China to put former top anti-corruption inspector on trial for graft

Dong Hong’s case has been handed over to prosecutors amid allegations that he committed ‘grave violations’ of Communist Party discipline

Party leaders could be trying to clear a backlog ahead of next year’s party congress, observer says

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Former senior discipline inspector Dong Hong is expected to face trial soon. Photo: Weibo

Published: 6:00am, 27 Apr 2021Updated: 6:00am, 27 Apr 2021

A former senior inspector from China’s top anti-corruption agency is expected to face trial soon over alleged corruption.

State news agency Xinhua reported on Monday that the National Supervisory Commission, which investigates corruption in the ranks of government, had wrapped up its investigation into Dong Hong and his case had been handed over to the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.

Before his downfall, Dong was a senior disciplinary inspector with the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Communist Party’s top anti-corruption watchdog.

The decision to put Dong, 67, on trial was largely expected after reports that he had been expelled from the party earlier this month for “serious violations of the law and party discipline”, a euphemism for corruption.

In a statement, the CCDI accused Dong of having “totally lost his ideals and convictions … committed grave violations of party political discipline and rules, been dishonest and disloyal to the party, engaged in superstitious activities and intervened in disciplinary and law enforcement matters through illegal means”.

The CCDI also accused Dong of indulging in extravagance by “frequenting private clubs and attending banquets that might have compromised how he discharged his official duties”.