Senior energy official probed for fraud

China's discipline authority is verifying online accusations against Liu Tienan, the chief of the National Energy Administration, of forging academic backgrounds and colluding with businessmen, a micro blog account of Xinhua News Agency reported Jan 30.

The whistle blower, Luo Changping, deputy editor-in-chief of Caijing Magazine, posted online that discipline authorities have started investigating Liu.

On Dec 6, Luo accused Liu of forging academic backgrounds, and said that Liu colluded with businessman Ni Ritao in a fraud to receive huge loans.

The publicity office of the bureau said the accusation was slander and they have reported the case to police.

Liu, 58, was born in Beijing. He holds a master's degree in economics and a doctorate in engineering, according to his resume.

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