Chinese prosecutor fired for ‘asking alleged loan shark’s family for bribe’
- Official has been placed under investigation after court was told a recording had been made of alleged US$44,000 shake-down
- Money-lender’s daughter gave up job with US venture capital firm to return home to help father’s defence
A Chinese prosecutor has been fired over allegations that he asked for a bribe in a loan sharking case.
The authorities in Baotou city in Inner Mongolia announced on Monday that Li Shuyao, a local prosecutor, had been dismissed. The statement did not give the reason for his dismissal.
But an official notice last month said he was under official investigation for “serious violations of discipline and law”, a euphemism for corruption.
A report in Thepaper.cn said the investigation began after the defence told the court there was a recording that allegedly showed Li had asked the defendant’s family for a bribe.
Wang Ran, the defendant’s daughter who returned home from the United States to help her father, said she was pleased to hear Li had been dismissed, adding, “he should have been sacked a long time ago.”
“I hope this will help my father’s case,” she said. “I hope this is a turning point and he gets justice.”
Her father, Wang Yongming, had run a private money lending business in Baotou for decades before Li charged him with blackmail and extortion last year.