Former vice-minister of justice expelled from Party

Former vice-minister of justice Liu Zhiqiang has been expelled from the Communist Party of China over serious violation of discipline and law, China's top anti-corruption authority said in a decision.

The decision was disclosed online by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on Tuesday.

The commission said it was discovered that Liu was not loyal to the Party and made efforts to resist the investigation.

He was also found to have illegally accepted banquets, money, gifts and consumption cards, and took advantage of his positions to seek profits for others in matters such as business operation, project contracting, work promotion, and then accepted huge amounts of bribes in return, according to the commission.

It identified Liu's behavior as serious violations of the Party disciplines, saying that is why it decided to expel him from the Party and confiscate all his illicit gains.

His suspected violations of national laws will be transferred to prosecutors for further criminal review and investigation, it added.

Public information shows that Liu, 61, a native of Shandong province, began his career from the Ministry of Public Security in 1984 and joined the Party in 1986.

After handling foreign affairs in the China's public security system for about 20 years, he served as vice-governor of the Qinghai provincial government in 2012.

In January 2016, he became the deputy head of the Ministry of Justice.

In April this year, he was placed under disciplinary and supervisory investigation.