What’s new: Zhao Jianwei, former chief prosecutor of Dalian, Northeast China’s Liaoning province, has been expelled from the Communist Party for serious violations of duty and alleged bribery, as the country ramps up its efforts to wipe out corruption in the judiciary.
Zhao’s wrongdoings included faking a divorce, using at least one of his former positions to benefit his wife’s business, as well as allowing his wife to use his influence for personal gain, the Liaoning provincial graft buster said in a statement Monday.
He also illegally interfered in judicial activities, obtained large returns through private lending, and accepted a “huge amount” of money and valuables in exchange for his help on issues such as project contracting, job promotions and case handling, the statement said.
Zhao’s illegal gains have been confiscated and his case has been transferred to judicial authorities for further handling, according to the statement.
The background: It remains unclear when the retired official became the target of a graft probe.
Born in July 1956, Zhao started his career in 1971 and has held senior positions including deputy procurator general and deputy party chief of the Liaoning provincial procuratorate.
He earned a doctorate in international law from Dalian Maritime University in December 2009, shortly before taking up his post as Dalian’s top prosecutor. He resigned from the post in 2017.
Last year, Dalian’s corruption watchdog began investigating one of Zhao’s retired former subordinates, Xiao Peng.
Contact reporter Wang Xintong (xintongwang@caixin.com) and editor Jonathan Breen (jonathanbreen@caixin.com)
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