Official under graft probe for owning 21 houses

A senior government official has been suspended from duty after he and his family were found to own 21 houses in Guangzhou's Panyu district, discipline authorities said on Thursday.

The Guangzhou Party Committee for Discipline Inspection has said preliminary investigations, into rumors Cai Bin owned 21 properties, have proved the claims to be "basically true".

A community of one of Cai Bin's houses under the name of his wife, in Guangzhou, Oct 10, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

The city's discipline watchdog promised to fully investigate the matter and make the results of the probe public.

Guo Xuanyu, spokesman with the Panyu district committee for discipline inspection, said a special team has been established to further investigate Cai's case.

Xinhua News Agency quoted Guo saying that the relevant departments would meet with Cai and "ask him to explain the source of his large number of houses".

Cai, 56, came under scrutiny after netizens posted pictures of his properties online on Oct 8. Discipline authorities then started their investigations.

Preliminary investigations have shown that the 21 properties — 18 in Panyu district and three in Nansha district — include factories, villas, commercial apartments, business complexes and parking lots.

Nineteen of the properties are under the name of his wife Shi Liying, and his son. One is jointly owned by Cai and Shi, and the other is under the name of Cai, according to discipline authorities.

Among the 21 properties, which boast a combined floor space of over 7,200 square meters, is a 240-square-meter multistorey house and a 3,405 square meter factory building.

A local real estate agent estimated that the total market value of the properties owned by Cai's family could reach 40 million yuan ($6.3 million), according to local media.

As a county-level official, Cai's monthly pay is about 10,000 yuan, and his wife would earn less than her husband. Shi was director of the general office and secretary-general of Panyu district association of industry and commerce before she retired, Xinhua reported.

"Cai's large number of properties is inconsistent with the properties he has declared to his superior authorities," Guo from the district discipline watchdog was quoted as saying.

"Cai declared that he only had one property. He lied and has violated Party regulations and disciplines."

Guo said Cai is subject to judicial punishment if he is found breaking laws, such as taking bribes.

Chen Tianxiang, a professor with the School of Government of Guangzhou-based Sun Yatsen University, said Cai's case shows the operation of some government departments lacks transparency and outside supervision.

"Concrete and effective measures should be adopted to prevent the centralization of power by senior officials," he said.

Chen said authorities could learn from the neighboring Hong Kong special administrative region, which has had some success in fighting corruption.