Top Chinese steel maker bribed officials, creditors claim
Allegations concern beleagured Shanxi Haixin Iron and Steel Group
One of the country's biggest - and beleaguered - private steel makers bribed more than 120 government officials, mainland media reported on Wednesday, citing one of the steel firm's creditors.
"The CCDI talked to the representatives of the creditors on July 8 and the commission has launched an investigation," one creditor was quoted as saying.
The company was owned by tycoon Li Zhaohui, and those who took the bribes between 2009 and 2011 allegedly included officials from Wenxi county, Yuncheng, as well as Shanxi province. The group was likely seeking waivers on energy conservation targets in return for the bribes, the creditor said.
A National Development and Reform Commission official was also among those on the list, accepting 200,000 yuan in cash, a 10,000 yuan dinner and gifts worth 30,000 yuan, according to the report.
"The CCDI's investigation focused on the NDRC official that was on the list," the creditor said.