Graft probe targets key official in Guizhou

The top political adviser in Guizhou province has been suspended from his position and is being investigated for an alleged serious breach of party discipline, state media said yesterday.

Huang Yao, chairman of the Guizhou Provincial People's Political Consultative Conference, allegedly violated party discipline - a common euphemism for corruption - according to Xinhua. The inquiry had been confirmed by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection under the Chinese Communist Party, Xinhua said, giving no further details.

The news came after the downfall of Song Yong, vice-chairman of the Liaoning provincial people's congress, and Li Tangtang , the vice-chairman of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Huang is the third provincial-level official brought down - at least temporarily - by the party watchdog in the aftermath of last month's fourth plenum of the 17th Central Committee of the party, which focused on fighting corruption.

Huang is also the second regional head of the political consultative body to face such an investigation after the downfall of Chen Shaoji, the former chairman of the Guangdong Provincial People's Political Consultative Conference, who was fired for bribe-taking and a degenerate lifestyle in mid-April.

A member of the Buyi minority, Huang has worked in the southwestern province for the past three decades. The 61-year-old reportedly attended a meeting on October 19 with standing members of the Communist Party's Guizhou Provincial Committee to hear comments conveyed from Vice-Premier Li Keqiang , who had just wrapped up a visit to the province. That was Huang's last public appearance before his detention.

Huang's abrupt suspension gave rise to wild speculation among mainland internet users that he might be involved in corruption.