Hu Deping denies connection to accused Sichuan triad leader

Hu Deping, the eldest son of the late Communist Party general secretary Hu Yaobang and a leading liberal, has publicly denied having any connection to an alleged gangster.

Hu's wife is a fellow director of a charity sponsored by the Sichuan businessman Liu Han, who is accused of being an organised crime boss.

Liu donated 100 million yuan (HK$127 million) in 2007 to the Tiannuo Charity Foundation, of which Hu's wife, Wang Yuying , is director-general.

Liu last week was charged with 15 serious offences - including murder, gun running and bribery - in a case that appears connected to the wider corruption probe into associates of the retired security tsar Zhou Yongkang.

In a statement posted on Sina Weibo and the Hu Yaobang Historical Data website, Hu said he could not remember meeting Liu before.

"One thing is certain, I have never conducted any illegal businesses with Liu and or lobbied for his personal interests," Hu said. "Other people would have definitely known and spoken out if I did anything wrong on his behalf."