Former boss of China aircraft carrier programme in corruption probe
- Investigation of Hu Wenming follows last year’s jailing of another senior member of scandal-hit corporation
- Hu oversaw development of Liaoning and Shandong carriers before his retirement last year
The head of China’s aircraft carrier programme is being investigated by the nation’s anti-corruption watchdog – months after the company was hit by a scandal over the leaking of confidential information.
Hu Wenming, the former Communist Party chief and chairman of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), is suspected of serious violations of discipline and law – a euphemism that usually refers to economic crime and corruption – according to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection late on Tuesday.
A Chinese military source familiar with the matter said the investigation began when Hu retired from CSIC in August. It follows the jailing last year of Sun Bo, a former general manager of the corporation, who is serving 12 years for corruption offences. The commission did not say whether the two cases were linked.
Sun, who was jailed for taking bribes and abuse of power in July, was criticised by the anti-corruption watchdog for not following orders from the central leadership, harming the interests of state-owned enterprises, and lying to the inspection team sent by the watchdog.