‘Tiger’ in China: Former deputy environmental protection minister accused of corruption
Zhang Lijun, ex-deputy environmental protection minister, accused of corruption as investigators claim department's review systems flawed
A former deputy environmental protection minister in China is under investigation for alleged corruption.
The Communist Party's anti-graft agency said in a statement that Zhang Lijun had been detained for serious violations of party discipline and law, the form of words it regularly uses to describe corruption.
Zhang is the first senior official, or “tiger”, working in environmental protection to come under investigation for graft under the government’s huge anti-corruption campaign.
President Xi Jinping pledged to go after “tigers and flies” – high and low-ranking officials – when he launched the anti-graft campaign after taking power three years ago.
The statement from anti-graft agency, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, gave no details of the allegations against Zhang.
He worked in environmental protection for more than 20 years, serving as the deputy minister from 2008 to 2013.
The anti-graft commission earlier this year strongly criticised the system for carrying out environmental risk assessments.