Shanghai communist party boss sacked for corruption

THE Communist party boss of Shanghai has been sacked for corruption, state media said yesterday, toppling the highest leader so far in national party chief Hu Jintao’s drive to root out abuse and enforce loyalty.

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.