1st LD-Writethru: Former senior provincial legislator expelled from Party, office

Wang Yang, a former senior legislator in northeast China's Liaoning Province, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and removed from public office for multiple offenses including graft and election foul play.

The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) announced the decision in a statement released Thursday.

Wang, who is the former deputy head of the Standing Committee of the Liaoning Provincial People's Congress, was found to have violated discipline regulations and the Party's code of conduct, as well as soliciting votes through bribery, the statement read.

Moreover, Wang resisted the investigation into his misconduct, the statement said.

Investigators also found that Wang had violated the "Eight-point" frugality rules by attending banquets "which might have compromised his impartiality when carrying out his public duties," and that he had failed to declare certain personal matters.

Moreover, Wang took advantage of his post to seek benefits for others and accepted bribes, gifts, and used his influence to seek benefits for his daughter, according to the statement.

Wang was also accused of "interfering with market economy activities", as he took advantage of his post to seek benefits for others in business activities after accepting bribes.

The statement said that Wang was suspected of the crime of taking bribes and the crime of sabotaging an election.

The decision to expel Wang from the CPC and to remove him from public office was approved by the CPC Central Committee, according to the statement.

Wang's case has been transferred to judicial organs, and his ill-gotten gains seized, the statement said. Endi