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03/29/2024 09:25:53 am

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China’s Anti-corruption Campaign Tags 5 Senior Party Officials

China Anti-Corruption Campaign

(Photo : Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) A Chinese security guard stands in front of cars at an auction of government vehicles on March 18, 2015 in Beijing, China. The auction was held to sell-off more than 100 high-end vehicles that were in use by public officials. Chinese President Xi Jinping, the leader of China's Communist Party, has made cracking down on corruption and official displays of excess a priority under his leadership.

China's anti-corruption shows no signs of slowing down.

This, as the Central Commission of Discipline Inspection (CCDI) issued a stern warning to Chinese officials to stop the use of public funds for their personal benefit.  

The nation's top anti-graft department also reminded public officials that charges will be filed against them if it is proven they have violated austerity rules, according to the China Daily.

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So far, the commission has identified five senior Chinese officials who have ignored the national government's 8-point austerity rules in their pursuit of luxurious lifestyles.

The eight-point rules, or also referred to as the austerity rules, were launched in Dec. 4, 2012 as part of China's nationwide anti-corruption campaign.

The rules' main objective was to reduce bureaucracy, extravagance and undesirable work practices of Party members.

These rules have been a major component of the Chinese government's efforts to instill discipline among public officials by prohibiting acts of extravagance such as the holding of banquets at the public's expense, unnecessary travel and meetings, and the unauthorized use of government cars.

Lu Ziyue, former mayor of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, was among the five senior government officials who have reportedly violated the Party's austerity directives. 

Lu allegedly used public vehicles to transport a hairdresser from Jinhua - a city 500 kilometers from Ningbo - to his residence for haircuts since August 2014.

Another Chinese official who was tagged in China's anti-corruption campaign was Gu Chunli, former deputy governor in Jilin province, who lived in a hotel in Changchun, capital of the province, from January 2014 to July 2015.

Gu allegedly spent a total of 343,800 yuan ($51,600) in public funds to tender banquets for business people from October 2013 to July 2015.

According to a top CCDI official who refused to be identified, the five erring officials have been either relieved from their posts or expelled from the Party.

The commission has vowed that it will be investigating the graft cases thoroughly, regardless of the positions of the public officials involved.

So far, more than 20 high-ranking government officials have undergone disciplinary measures in line with China's anti-corruption campaign.

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