Shanxi’s deputy head of discipline dismissed

Another senior official has beenremovedfromhis postand expelled from the Party in corruption-plagued Shanxi province asawide-ranginganti-graft campaign continues.

Yang Senlin, executive vicesecretary of the Shanxi Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, was deemed guilty of “misuse of power, taking huge bribes, accepting gifts of money and committing adultery”, the nation’s top antigraft authority said onMonday.

Forty-seven officials in Shanxi have faced corruption charges since the nationwide anti-graft campaign started in late 2012. They include seven at the provincial level, making it the province with the most highranking officials to come under suspicion so far.

Yang, 58, was placed under investigation in July for suspected “serious violations of discipline and laws”, a term used to signify corruption.

He is a native of Shanxi and spent most of his working life in the provincial government. He joined the government in 1975 and climbed the career ladder until he was appointed deputy head of the provincial anti-graft body in 2006.

Yang was formerly the righthandmanof JinDaoming, who worked as head of the Shanxi anti-graft watchdog from August 2006 to February 2011. Jin was placed under investigation on Feb 27 while serving as deputy head of the Shanxi provincial people’s congress.

Yangis alleged tohave helped Jin cover up illegal operations by mining companies.

Coal-richShanxihasbeenhit hardest by corruption scandals because of collusion between government officials and businessmen. A third of the members of the province’s top decision-making body have been investigated. Contact the writer at zhang_yi@chinadaily.com.cn

Yang Senlin