Senior official expelled from party'

BEIJING;

China's Communist Party dismissed a top
political advisory official and expelled him
from the ranks of the ruling party,its anti
corruption watchdog said Monday,as the
country mounts a sweeping crackdown on graft.

Su Rong 66 ,a vice chairman of the Chinese
People 'sPolitical Consultative Conference (CPPCC)
was investigated for "serious"discipline violation"
according to a statement on the commission 's
website.

The CPPCC is a discussion body that is part of
the Communist Party-controlled government
structure.

The probe found that Su had taken advantage of
his position to seek benefit for others,accepted
huge bribes and abused power leading to significant
loss of state assets ,the statement said.without
giving further details.

Graft has become endemic in China and Communist
leader Xi Jinping launched a much publicised drive
against corruption after he came to power  two years
ago,vowing to target both high-level "tigers' and
low -ranking "flies".

Su was described as "one of the graft "tigers" in
a two paragraph report by the official Xinhua news
agency announcing the expulsion.

But analysts say China has failed to implement
institutional safeguards against corruption ,such
as an independent judiciary and free media,
leaving anti-graft campaigns subject to the
influence of politics.

Previous reports in Chinese media have connected
Su to corrupt land deals made in Jiangxi  province
during his time as party secretary there.

Su's case will soon be transferred to judicial
authorities for criminal prosecution.in the
statement said.

"Previously Su was also the Communist Party
secretary of Qinghai and Gansu  provinces.
AFP.