'Incorruptible' ex-mayor on trial
By Wang Qingchu |
April 22, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A FORMER mayor of Shenzhen City in Guangdong Province who had claimed he was incorruptible appeared in court yesterday on charges he accepted 33 million yuan (US$5 million) in bribes.
It was claimed that Xu Zongheng, 56, provided benefits for nine individuals and companies by contracting out construction projects to specific companies, promoting officials and altering land-use plans, among other violations.
Xu allegedly received cash and properties worth 33.18 million yuan in return.
Zhengzhou City Intermediate People's Court in central China's Henan Province, which heard the case, will announce its verdict at a later date, said Xinhua news agency.
The offenses are said to have taken place from 2001 to 2009, when Xu served as vice Party chief of Shenzhen, vice mayor and mayor.
Xu and his wife were taken away for investigation in June 2009. He was removed from his post for "serious disciplinary violations" several days later, Insight China magazine reported.
An unnamed insider told the magazine Xu had admitted some violations including taking bribes over the construction of Metro lines, venues for the Universiade international sports event, highways and several real estate projects after an online post alleged wrongdoings in February 2009.
Xu made a good impression with Shenzhen residents as he vigorously promoted infrastructure construction after he took office in June 2005. He was dubbed the "Metro Mayor" after he launched the construction of five Metro lines as part of preparations for this August's Universiade in Shenzhen, the report said.
Xu told the media several times he was incorruptible and a diligent mayor but an unqualified husband and father, earning him many supporters. But he received a lot of criticism after home prices of Shenzhen rocketed in 2008.
Also that year there were calls for Xu to resign over a nightclub fire in which 43 people died and a Metro line construction site collapse where three workers were killed. Only grassroots officials were punished for the accidents.
In 2009, Hong Kong-based Ming Pao said a mainland female celebrity was a key figure in the case after the woman's lavish lifestyle in Hong Kong attracted investigators' attention. The newspaper said she was Xu's personal agent there.
It was claimed that Xu Zongheng, 56, provided benefits for nine individuals and companies by contracting out construction projects to specific companies, promoting officials and altering land-use plans, among other violations.
Xu allegedly received cash and properties worth 33.18 million yuan in return.
Zhengzhou City Intermediate People's Court in central China's Henan Province, which heard the case, will announce its verdict at a later date, said Xinhua news agency.
The offenses are said to have taken place from 2001 to 2009, when Xu served as vice Party chief of Shenzhen, vice mayor and mayor.
Xu and his wife were taken away for investigation in June 2009. He was removed from his post for "serious disciplinary violations" several days later, Insight China magazine reported.
An unnamed insider told the magazine Xu had admitted some violations including taking bribes over the construction of Metro lines, venues for the Universiade international sports event, highways and several real estate projects after an online post alleged wrongdoings in February 2009.
Xu made a good impression with Shenzhen residents as he vigorously promoted infrastructure construction after he took office in June 2005. He was dubbed the "Metro Mayor" after he launched the construction of five Metro lines as part of preparations for this August's Universiade in Shenzhen, the report said.
Xu told the media several times he was incorruptible and a diligent mayor but an unqualified husband and father, earning him many supporters. But he received a lot of criticism after home prices of Shenzhen rocketed in 2008.
Also that year there were calls for Xu to resign over a nightclub fire in which 43 people died and a Metro line construction site collapse where three workers were killed. Only grassroots officials were punished for the accidents.
In 2009, Hong Kong-based Ming Pao said a mainland female celebrity was a key figure in the case after the woman's lavish lifestyle in Hong Kong attracted investigators' attention. The newspaper said she was Xu's personal agent there.
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