Disciplinary watchdog warns officials with details of major case

BEIJING -- In a bid to address corruption within its ranks the Communist Party of China's (CPC) disciplinary watchdog used details from a high-profile case to warn others of the consequences of unscrupulous behavior.

The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) on Wednesday and Thursday published two articles on its website about the case of former deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, and former head of the National Energy Administration, Liu Tienan.

The two pieces, originally run by a CCDI-owned magazine and a CCDI-owned newspaper, profiled Liu's fall from grace, from his humble beginnings as the son of a poverty-stricken family to a vice-minister and finally his life imprisonment for graft.

The articles reviewed why he was targeted by businessmen and how he involved his own son in the "trading power for money" process. Both pieces went into great details, illustrating how easy it could be to take the wrong path in life.

For example, Liu once accepted what he believed to be a "common gift" from a Shandong businessman, identified as Song, the package appeared to contain a man's shirt. However, when he opened it later he found it to also contain 20,000 yuan ($3,300). Apparently, although he kept it, he was hesitant.

"This sent a clear signal to the briber -- this official can be targeted," the article reasoned.

Both articles said that officials, including Party members, should foster and champion the honorable approach to attaining fame, wealth, social status and power.

By respecting and abiding by the Party's core spirit and regulations, the articles added, officials would have the power to resist the temptation of money.

The stories also reflected on the problems in the current administrative and supervision systems, as well as the inconsistent implementation of existing regulations.

One of the stories also quoted one investigator that handled Liu's case, who said that the recovery of the proceeds of crime should be strengthened, ensuring corrupt officials "lose their family fortune", to prevent other officials from the same temptations.

The same article said that Liu's case could be the catalyst needed to further transform the country's governance and administrative systems.

"As the overall advancing of the rule of law continues, the opportunities for corruption will dwindle," it said.

The Langfang Intermediate People's Court in north China's Hebei Province ruled that Liu had accepted bribes of 35.58 million yuan ($5.8 million) from 2002 to 2012, personally or through his son Liu Decheng.

He was found guilty of abuse of power by securing profits for four companies -- including Nanshan Group, a chemical firm based in east China's Shandong Province, Zhongjin Petrochemical Co. Ltd. based in east China's Zhejiang Province, GAC Group in south China's Guangdong Province and Zhejiang Hengyi Group Co. Ltd. -- as well as several individuals.

Liu is among the high-ranking officials taken down in China's fierce anti-corruption campaign that began in November 2012.