Ex-food firm chairman to face graft charges

SHANGHAI: China will prosecute the former chairman of stateowned conglomerate Bright Food Group Co Ltd for corruption after a probe found he had accepted bribes and abused his power, the nation’s anti-graft watchdog has announced.

Lu Yongjie, Bright Food’s chairman until the end of 2015, was put under investigation in May.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said in a statement yesterday that Lu had been expelled from the party and handed over to legal authorities after a probe found serious discipline violations.

The probe found that Lu had accepted bribes and abused his power, the commission said, adding that he had also appropriated public funds and acted against the investigation.

Lu and his legal representative were not available for comment.

Bright Food also declined to comment yesterday.

Bright Food, the parent of Bright Dairy and Food Co Ltd, was an active global dealmaker under Lu, cutting deals for British cereal maker Weetabix, Australian dairy Mundella Foods and Israeli food group Tnuva among others.

The firm sold Weetabix last year to US firm Post Holdings and has been quiet over the past couple of years.

Lu is among a series of high-profile Chinese executives who have been put under investigation as Beijing looks to rein in risky corporate behaviour and high leverage. — Reuters