China to prosecute former senior spy chief for corruption
Ma Jian, who ran counter-espionage at the State Security Ministry, tried to hide wealth, use his power to help relatives’ businesses and interfere with the judiciary, Communist Party says
China will prosecute a former senior spy chief for bribery and abuse of power, the Communist Party said in a brief statement on Friday.
Ma Jian led counter-espionage operations at the Ministry of State Security, the vast secretive intelligence agency that monitors both citizens and foreigners in China.
His detention, which the South China Morning Post first reported in January 2015, led to revelations about massive abuses of power and political jockeying within the intelligence agency.
According to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Ma had “seriously violated political discipline and political rules”, using a phrase that suggested his offences went beyond the typical embezzlement.
He had “confronted investigations by the commission and tried to transfer and hide financial possessions involved in his case”, the statement said.