More details released on former Fujian official's duty-related crimes

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) released more details on the convicted bureau-level official who offered a so-called protective umbrella for criminals on Sunday.

Zhang Zhilong, the former deputy director of Ninghua Public Security Bureau in East China's Fujian province, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for duty-related crimes in November 2018.

According to the court's verdict, Zhang committed three crimes: bribe-taking, bending the law for selfish ends, and illegally relending a loan.

Zhang was the first 'umbrella' case prosecuted by the local Commission for Discipline Inspection, and it is a vivid illustration of the legalization and standardization of investigation work, the CCDI said.

In recent years, a growing number of cases involving a protective umbrella for organized crime have emerged nationwide, and according to a circular issued by the State Council, the person protecting or hiding  the crime will be severely punished.

In August 2009, Zhang received a 500,000 yuan ($73,530) bribe from a man who stole rare earths, and Zhang demanded more than 1.5 million yuan ($220,000) in bribes from him. In 2016, Zhang helped the main suspect in a drug manufacturing case evade detection, and he is suspected of bending the law for personal gain.

Unlike the previous investigation of the bribery cases, in Zhang's case, to gain cooperation with the investigation, the briber was detained by the local authority in accordance with the law.

"It gives a breakthrough to the case by investigating the bribe-taking and giving at the same time," Jiang Xiangrong, the director of the Ninghua county's Commission for Discipline Inspection said.

After several rounds of questioning, Zhang confessed that he used his position to bend the law for his own interests. Zhang was expelled from the Party and public office two months after the investigation began.