Former senior provincial legislator expelled from CPC, public office

Li Wenke, a former senior legislator in northeast China's Liaoning Province, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from public office for actions including graft and electoral fraud, it was announced Wednesday.

Li, who was formerly the deputy director of the Standing Committee of Liaoning Provincial People's Congress, was found guilty of vote buying, according to a statement from the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).

Li "had transferred substantial benefits to those in power, wantonly 'sold' official posts, used ranks as a bartering tool, refused to cooperate with the investigation into his misconduct, and failed to declare certain personal matters," the statement said.

Investigators allege that Li had accumulated wealth through funerals, accepted money and gifts, obtained profits by extending loans to private entrepreneurs, took advantage of his post to seek benefits for others and accepted "a huge amount" of bribes.

"Li is accused of the criminal offenses of accepting bribes and sabotaging an election," said the statement.

Li, a senior official, has severely violated the Party's code of conduct and damaged the reputation of the local political body, it said.

The case has been transferred to judicial organs, and his ill-gotten gains seized.

The CCDI announced an investigation into Li for "severe disciplinary violations" in February. Endi