Economic Observer Online
June 24, 2011
Translated by Song Chunling
Original article: [Chinese]

Both the Director and Deputy Director of the Hohhot Railway Bureau along with the director of the Nanchang Railway Bureau are all said to have been removed from their postions and detained while under investigation for corruption.

A source within the railway ministry revealed to the EO yesterday that Lin Fenqiang (林奋强), director of the Hohhot Railway Bureau, had been taken away for investigation by the Communist Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and since placed under "shuanggui" (双规), a form of investigative detention for communist party officials.

About two weeks ago, Lin's deputy, Ma Junfei (马俊飞), was also detained and also placed under "shuanggui". 

The EO has also since learned that the chief of the Nanchang Railway Bureau, Shao Liping (邵力平), was also taken away for investigation by the CCDI last week and, according to unnamed sources, has been placed under "shuanggui".

It was originally reported that both Lin and Ma were detained by party investigators while in Beijing to attend a meeting hosted by the Ministry of Railways last week, though more recent reports suggest that Lin was first detained in late May before his deputy was taken in by authorities about two weeks ago.

The offices and apartments of the two railway officials were later searched and sealed by the CCDI. 

Lin Fenqiang is said to have had a good relationship with the former National Minister of Railways Liu Zhijun (刘志军) who was removed from his position in February and is currently being detained on suspicion of corruption while the CCDI continue to investigate his case.

Sources close to the case have told the EO that the investigation into Lin is connected with the Liu Zhijun case but that he's also being investigated in relation to his own comparitevely serious, though unrelated, economic problems.

Yang Yudong (杨宇栋), the former general manager of China Railway Express Co., Ltd has stepped in to replace Lin as the chief of the Hohhot Railway Bureau.
Guo Zhuxue (郭竹学), the former General Manager of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Railway, has been chosen to replace Shao Liping as the chief of the Nanchang Bureau.

Born in Fuqing, Fujian province, Lin graduated from Changsha Railway University and is a deputy to the National People's Congress. 

The most recent report mentioning Lin appeared on April 22 this year and described a meeting between Lin and Wang Xuefeng, the municipal party secretary of Ulanqab (乌兰察布) city, at a conference hosted by the Ministry of Railways of Hohhot.

According to sources close to the Hohhot Railways Bureau, the investigation into Lin has come as a shock for many of his colleagues. Staff that the EO talked to said Lin had a good reputation among colleagues and had raised the salaries of railway employees several times. Given the speed of railway construction in Inner Mongolia over recent years, Lin had also developed a reputation for being a "a man of action."

Links and Sources
Economic Observer Online: 呼铁局局长林奋强、副局长马俊飞被查
Economic Observer Online: 刘志军案后续：3名地方铁路局局长被查
Caixin: More Railways Officials Put Under Corruption Probe