Former top Chinese general did not die of medical neglect: PLA

THERE WERE RUMOURS XU CAIHOU, SUFFERING FROM CANCER, WAS DRAGGED OUT OF THE HOSPITAL TO FACE CORRUPTION PROBE

BEIJING: The Chinese army has dismissed allegations that a former general’s death from cancer in an army hospital while being probed for corruption was caused by medical negligence.

Xu Caihou, 71, a former chairperson of the Communist Party of China’s powerful central military commission, died of bladder cancer while under investigation for accepting bribes and abusing his position; he was the highestranking military officer to be probed on corruption charges.

At the time of his detention last year, unconfirmed reports had claimed that Xu, retired at the time, was allegedly dragged out of the hospital he was undergoing treatment for cancer.

The former general was diagnosed with cancer in early 2013.

After his arrest and expulsion from the CPC, few details were made public about Xu’s medical condition.

The military procuratorate continued investigations till Xu’s death was announced early Monday by the state media.

Within hours, stung by allegations that Xu’s serious health condition was ignored, the PLA released a statement dismissing the allegations.

“Authorities paid great attention to treatment for Xu Caihou. He was treated well in the Chinese PLA General Hospital under surveillance,” military prosecutors were quoted as saying by the state media.

The armed forces’ newspaper, the PLA Daily, “slammed rumours that Xu died from political persecution or inadequate treatment…”, adding that military prosecutors halted the “charges against Xu as he died during the prosecution process, but would deal with his alleged ill-gotten wealth according to law”.