Ex-lottery official probed for graft

Feng Lizhi, former deputy head of the China Welfare Lottery Distribution and Management Center of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, was placed under investigation for alleged graft, according to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Feng, 59, who is deputy head of the China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption, is being investigated by both the CCDI and the National Supervisory Commission for violating Party discipline and laws.

From 2006 to 2013, he mainly served as assistant to the head of the lottery center; director of the center’s marketing department; deputy head of the center; and, most recently, deputy head of the adoption center.

Last month, Feng’s boss, Wang Suying, 57, former head of the lottery management center, was placed under investigation by the CCDI and National Supervisory Commission for multiple offenses, including bribery.

Cases of abuse and embezzlement of lottery funds have arisen frequently, arousing discussion in the media and among members of the public.

According to the National Audit office, auditors last year found more than 20 percent of lottery funds had been misused, including buying and building property or offering bonus payments to government employees.

Li Wei, a lawyer from the Beijing Lawyers Association, said a large amount of lottery money is collected from the public, but only governments have the right to use them, and the public doesn’t even know how or where they are used, which makes corruption easy.

“It’s more than necessary for relevant authorities to strengthen supervision and management, while speeding up legislation to further regulate the distribution and sales of lottery tickets in China,” she said.