SOE accused of bribing township officials

A State-owned enterprise in East China's Zhejiang province has been accused of paying off local township officials for six years.

The Wenzhou Port Group allegedly paid 2.39 million yuan ($393,600) as “salaries” to the government officials of Beibaixiang township from 2006 to June 2012, China Youth Daily reported on Monday.

According to an audit obtained by the newspaper, the company made multiple payments to officials in charge of demolition works during that period.

The company also paid for banquets for the officials many times, the report showed.

The officials were paid for helping the company to seize land for its port construction project, the newspaper said.

Liu Yinbao, Party chief of the township, refused to comment on the issue.

The current regulations on land seizure rule that government officials may not be involved in the demolition of non-public projects.