China’s new inconvenient truth: how much lottery money corrupt officials stole
- Authorities deny widespread rumours that the equivalent of US$19.5bn had been embezzled, but say it would be ‘inconvenient’ to give correct figures
- Latest developments in corruption scandal trigger fresh public outcry, with people questioning whether the true figure is greater
“Ever wonder how come you have never won the lottery? Because the prize money has all been pocketed by corrupt officials!”
This was the latest meme making the rounds on China’s social media, as members of the public demanded that the government disclose how much money had been taken in one of the biggest scandals to hit the country’s fast-growing lottery industry.
On Tuesday the authorities scrambled to deny widespread rumours that as much as 136 billion yuan (US$19.5 billion) had been embezzled but said it would be “inconvenient” to reveal the true sum – drawing the ire and mockery of internet users.
“Is it inconvenient … because the amount is even larger than what the rumours claimed?” read the most liked comment on the social network Weibo.
In mainland China, the official welfare lottery and sports lottery are the only forms of gambling allowed by the Communist Party.