Official with four wives removed from legislature

A former district legislator from northern China's Shanxi province who was found to have four wives and 10 children has been removed from the legislature, local authorities announced on Friday.

Li Junwen, 43, a former deputy to the Xiaodian People's Congress of the city of Taiyuan and former head of the village of Xicuan, was arrested on Dec 7 for allegedly forging his marriage certificate, according to an announcement from the district government.

Li was removed from the district legislature on Sunday, the announcement said.

Fourteen officials who were responsible for helping Li's illegitimate children obtain residence registration and failed to properly examine his legislative qualifications were admonished, demoted or fired, the announcement said.

They include the Party secretary of Xiwenzhuang township, the head of the township police station, and several local officials in charge of family planning.

China's marriage law forbids polygamy, and its one-child policy allows a second child only under special circumstances.

In May, a couple in eastern China's Zhejiang Province who had a second child were fined 1.3 million yuan ($206,700).

Li married Hu Yongxian in 1989 and had four children with her. Li had six more children with another three women. Li forged a marriage certificate when helping one of the women obtain residence registration, according to an investigation by the Taiyuan municipal government.

Under family planning rules, a child born outside of marriage cannot get residence registration. However, nine of Li's children had obtained residency certificates, according to the investigation.

Police will further investigate Li's suspected bigamy, it said.