Ex-official probed for corruption
Shanghai has detained a former construction official for alleged corruption, the second official in a week implicated on suspicion of illegal property dealings, a media report said.
Authorities were investigating Chen Shijie, 63, previously the party chief of Shanghai's construction commission and most recently head of a local property industry group, the influential Caijing magazine said. He is suspected of using property development projects to benefit his son.
Shanghai government spokeswoman Jiao Yang said yesterday she was unaware of the case.
The city last week confirmed that former deputy director of the Shanghai Housing and Land Administration, Yin Guoyuan , was under investigation on suspicion of accepting bribes.
Last November, the head of the administration's land-use management section, Zhu Wenjin , was also detained. The cases have been linked to a crackdown arising from mismanagement of Shanghai's pension fund, though it is not known how they might be related.
Central authorities removed Shanghai party secretary Chen Liangyu last September for his role in the pension fund case. He was replaced on a permanent basis last month by Xi Jinping , former party secretary of Zhejiang province .
There have been rumours that Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng , who served as acting party secretary, might be transferred out of the city following the scandal, but there has been no official announcement of any change.
The Shanghai government spokeswoman said the city was committed to fighting corruption following the appointment of the new party secretary.
'The fight against corruption is constant and indisputable,' Ms Jiao said.
More than 20 government and state company officials have been implicated in the pension fund case.
Ms Jiao said Shanghai would seek to improve supervision and education of government and party officials to stem corruption.
Mr Chen was a member of the standing committee of the Shanghai People's Congress as well as a member of the party organisation, the Shanghai Municipal Committee.
He later held posts on an advisory body to the legislature and two property industry groups.
Additional reporting by Laura Liu
