Ex-prosecutor expelled from Party for taking drugs

A former top prosecutor in Linxiang, Hunan province, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China for taking illegal drugs and other violations of Party rules, the city's anti-graft body said on Tuesday.

Liu Qunlin, former procurator-general in Linxiang, was placed under investigation in August. He was removed from his post on Aug 11.

Zhang Mingzhi, an official with the city's publicity department, said Liu was dismissed under suspicion of aiding and abetting the drug use of another city official, according to a media report.

Gong Weiguo, 43, the former mayor of Linxiang, was removed from his post in April. The local government said that Guo was being investigated for suspected drug use. Gong was appointed as deputy Party chief and mayor of the county-level city in December 2011.

The anti-corruption watchdog in the city also announced on Tuesday that Cao Qingsong, former city police chief, was expelled from the Party and removed from his post for breaching austerity rules and committing adultery.

According to the announcement, Cao has a child from an extramarital affair. He was accused of abusing power and taking bribes.

In other places in Hunan province, public officials have also been found using drugs. In September, 18 county officials in Hengyang county were disciplined in a highly unusual instance of public servants and Party members being openly punished for using illegal drugs.

A total of 39 officials have been apprehended for using drugs since a local regulation on drug use among Party members and public servants rolled out in January. Twenty-one individuals remain under investigation, and could face severe penalties, including losing their jobs.

"Any members of the Communist Party of China or public servants who police determine to be drug users will be disciplined, and those who inject drugs or use more than two types of drugs will be sacked," said the regulation.

According to a report by the Legal Evening News, among the 18 people punished for using drugs so far were the head of an administration office in a local tax bureau and the director of the legal affairs service office in the county.

However, the paper did not give their names. It said primary schoolteachers and medical staff were also on the list.

zhang_yi@chinadaily.com.cn