CPC expels senior officials for graft

Wang Xiaolin, deputy head of the National Energy Administration, was removed from office and expelled from the Communist Party of China for serious disciplinary violations, including corruption, China’s top anti-graft watchdog said in a statement on Thursday.

Wang accepted large bribes and abused his positions to benefit other people and companies in return for payoffs, according to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

He also breached Party rules in illegally inquiring about discipline inspections, taking cash and other gifts, playing golf, taking part in banquets paid for by others and illegally intervening in judicial activities, the CCDI said.

Wang’s expulsion from the Party was approved by the CPC Central Committee. The National Supervisory Commission removed Wang from public office.

Evidence of his suspected crimes and the profits from improper activities will be transferred to judicial authorities, the watchdog said.

Wang, 55, was in charge of the administration’s general affairs, coal mine inspections and approvals, personnel management and publicity offices, according to the administration’s website.

He was born in Chongqing and began his career as a coal mine technician in 1983. He joined Shenhua Group, a national coal giant, in 1989.

In August 2015, he became deputy head of the National Energy Administration.

In an unrelated action, another official, Li Yihuang, vice-governor of Jiangxi province, was expelled from the Party and public office for multiple violations including “taking a huge amount of bribes, and illegally acquiring public property”, the CCDI said.

Li, 56, had served as vicegovernor of Jiangxi since January 2013. Before that, he had a long career at Jiangxi Copper Industry Co, starting in January 2001.

Wang Xiaolin