Former senior Heilongjiang legislator expelled from CPC, public office

BEIJING -- Li Xiangang, former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Heilongjiang Provincial People's Congress, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from public office over serious violations of Party discipline and laws, China's top anti-graft body said Wednesday.

The decision was made following an investigation by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision, according to an official statement.

The investigation found that Li had made presumptuous comments on some major decisions of the Party's Central Committee, and had been uncooperative in the investigation of his case.

He had accepted banquets that might influence the fair performance of official duties, and visited private clubs in disregard of relevant rules, violating the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving conduct.

He had used his authority to improperly assist others in job promotion and adjustment, the statement said, adding that Li was also found to have illegally accepted gifts and money from others, and engaged in money-for-sex transactions.

Moreover, the investigation found that Li had illegally kept some classified documents and taken advantage of his posts to benefit others in business operations and the handling of cases, illegally accepting significant amounts of money and gifts. He was also found to have embezzled public funds.

Li's illegal gains will be confiscated and the case involving his suspected criminal activities will be transferred to procuratorial authorities for review and prosecution, the statement said.