Investigation finds public security director covered up son's crime

A deputy provincial police chief in North China who tried to cover up an assault his son is alleged to have committed should be fired, an investigation by discipline authorities has concluded.

Li Yali has already been suspended from his post as deputy director of Shanxi province's public security department and director of public security in Taiyuan, the provincial capital.

If the central discipline body supports the investigation report, he will be permanently removed from his post and his Party membership will be suspended for a year, Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday.

The investigation found that Li had abused his power to help his son, who had been accused of drunken driving and assaulting a traffic police officer. It also said Li had violated rules regarding personnel management, although it did not elaborate.

On the morning of Oct 13, Li Zhengyuan, Li Yali's son, was stopped by Xia Kun, a police officer, after he illegally turned left at a crossroads. He is alleged to have refused to cooperate with Xia, instead attacking him, Xinhua reported.

"I'll show you who I am," Li Zhengyuan shouted, according to witness statements. "I'll beat you every time I see you.

"Get away from me. This is none of your business. I'm practicing family rules," he was reported to say to passers-by.

More officers arrived at the scene and took the driver into custody. A blood test showed Li was over the legal alcohol limit.

Li Zhengyuan did not face charges, and video records taken by surveillance cameras near the scene of the incident were deleted, Xinhua reported.

Sunday's investigation report led to outrage among netizens, who expressed anger and demanded Li Yali suffer a "severe and judicial punishment".

"We should teach them how to respect and be fearful of the law," one netizen wrote on Sina, a popular news website.

If Li's Party membership is suspended, that will mean his political opinions will not count in Party discussions and he will forbidden to vote for Party candidates or run for Party posts during the period.

A suspension of membership is the second-most-severe punishment that can be meted out in the Party system.

Jiang Ming'an, a law professor at Peking University, said the matter will be transferred to the courts if discipline authorities find evidence that Li committed a crime.

"We need a stronger system to regulate the behavior of people who are close to officials," he said. "It's not uncommon for us to hear of cases of officials' drivers or relatives taking advantages of their power.

"Officials should also learn from this case that they have to be vigilant and prevent people who are close to them from committing violations."

In a similar incident in October 2010, Li Qiming, son of a deputy public security director in Baoding, Hebei province, hit two girls while driving, killing one.

Li Qiming was reported to have said at the scene of the accident: "You can sue me if you have what it takes; my father is Li Gang."

Li Qiming was found guilty of the crime and sentenced to six years in prison.

Sun Ruisheng in Taiyuan contributed to this story.

wanghuazhong@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 01/14/2013 page3)