BEIJING may cast its anti-corruption net wider by tackling graft cases involving ministerial-level cadres or above.
Almost invariably, officials convicted of corruption or related crimes are only up to the level of vice-minister, vice-governor or equivalent.
The exceptions have been graft cases with heavy political overtones, such as that of disgraced Beijing party chief Chen Xitong, a long-standing foe of President Jiang Zemin.
A political source in Beijing said yesterday a ministerial-ranked official, who had been an important figure in the law-and-order establishment, had been under investigation for several months.
The source said his case may soon go to trial.
'President Jiang and [Premier] Zhu Rongji are convinced that unless a couple or so of really senior officials are caught, people may still doubt Beijing's commitment to fighting graft,' the source said.