Graftbusters take aim at another PLA general

HONG KONG • Just days after a former military leader was jailed for life for accepting bribes, news emerged that another People's Liberation Army officer has been placed under investigation for suspected corruption.

Major-General Qu Rui, a deputy chief of the Combat Operations Department under the newly established Joint Staff Department, was taken away by military graftbusters during a meeting on Wednesday, military sources told Sunday Morning Post.

Maj-Gen Qu played a lead role in organising a massive military parade in Beijing last September to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, reported the Post. He will face a probe by the recently upgraded military disciplinary commission within the powerful Central Military Commission.

If confirmed, his downfall would be the latest in a string of graft probes launched into the activities of senior officers in recent weeks ahead of the PLA's anniversary today.

Last Monday, Guo Boxiong, 74, a former vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission, was jailed for life for corruption.

In addition to receiving a life sentence, Guo was also deprived of his political rights for life and stripped of his rank of general, Xinhua news agency said, citing a military court. His personal assets were also seized.

Separately, Xinhua reported over the weekend that Chinese authorities are investigating the mayor of Hefei, the provincial capital of Anhui, on suspicion of "serious discipline violations" - a euphemism commonly used for corruption.

Zhang Qingjun, 52, has served as Hefei mayor since 2012. He was formerly director of the provincial land and resources department.

He is the latest in a string of mayors, vice-mayors and other high-level officials to be caught up in China's sweeping anti-graft campaign.

Apart from Anhui, the provinces of Shandong, Zhejiang, Liaoning, Hunan, Sichuan and Fujian have also seen the fall of their senior officials since the ruling Communist Party launched an anti-graft crackdown in late 2012.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 01, 2016, with the headline Graftbusters take aim at another PLA general. Subscribe