'No error' over graft admission

Discipline authorities in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, responded to the withdrawal of a confession of corruption from the former chairman of the city's largest newspaper group by saying that it has never made a single mistake in any of its cases.

They also denied claims that the watchdog was itself corrupt.

Mei Heqing, a major official of the city's discipline inspection authority, said at a press conference Tuesday that while a confession withdrawal does occasionally occur, facts speak louder than words, Yangcheng Evening News reported Wednesday.

"I believe those who broke the law and Party discipline will be punished accordingly," Mei said, adding that the discipline inspection authority investigates cases firmly in accordance with Party guidelines and insists on closing every case with solid evidence.

Mei's comments came after media reports that Dai Yuqing, former head of Guangzhou Daily Group, denied the accusations of bribery made against him and his wife by anti-graft authorities.

Dai, 59, denied that he took bribes during his trial, which was held on March 28. He counterclaimed by reporting what he alleged were the misdeeds of Wang Xiaoling, the head of the city's anti-graft authority, China Business News reported on April 1.

Dai previously admitted the accusation while being questioned by the Party discipline inspection authority and Guangzhou prosecutors.

Dai is charged with abuse of power and taking bribes worth 2.5 million yuan ($400,750) during his tenure from 2006 to 2012. The trial opened March 28 at the People's Intermediate Court of Dongguan.

A video of Dai admitting taking bribes was played in court. Dai said in the clip that he spent the money on learning English and buying books.

Dai said that he was forced to make the confession during an earlier investigation by discipline authorities and prosecutors. He also said that Wang, who was his superior then, interfered with the normal operation of Guangzhou Daily.

Wang is the chief of the Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China Guangzhou Comittee. She was the head of the Publicity Department of the committee from 2007 to 2011, and governed media operations for the city.

Dai accused Wang of trying to put her relatives in charge of a construction project for the newspaper group. Dai said he was charged with taking bribes in retaliation for refusing Wang's request.

Yang Linglan, Dai's wife, reported to the central government disciplinary watchdog at the end of last year that Wang and her relatives illegally gained 70 million yuan on the stock market through insider trading, Cai-xin magazine reported.

Mei said Wang knew of the accusations leveled against her, but did not comment further.

Yang claimed that two of Wang's relatives, presumably informed of the planned asset reorganization of the group by her, bought the company's stock in advance. They sold their shares and gained the 70 million yuan.

An inspection team from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China is verifying Yang's accusations.