China’s civil affairs minister and deputy ‘under investigation’
Speculation Li Liguo faces a corruption inquiry after minister not seen at key party meeting
Two top officials who oversaw civil affairs are being investigated by on suspicion of severe violations of Communist Party discipline, sources say.
References to violating party discipline are usually a euphemism for corruption.
“Both Li Liguo (李立國) and Dou Yupei were recently taken away by party disciplinary and supervisory personnel,” a source close to the Civil Affairs Ministry quoted a staff briefing as saying in the last few days .
It is rare for both the head of a ministerial-level body and one of his or her deputies to be removed at the same time.
As a full member of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, Civil Affairs Minister Li should have attended the party’s sixth plenary session, which ended late last month.