Security personnel are at the headquarters of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, China on February 10, 2018. SHANGHAI, Jan 26 Reuters - China's anti-corruption watchdog said on Wednesday it had expelled a former Communist Party secretary of the technology hub of Hangzhou from the party, five months after announcing that he was being investigated for serious violations of the law.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection CCDI said that after an investigation, Zhou Jiangyong supported the disorderly expansion of capital illegally accepted huge amounts of property in collaboration with relatives and engaged in familial corruption. It did not elaborate on the specific nature of Zhou's suspected crimes or name any companies involved. Zhou was not available for comment, and Reuters was not able to determine whether he had a lawyer.
The CCDI said in a statement that Zhou was expelled from the party and would face prosecution as a result of the investigation.
The commission first announced it had placed Zhou under investigation for serious violations of discipline and laws in August.
Days later, it asked thousands of officials in Hangzhou to conduct self-examinations and resolve business-related conflicts of interest involving themselves or relatives. Last week, the state broadcaster CCTV aired a documentary alleging that Zhou had capitalised on his position to help his brother's businesses, which the pair illegally profited from, including accepting bribes.
It also interviewed Zhou, who confessed to such deeds but did not name any companies.
On Friday, the Financial Times cited public records and sources linking the Hangzhou-based financial giant Ant Group to the corruption case.