Guangzhou anti-graft body steps up pursuit of corrupt officials abroad

A senior official from the Guangzhou Party Commission of Discipline Inspection confirmed that the city's anti-graft body is now co-operating with relevant departments to pursue and capture three major suspected corrupt officials who might have fled abroad.

Mei Heqing, a member of the standing committee of the city's top anti-graft body, said Wang Yanwei, former chairman of Huadu District Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was investigated and suspected of having accepted a large sum of bribes when he was Party chief of the Huadu's Huadong township, head of Huadu District Organization Department and chairman of the Huadu's top political advisory body.

Wang, 58, left the country in June of 2013 on medial grounds to visit doctors abroad. He never returned.

Wang has now been expelled from the Party and discharged from public employment, Mei said during a press conference in the Guangdong provincial capital on Monday.

But Mei did not reveal details on Wang's case because it is still under investigation.

The other two major suspected corrupt officials who might have escaped abroad included Li Rongfu, former director of Huadu District Bureau of Animal Husbandry, and Zhang Jinhua, former chairman of Nansha Economic Development Co Ltd.

Wang, Li and Zhang have been on the online wanted list of police, Mei said.

"And the city's anti-graft body is now working closely with, police, exit and entry departments, judicial and foreign affairs departments to help pursue and capture the suspected officials who have fled abroad," according to Mei.

"Foreign countries and regions should not become the havens for the corrupt officials from Guangzhou and the mainland," he added.

Meanwhile the city's anti-graft body has officially put on file to further investigate Yang Yanwen, former Party chief of Huadu district, Guo Yaoguang, former deputy director of Liwan District People's Congress, and Li Zhixin, former chairman of Guangzhou Textile Industry and Trade Co. Ltd.

Yang, 52, was taken away by anti-graft officials from Guangdong province in late July for serious violation of Party disciplines and laws.

He was also investigated with regard to his close relationship with Wan Qingliang, former Party chief of Guangzhou.

Wan has become the highest ranking official who was sacked in Guangdong in recent years.

Wan is being investigated further for serious violation of Party disciplines and taking a large sum in bribes when he was in office .He was taken away by anti-graft officials from the central government in late June.