Former senior provincial official expelled from CPC, office

BEIJING -- A former senior official in south China's Guangdong Province has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from public office over serious violations of discipline and laws, according to a statement by the top anti-graft body Friday.

The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and the National Supervisory Commission said in the statement that they had conducted an investigation of Zeng Zhiquan, a former member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and former head of the provincial United Front Work Department.

Zeng was found to have violated political discipline and refused to cooperate in the investigation, according to the statement.

"Zeng violated the spirit of the Party's eight-point frugality code, overspending on official receptions and accepting tours that might have resulted in unfairness in the fulfillment of duties," it said.

The probe found that "Zeng violated organizational discipline, refused to tell the truth when responding to the supervisor's inquiry and sought benefits for others and accepted money in official selection and appointment."

Other offenses included seeking benefits for relatives in business operations, engaging in business operations and accepting gifts and money, and making decisions in violation of regulations, the statement said.

Zeng took advantage of his posts to seek benefits for others and accepted huge amount of gifts and money, and he is suspected of the crime of taking bribes, it said.

As a senior official of the Party, Zeng lost his ideals and convictions and deviated the purpose of the Party. He showed no sign of restraint even after the 18th CPC National Congress. "Zeng's case is serious in nature and has a bad influence, and he should be harshly punished," the statement said.

Zeng's qualification for delegate to the 19th CPC National Congress and his qualification for delegate to the 12th CPC Guangdong Provincial Congress had been terminated.

Zeng's illicit gains were confiscated and his case has been transferred to the procuratorate organs.