Former Beijing deputy Party chief expelled from CPC

BEIJING - Lyu Xiwen, former deputy Party chief of Beijing, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from public office for multiple offenses including graft, making groundless criticisms against the party line and hindering investigations.

"Lyu severely violated political discipline and rules," the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in a statement on Tuesday.

She made groundless criticisms of the Party's key policies, formed cliques and obstructed investigations, the statement said, without elaborating.

Lyu accepted bribes and took advantage of her post to seek profits for others, including helping her relatives' business interests, the statement said, adding that she failed to properly supervise people working around her.

Lyu seriously violated organizational rules in promoting officials, and she failed to report relevant personal matters and meddled with the selection of officials in her former work unit, it said.

She flouted the frugality rules introduced in late 2012 by frequenting private clubs and "living an extravagant life," said the statement.

Lyu seriously violated rules by intervening in economic and law enforcement activities, it said without elaborating.

As an alternate member of the CPC Central Committee, Lyu showed no signs of self-discipline even after the 18th CPC National Congress in late 2012, when the anti-corruption campaign was launched, the statement said.

It said the decision to expel Lyu from the party will be confirmed later at the plenary meeting of the CPC Central Committee.

Lyu's illegal gains will be confiscated and her case will be handed over to prosecutors, it said.

The CCDI announced it was investigating the 60-year-old in November.