Chinese newspaper's heads removed after fabrication scandal

The head and a vice president of a Chinese newspaper were removed from their posts on Friday after one of its reporters was arrested for alleged damage to commercial reputation following a series of fabricated reports.

The Yangcheng Evening News Group, publisher of the scandal-mired New Express, said in a statement that it dismissed Li Yihang from the post of president and editor-in-chief of the New Express, and Ma Dongjin from the post of vice president of the daily paper in Guangzhou.

Li still retained the posts of the group's Party commission member and deputy editor-in-chief.

The group appointed its Communist Party chief Liu Hongbing as the new president of the New Express and its editorial council member Sun Xuan as the new editor-in-chief.

The sackings came one day after the local press regulator ordered the newspaper to carry out full rectification.

On Thursday, the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television also revoked the reporter Chen Yongzhou's press card.

Earlier on Sept. 9, Zoomlion, a large engineering company in Changsha, capital of neighboring Hunan Province, reported to local police that Chen had fabricated facts and defamed the company in a series of reports since 2012, which damaged its commercial reputation and caused severe losses.

Police in Changsha launched an official investigation on Sept. 16 and detained Chen in Guangzhou on Oct. 18 after uncovering a large amount of related evidence.

In video footage aired by China Central Television on Saturday, Chen said to police that he had released a series of unverified and false reports against Zoomlion at the request of others and for money and fame.

The reports had resulted in the company's stocks dropping and public accusations against its management.

He apologized to the company, stock investors and his own family.

Chen, 27, has served as a New Express reporter since his graduation in 2009.

The New Express on Sunday apologized for Chen's untrue stories, pledging to strengthen management of its employees and the publication procedure, and to carry out an overhaul targeting any existing problems.