Shanghai communist party boss sacked for corruption
Chen Liangyu was involved in misusing social security funds in China’s financial hub and helped enrich crony companies and relatives, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a Communist party politburo decision on Sunday.
His fall was viewed as a sign of Mr Hu’s tightening grip on power, as he uses graft investigations and personnel changes to discipline wayward officials ahead of a crucial party congress next year.
Mr Chen had “created malign political effects,” the agency said, citing the central leadership’s decision and sending a warning to other potential targets.
“Whoever it is, no matter how high their position, anyone who violates party rules or national law will be severely investigated and punished.”
Mr Chen was also removed from the politburo, the party’s powerful 24-member leadership council, the announcement said. It did not say whether Mr Chen also faces criminal charges, as well as dismissal.
Mr Chen was the first Politburo member to be sacked since 1995, when Beijing party chief Chen Xitong was purged and jailed.
His picture and details were promptly erased from the city government website, www.shanghai.gov.cn.
More than 100 central government investigators have descended on Shanghai in recent months to investigate money reportedly drained from the city’s 10 billion yuan (€989m) social security fund for illicit loans and investments.
A Beijing political source told Reuters that investigators, two weeks ago, notified Mr Chen, his driver and a domestic helper that they were to be questioned.
The official announcement said Mr Chen had protected staff involved in “grave law-breaking”.
One of the Shanghai officials already dismissed for corruption had served as an aide to Mr Chen.
In June, Liu Zhihua, a Beijing vice-mayor who oversaw construction for the 2008 Olympics, was dismissed after being accused of corruption and dissolute behaviour.
