Twenty-two high-ranking police in investigation as nation continues drive to clean governance

Twenty-two senior police officers, including four general-level officers in the public security system, have been placed under investigation for "serious disciplinary violations", the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced on Tuesday.

Among the four deputy army commanders, Zhang Genheng, former head of the frontier-defense corps under the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region public security department, was expelled from the Party and removed from his post, the CCDI said in a statement on its website.

According to the CCDI, Zhang allegedly abused his power to gain benefits for others, involving soldiers' promotions, and help university graduates join the armed police.

He accepted bribes either in cash or other properties. Evidence has been transferred to law enforcement authorities for further investigation.

Yin Zhishan, former director of the police guard department under the Ministry of Public Security, was demoted from a general-level officer and removed from his position.

Ma Dewen, former head of Jiangsu Provincial Fire Brigade, was left in the Party for observation for one year and he was suspended from his job.

The fourth general-level officer was not named in the statement.

A further 18 senior police officers were punished for "serious discipline violations".

Li Wenli, former director of the military service office of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region public security department, was expelled from the Party and removed from his post, the CCDI said.

According to the CCDI, Li allegedly used his position to benefit others by helping university graduates join the police and assist others with personnel transfers, and accepted their bribes. He is also accused of participating in gambling. He will be transferred to the judicial authorities to face trial.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, since early January the ministry's discipline inspection department has met face-to-face with 125 police officers and given them warnings aimed at preventing them breaking the rules or getting involved in graft.

Since November 2012, when the new leadership was elected, anti-corruption has become a top priority for the country, and the country has carried out a sweeping drive to fight corruption.

To date, more than 100 high-ranking military officers, including tens of general-level military officers or army commanders, have been probed for alleged graft.

They include Xu Caihou, former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, who died in March in Beijing from bladder cancer, and Guo Boxiong, another former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, who was investigated for alleged bribery in July.

zhangyan1@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 11/04/2015 page4)