Beijing has removed the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) top official in Nanjing from his post for violating the law, state media said yesterday, after the party’s corruption watchdog said it was investigating him for corruption.
Xinhua news agency said former Nanjing party secretary Yang Weize (楊衛澤), 52, is suspected of “serious discipline and law violations,” mirroring language the party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection used when it announced on Sunday that he was under investigation.
Xinhua gave no further details of Yang’s alleged misdeeds, but the phrase is usually code for graft, which is endemic in China.
Photo: Reuters
Caixin magazine said the commission received a tip accusing Yang of wrongdoing while in his previous posts in Wuxi and Suzhou, but gave no further details.
Yang had been Nanjing party secretary since early 2011. His previous positions included party secretary of Wuxi and mayor of Suzhou, as well as jobs in Jiangsu Province’s transport department.
Caixin suggested Yang’s case is tied to Zhou Yongkang (周永康), China’s powerful former security chief, who was arrested and expelled from the party last month.
“During his stint in Wuxi, Yang frequently visited the hometown of Zhou Yongkang,” it said. “Many officials used these visits as a pretext for establishing and strengthening connections with Zhou’s family in hopes of advancing their careers.”
Authorities on Wednesday said that Zhou’s case had been sent to prosecutors. Charges against him include taking bribes and leaking state secrets.
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