Police have detained a Guangzhou government official on suspicion of sexually assaulting under-age boys, local media reported yesterday.
Li Jun , 43, is accused of seducing and having sex with at least four boys, all aged around 13, The Southern Metropolis News reported, citing police.
Li works for the local Civil Affairs Bureau and is in charge of overseeing the city's non-governmental organisations.
The father of a 13-year-old boy in the city told the newspaper that his son was sexually assaulted by Li six times between last December and June, and received 200 yuan (HK$245) in cash each time. The father also accused Li of maintaining the relationship by buying the boy a 20,000-yuan laptop and products related to online games.
The newspaper said Li was detained on July 4, but neither the police nor Civil Affairs Bureau would confirm information when contacted yesterday, saying only that the case was too sensitive.
The boy got to know Li in December after receiving an anonymous message sent to young boys on QQ, the mainland's largest online social network, according to the father. The message allegedly said: 'I'm looking for a boy younger than 13.'