Chinese anti-corruption inspector expelled from party for taking bribes

Reuters report, Aug 2, 2017
China’s anti-corruption watchdog has said one of its former senior inspectors has been expelled from the Communist Party after an investigation found he had abused his position to receive bribes.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in a statement on its website on Wednesday that Zhang Huawei, a vice-ministerial level inspector from the Central Inspection Team, had “lost his ideals and convictions” and damaged the reputation of the commission.
It said Zhang’s case would be referred for prosecution.
Zhang could not be reached for comment.
The CCDI’s inspection teams are sent by the central authorities to identify wrongdoing within party organisations and provincial government bodies.
The CCDI first announced an investigation into Zhang in April as it stepped up a campaign to expose corruption within its own ranks.
Respected Chinese financial magazine Caixin reported at the time that Zhang’s detention was probably linked with the commission’s investigation into the finance sector. Insurance regulator Xiang Junbo was placed under investigation earlier that month.
The CCDI has tried since the start of 2017 to show it is serious about tackling corruption within its own ranks, which it refers to as “darkness hiding beneath the light”.
It began the year by airing a three-part television series focusing on cases where anti-corruption officials had been caught on the take and releasing a new series of rules to guard against abuses of power.
The CCDI’s drive to “clean one’s own doorstep” comes as Beijing considers sweeping changes, including the creation of a National Supervision Commission, and is set to incorporate various corruption-fighting bodies into a single powerful entity. http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2105055/chinese-anti-corruption-inspector-expelled-party-taking