China sacks minister after online corruption report

The minister was sacked by the Communist Party.

China’s ruling Communist Party sacked a minister on Tuesday after a leading journalist published an online report alleging corruption and other offences.

The party’s powerful organisation department stripped Liu Tienan of his post of deputy director of the state planning agency, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Mr. Liu, 58, was sacked from the National Development and Reform Commission because of his “suspected involvement in serious disciplinary violations,” the agency quoted the organisation as saying.

Mr. Liu, who had held his post for five years, is the highest official to be deposed in an anti-corruption drive by party leader, Xi Jinping, who took office in November. He was placed under investigation for unspecified offences, the agency said.

The official China Daily said Mr. Liu’s alleged crimes were first exposed online in December by Luo Changping, deputy editor of the influential Caijing financial magazine.

Mr. Luo alleged that the minister’s son and wife had received money from the head of a state-owned paper business for which Liu had arranged bank loans in return, the newspaper said.

Premier Xi began his party leadership by launching a major drive against corruption in which state censors have allowed sometimes lurid details of officials’ indiscretions to circulate on popular Website.

(dpa/NAN)