1st LD-Writethru: Former senior official in central China province expelled from CPC

A former senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official in central China's Henan Province has been expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office following a corruption investigation.

Chen Xuefeng, a former member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee, was found to have illegally profited from business activities and traded his power for sex and money, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) announced Thursday.

Chen has seriously violated the Party's political rules and code of conduct, forming cliques and nurturing private forces, according to the CCDI.

He was also found to have offended frugality rules by visiting private clubs, in addition to falsifying data and canvassing votes while seeking promotions.

According to the CCDI, Chen "helped his relatives settle private affairs improperly."

Chen also took advantage of his authority to seek benefits for others in business operations and accepted bribes, the CCDI said, adding he was suspected of dereliction of duty during the reform of state-owned enterprises, which caused serious damage to state assets.

Chen's case has been transferred to the judiciary and his illegal gains seized.

Chen, who is also former secretary of the CPC Luoyang City Committee, has been under investigation since January this year for allegedly violating the Party code of conduct. Endi