Sichuan to probe everything related to fallen ex-security chief

 

Then China's Public Security Minister Zhou Yongkang reacts as he attends the Hebei delegation discussion sessions at the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing in this October 16, 2007 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

Government officials involved in major cases concerning China's ex-security chief Zhou Yongkang would be investigated to clear any political and economical wrongdoings in Southwest China's Sichuan province, according to a notice issued by Sichuan government on Thursday, the Beijing News reported on Friday.

The notice was issued by the provincial Party committee of Sichuan after an inspection team dispatched by the central government probed the southwestern province from July to September 2014.

The notice said that Sichuan will investigate all major cases and every person involved in Zhou's case without overlooking any clue. Cases involving officials who were cozy with Zhou, serious violations such as collusion among government officials and between government officials and businessmen, and embezzlement of public assets will be probed.

Zhou's tenure as the secretary of the provincial Party committee of Sichuan province from 1999 to 2002 helped him exert powerful influence on the government officials there.

The notice also said Sichuan would probe into officials who abused their power to gain profit and disrupt economic order in important economic fields.

During the investigation, a total of 1,400 clues of possible crimes in fields including reform of State assets, transfer of minerals, water, electricity and land resources, construction and government procurement have been found, with 171 cases turned over to justice departments. 165 officials were punished for breaking laws or Party rules.

China's top anti-graft body announced in July 2014 that it was investigating Zhou, who retired from the Politburo Standing Committee, the country's top leadership body, in 2012.

He was then arrested in December, expelled from the Party and put under judicial investigation for "serious disciplinary violations". He was accused of a series of violations such as accepting bribes and leaking State secrets.

Zhou is the highest ranking official probed in the country's campaign against corruption since 1978, the beginning of reform and opening-up.