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February 11, 2011

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Police 'took driving test bribes'

TRAFFIC police in a city in northwest China have been accused of taking bribes from a driving school to ensure students passed their test.

A web user called "Geilishangluo," from Shangluo City in Shaanxi Province, said officers there received more than 61,000 yuan (US$9,262) in backhanders, Cnwest.com reported yesterday.

In a post published this week, Geilishangluo claimed he found incriminating text messages sent between driving school staff on a secondhand mobile phone he bought.

He claimed a message sent from a person called Wang Chao ordered the recipient to prepare Chinese New Year gifts for police officers at Shangluo Vehicle Management Station.

"The standard is the same as last year, and the cash gifts should be sent to those who are useful to us," the message allegedly said.

In a reply, the names of traffic police officers and the sums of money they received were listed.

According to the list, the head of traffic police received 10,000 yuan; the chief of vehicle management 8,000 yuan; and other staff were paid 500 yuan each.

Shangluo Public Security Bureau has launched a probe into the claims, which spread quickly online.

"There are at least 15 driving schools in Shangluo. If every school offers such generous gifts, officers will end up with sore fingers from counting so much cash," one netizen joked.

The president of one Shangluo driving school is indeed called Wang Chao, but he has denied any involvement.

The earnings of the driving school barely covers costs, he claimed. "Recently, we haven't even paid the salaries of our staff, so where do we have the extra money to send gifts?" Wang asked.

Wang said he was consulting with lawyers and may take legal action against the person who published the post.

A captain surnamed Li with the traffic police insisted that he had never received any bribes and that an investigation would prove his innocence.

In China, learner drivers have to go to a driving school and must pass tests organized by the vehicle management station to receive a driving license. Traffic police are appointed as examiners for the test.




 

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