Two more officials have joined the rapidly expanding ranks of civil servants who have some explaining to do about their family’s real-estate holdings.
Recent months have seen a spate of officials, dubbed “property uncles and aunties” by online wags, exposed to public outcry for somehow having amassed (in some cases) dozens of properties on a humble government salary.
Allegations originating from China’s microblogs have been taken up by authorities eager to seem tough on corruption.
In one recent case, investigators partly verified stunning online claims that Hefei (Anhui Province) district official Fang Guangyun and his family illegally seized 136 properties. Authorities confirmed Fang obtained at least eight of his properties through illegal means.
In Zhengzhou (Henan Province), twenty-nine properties were traced to the family of District 27 Real Estate Bureau director Zhai Zhenfeng, 11 of which were under Zhai’s daughter’s name.
Fang and Zhai have been placed under investigation by the authorities.
Source: The Beijing News (新京报)
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Benjamin Kessler is a contributing editor of the FCPA Blog and managing editor of ethiXbase. A version of this post appeared in the China Compliance Digest.
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