Former security boss of north China province took down rivals of favoured businessman, media reports
Zhang Yue, now under investigation, is the fourth Hebei official at the vice-ministerial level or higher to fall amid the national anti-corruption campaign
An ex-senior Hebei security official colluded with a former state security chief to take down rivals of a favoured businessman using blackmail and even law enforcement resources, mainland media reported.
Zhang Yue, who ran security in the northern province, has been placed under investigation for suspected disciplinary violations, Xinhua reported over the weekend, using a euphemism that often refers to corruption.
Zhang, 56, plotted with Ma Jian, who was a deputy minster of state security at the time, to help businessman Guo Wengui succeed against rivals, according to Caixin, a respected financial news outlet.
One competitor – Qu Long – was arrested in Beijing in 2011 after he made claims about Guo’s alleged wrongdoings to the media and alerted the Communist Party’ s anti-graft watchdog, according to another report on online portal Netease.
