Jiangsu official caught using fake identity to buy properties

Jiangsu authorities have launched an investigation into an official who deregistered his identity card and used a fake identity to buy properties, the latest in a spate of similar cases involving sacked officials in recent months.

Qiansu disciplinary inspection commission launched the investigation on Wednesday after a reporter exposed the official, Si Dongliang, for using a fake identity card.

Zhou said the process of deregistering an identity card required Chinese citizens to prove that they were going to emigrate. Chinese law states that people who do not have Chinese identity cards are not allowed to take government posts.

State-owned people.com on Friday confirmed that two sets of identity information for Si existed in the system after making inquiries with the relevant authorities. One identity card was deregistered in February with the reason given as emigration, it found.

The information entered for name, photograph, height and place of birth were identical on both cards, while the date of birth, occupation and address were different, the news portal discovered.