Guangdong probes reach larger group

Seventy-two Party and government officials have been placed under investigation for their alleged involvement in a case of group corruption in Lechang, Guangdong province, according to a statement released by the Guangdong Provincial Party Commission of Discipline Inspection.

The officials who are being investigated include nine of the 11 former members of the standing committee of the Lechang Party committee, according to the statement, which was released on the website of the province's top anti-graft body on Tuesday.

Li Weiyuan, former Party chief of Lechang and director of the city's people's congress, was taken away by anti-graft officials and put under investigation for alleged serious violations of Party discipline and taking large sum of bribes last October. Li, who was promoted to Party chief of Lechang in March 2102, was expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office in December.

"Li has now been transferred to judicial departments for further investigation and future prosecution," the statement said.

Investigations of other senior officials, including Mo Jianfeng, former head of the city's Party commission of discipline inspection, and Zou Fuying, former head of Lechang's organization department, were begun after Li was sacked. Mo and Zou have also been expelled from the Party and discharged from public employment.

Li and major officials in the case are suspected of taking bribes valued at more than 4.5 million yuan ($726,000) altogether.