Former head of China Tobacco expelled from CPC

Ling Chengxing, former head of China's State Tobacco Monopoly Administration also known as China Tobacco, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China and removed from his office, as announced by the country's top anti-graft watchdogs on Monday. 

A statement from the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision, said that Ling seriously violated the Party's disciplines, committed severe duty-related illegalities, and is suspected of bribery and abuse of authority by personnel of state-owned companies. 

The authorities have revoked the privileges he enjoyed, confiscated his ill-gotten gains and transferred his case along with all involved assets to the prosecutorial authorities for review and prosecution. 

Ling resisted the investigations from the Party organizations, accepted banquets and other people's provision of life services. He failed to report personal matters as required, sought benefits for relatives in employment and school admissions, and secured benefits for others in the cadres selection and appointment, it said. 

Liang also accepted gifts, sought special treatment in transportation and medical care for his relatives and used his position to benefit others in business operations, employee hiring and job promotions. In return, he accepted huge amounts of property.

His actions of favoritism and abuse of power caused particularly significant losses to State interests, it said. 

Ling, 66, from Jiangxi province, joined the Party in 1977 and began working in 1980. He worked in Jiangxi for about 30 years and served in different roles, including as executive vice-governor of the province.

He was the head of China Tobacco from May 2013 to July 2018, when he was retired. He was placed under investigation in October 2023.