More High-level Shenzhen Officals Under Investigation for Corruption

Economic Observer Online
November 16, 2010
Translated by Chen Ximeng
Original article: [Chinese]

A reliable source has informed the EO that the recently-reported investigation into Li Lin, Director-General of Shenzhen's Office of Financial Development Services, is related to the case of former Shenzhen mayor Xu Zongheng, who is currently awaiting sentencing on corruption charges, and also involves at least one other unidentified top official from Shenzhen.

In early November, Hong Kong media outlets reported that the former mayor of Shenzhen was about to be sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, which is often commuted to a life-sentence in China, on charges of accepting bribes and selling official positions. However, since those earlier reports were published, no offical announcement or verdict has been released and it's not possible to confirm the accuracy of the reports through official channels.

Xu Zongheng's case has already resulted in the downfall of Li Ping, the former Party Secretary of Shenzhen's Futian District and Zhong Xinming, deputy head of the city's Longgang District.

Li Lin is Director-General of Shenzhen's Office of Financial Development Services (Shenzhen Finance Office). He was promoted to the post in May, 2006 after previously serving in Shenzhen's Bureau of Finance.

On November 15, an official government website which operates under the auspices of both the Shenzhen Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Shenzhen Ministry of Supervision, published an announcement revealing that the Shenzhen Commission for Discipline Inspection had opened an investigation into Li Lin on the grounds that he was suspected of taking advantage of his position to further his own personal interests and of accepting bribes. The announcement did not contain any other details and failed to mention if any other individuals were implicated.

Calls to the Shenzhen Finance Office on Monday evening went unanswered.

It's already been more than a year since an official at the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection confirmed on June 8 last year that Xu Zongheng, the former deputy party-secretary and mayor of Shenzhen, was under investiagtion for serious violations.

One source has revealed to the EO that the reason that the case has remained unsettled for so long is that it involves many suspects, a huge amount of bribes and many other crimes.

Overseas media has reported that Xu was able to make a lot of money by teaming up with businessmen and taking advantage of his powerful position, he then used these illgotten gains to purchase government positions.

Although this practice of "paying for positions" was widespread, the relevant government departments did not want the investigation to spread too far for fear that the investigation could implicate officials in even more senior positions than Xu Zongheng.

These reports also said that Xu was set to follow in the steps of Chen Shaoji, the former chairman of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and also receive a commuted death sentence.

Hong Kong-based political commentator Liu Ruishao said the sentence handed down to these high-level offcials has never simply been decided according to the seriousness of their crimes, but rather, according to behind-the-scenes political considerations.

Links and Sources
Shenzhen Commission for Discipline Inspection and Shenzhen Ministry of Supervision: Shenzhen Mirror Website