1st LD-Writethru: Former Guangdong anti-graft official expelled from CPC, office

A former deputy secretary of the Guangdong provincial discipline inspection commission has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and removed from public office after a graft investigation, the CPC's anti-graft watchdog said Tuesday.

Zhong Shijian "seriously violated political rules and discipline, and interfered with case investigations," according to a statement from the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Zhong, who is also former head of the Guangdong supervision department, was put under investigation in April.

Zhong was found to have disclosed information about cases to those under investigation and to have taken money and gifts.

Zhong took advantage of his posts to seek benefits for businesses and officials in addition to accepting large bribes, the statement said.

He bribed others for his own promotion and was involved in disrupting and sabotaging investigations.

Zhong was also found to have transferred and hidden a huge amount of money and items, the statement said.

As a senior official of the discipline inspection organ, Zhong showed no intention of correcting his misdeeds and knowingly broke the law, the statement said.

According to the statement, his gains have been confiscated and his case has been transferred to the judiciary. Endite