Inquiry into Congress head to stay secret

Authorities have decided not to make public results of the investigation into Congress vice-chairman Cheng Kejie for alleged corruption when the NPC is in session, sources said yesterday.

Cheng allegedly was part of a huge smuggling syndicate in Guangxi. Xu Bingsong, a former vice-chairman of the autonomous region, was jailed for life last August for accepting 550,000 yuan (HK$517,000) in bribes from 1995 to 1997. Xu was one of Cheng's proteges.

'There were strong demands among legislators to make public results of the investigation but central leaders are divided over how to handle Cheng's case,' a senior NPC official said. 'The majority of leaders favour winding up the case later this year.' If charged, Cheng, who has the same rank as a vice-premier, will be the most senior leader to face prosecution for graft since the trial of former Beijing Communist Party Secretary Chen Xitong two years ago.

Cheng, who was absent from the 50th National Day celebrations last October, has been under house arrest since August.

Formerly chairman of Guangxi Autonomous Region, Cheng, 66, was elected an NPC vice-chairman in March last year.