Anti-graft chief under pressure after Guangzhou Daily boss retracts confession
Central authorities putting pressure on city's anti-graft agency, sources say, after chief accused of trying to frame media executive
Guangzhou's anti-graft watchdog is under pressure to re-investigate a high-profile corruption case involving a former media executive, sources said.
Dai Yuqing, the former president of the official Guangzhou Daily, is standing trial accused of taking 2.5 million yuan in bribes over several years.
At his trial in Dongguan late last month, however, Dai retracted his confession, claiming it was made under duress. He said his former superior, Wang Xiaoling, who is now Guangzhou's anti-graft chief, was framing him for past disagreements.
The affair drew renewed attention following a regular press conference by the city's anti-graft watchdog on Monday that attracted unusual media questions and coverage about Dai's case.
Meanwhile, the influential business news outlet Caixin reported on Tuesday that Dai's wife, Yang Lanling, had contacted Communist Party discipline inspectors in December. She accused Wang of insider trading, among other violations.
Yang confirmed to the South China Morning Post yesterday she had filed the complaints and had been interviewed by Caixin.
"I'm safe, for now, but it's not the appropriate time to talk as our conversation is being bugged," Yang said.