CPC top discipline agency exposes officials for corruption in poverty relief

BEIJING -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) top disciplinary watchdog on Thursday named and shamed officials in eight cases for corruption in poverty-relief work.

The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) released the names of 27 former and incumbent officials who were involved in cases including embezzlement of subsistence allowance funds, fraudulently obtaining subsistence allowances or funds for renovating dilapidated houses, and blocking villagers' access to social assistance.

Most of the officials received a warning from the Party.

One case involved the bureaus of civil affairs and social assistance management in Suining county, Hunan province. The two bureaus appropriated more than 1.4 million yuan ($212,000) of subsistence allowance funds for purchasing electronic appliances for 21 nursing homes with higher than market prices from November 2014 to July 2016.

Two officials from the bureaus were found to have received bribes of 40,900 yuan and 2,000 yuan in cash respectively from suppliers. They were deposed from office and one was expelled from the CPC. Three other former and incumbent officials related to the case also received punishment.

The CCDI urged inspectors to intensify efforts in supervising the use of funds for subsistence allowances, infrastructure construction and other poverty-relief projects, and punish officials who embezzle the funds, receive bribes, and mistakenly obtain funds.