Cadre expelled over bribes for promotion

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Cadre expelled over bribes for promotion

Retired Zhejiang senior official Si Xinliang was in role that gave him tremendous power over the selection and appointment of party cadres

PUBLISHED : Saturday, 20 June, 2015, 12:10am
UPDATED : Saturday, 20 June, 2015, 12:10am

Keira Lu Huang [email protected]

Si Xinliang. File Photo

A retired senior official who was for eight years in charge of the Communist Party's personnel issues in Zhejiang province, has been expelled from the party for taking bribes in return for handing out promotions.

Si Xinliang's case had been handed over to prosecutors, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said. The mainland's top graft-busting agency had in February announced Si was under investigation for corruption.

The 65-year-old Zhejiang native's final post before he retired in 2013 was senior political adviser in the province. He had headed Zhejiang's organisation department until 2009 - a role that gave him tremendous power over the selection and appointment of party cadres.

His eight-year tenure overseeing the party's personnel matters saw him serve three former Zhejiang party bosses, including President Xi Jinping, National People's Congress Standing Committee chairman Zhang Dejiang, and CCDI deputy chief Zhao Hongzhu, Thepaper.cn reported.

The graft watchdog said Si took advantage of his post to seek profit by helping to promote officials and business operations, and that he had accepted a huge amount of bribes.

He was also found to have accepted monetary gifts, played golf at others' expense, and committed adultery, the CCDI said, adding that he showed no sign of stopping his wrongdoings.

Si tried to obstruct the investigation into his affairs by colluding with his wife and others. He also tried to hide his illegal funds and property, the CCDI said.

Mainland business news outlet Caixin reported earlier this year that Si was found to have links with businessman Lou Fuzhong, founder of the Shanghai-listed construction company Zhejiang Guangsha.

Lou was taken into custody in Guangzhou when he returned to the mainland from Australia after Christmas last year. It is believed the investigation into Lou stems from his association with former presidential aide Ling Jihua, who is also being probed for graft.

According to Caixin, Lou had in May 2007 bought an internet technology firm owned by Ling's wife, Gu Liping , as well as a Beijing-based company that belonged to Ling's nephew Linghu Jian .

It is unclear, however, if Si has direct ties with the Lings.

In a separate case, Chen Anzhong, former deputy director of the standing committee of neighbouring Jiangxi's provincial legislature, was yesterday sentenced to 12 years' jail for bribery, state-run Xinhua reported.

Chen was convicted of taking 8.1 million yuan (HK$10.2 million) worth of bribes from companies and individuals between 1996 and 2013.