ‘superstitious’ activities

A former vice governor of a province has been dismissed from public office for superstitious activities and trading power for sex and money, China’s anti-corruption watchdog announced yesterday.

Chen Shulong had long abused his power to seek “huge profits,” the ruling Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in a statement. It didn’t give a sum or explain what “superstitious activities” he had allegedly been involved in. It said his illegal gains will be confiscated and his case transferred to the judiciary.

Chen was also expelled from the Communist Party, which nominally espouses atheism. He had been the vice governor of eastern China’s Anhui province and had been under investigation since November, the statement said.

“As a high-level official, Chen was politically clinging to power, economically insatiable and morally bankrupt. Even after the 18th CPC National Congress, he still showed no sign of restraint and [his wrongdoings] were of a grave nature,” said the statement quoted by the official Xinhua news agency.

Chen will not serve as a delegate to the Party’s 18th National Congress. Sanctions against Chen have been approved by the CPC Central Committee.

Chen’s illegal gains will be confiscated and his case transferred to the judiciary, according to the note. He was put under investigation for “serious discipline breaches” by the CCDI on April 7

Chinese President Xi Jinping has made fighting corruption a hallmark of his administration since being appointed head of the party in late 2012. More than 1 million party members have been punished in the campaign, which has brought down two former top generals and a past member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the apex of political power. MDT/Agencies