Authorities detail 3 officials’ misdeeds

Yao Gang, vice-chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China and dismissed from public office for various wrongdoings including graft, the country’s top anti-graft watchdog announced on Thursday.

Yao, 55, a native of Wenshui, Shanxi province, abused his power to seek benefits for others and accepted “a huge amount” of bribes, according to a statement from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Investigators found that Yao took advantage of his post to help individuals or companies in order to raise his standing in the eyes of influential political figures, and he obstructed investigations and failed to report personal information in accordance with rules, according to the CCDI.

Yao’s illegal gains will be confiscated and his case will be handed over to prosecutors.

In another case, Huang Xingguo, former mayor of Tianjin, was indicted on bribery charges in Hebei province, according to the Supreme People’s Procuratorate on Thursday.

The SPP said in a statement that Huang, 62, abused his power to gain benefits for others in relation to the promotion of officials, and accepted bribes of cash or property. He will stand trial at the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People’s Court.

In addition, Wu Tianjun, a former senior official in Henan province, pleaded guilty to graft at a court hearing in Hubei province on Thursday.

A former member of the standing committee of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee, Wu was accused of accepting money and valuables worth more than 11 million yuan ($1.6 million) personally or through others between 2004 and 2015.

Prosecutors said Wu, the former head of the commission for political and legal affairs of the Henan Provincial Committee, used his positions to help others with business operations and promotions.