Prosecutors arrest Guizhou’s former vice-governor on graft charges

Prosecutors signed an arrest order for Pu Bo, the former vice-governor of Southwest China’s Guizhou province who has been under investigation for corruption.

Pu, 55, is accused of multiple disciplinary violations including accepting bribes, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the top prosecuting authority, said in a statement Wednesday.

Between 1999 and when he was appointed as Guizhou’s vice-governor in January, Pu served in Sichuan province as vice-mayor of Guang’an, head of publicity for Guang’an, deputy Party secretary and mayor of Bazhong, deputy director of the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Sichuan Committee, and Party secretary of Deyang.

He was placed under investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Party’s anti-corruption watchdog, and the National Supervisory Commission in May.

According to the CCDI, Pu violated Party discipline by taking part in banquets and tourist trips paid for with public funds. He is also accused of breaking the rules on buying stocks and shares, engaging in gambling, and using his position to benefit others in terms of official appointments and promotions in exchange for bribes.

Pu was expelled from the Party and removed from his post in early November.