Tainted official booted from Party

The central discipline watchdog yesterday kicked besmirched Tianjin official Pi Qiansheng out of the Communist Party of China, the latest development after two years of rumors about alleged corruption.

The 58-year-old former boss of the Tianjin's Binhai New Area - a development zone regarded as an economic powerhouse in northern China - faces a criminal probe, the Central Commission of Discipline and Inspection of the Communist Party of China said in a statement.

The commission said Pi is being investigated for "serious discipline violations" - including the taking of bribes and abuse of power to facilitate illegal gains for others.