Local media, citing Guangdong's party disciplinary committee, reported that Yang made 15 million yuan in interest from lending out money he received from bribes. Investigators said Yang also kept two mistresses.

Yang is among a group of top Maoming officials taken away by investigators since late 2009. The city's party boss, Luo Yinguo , was arrested this February, and state media reported that he implicated more than 100 officials allegedly involved in his corruption cases.

Maoming's disgraced officials also include deputy mayor Chen Yachun , the former chief of the city's politics and law committee Ni Junxiong , police bureau head Cheng Bin and chief warden Cheng Jiazeng .

In February last year, the city's chief prosecutor, Liu Xianjin , committed suicide the day after his son's wedding. The authorities attributed his death to depression.

The turmoil is such that Maoming had to recruit 46 new senior officials from across the country last month.

Guangdong's party disciplinary watchdog says it has recouped 75 million yuan from Yang and frozen property assets under his name or the names of relatives or mistresses.

Yang has been accused of taking 6.5 million yuan in bribes during the mediation of a land dispute and using his position to profit from a fresh- produce business.

10m yuan

The amount, in cash, found in Luo Yinguo's home and office on his arrest in February, thought to be his haul of Lunar New Year bribes