When the managers learned of the connection with Mr. Zhang, they “took the initiative and invested a huge amount of money.” [on renting the billboard]”Even though there was no demand for advertising,” the CCTV program quoted an official from the party’s highest anti-corruption body as saying.
“[The businesspeople] was actually hidden [means] This is to funnel profits to Mr. Zhang,” said a Central Discipline Inspection Commission official.
“The son’s figurehead was Mr. Zhang’s ‘bridge’ to power,” the documentary said, adding that Mr. Zhang’s power and influence “allowed his family to gain wealth.”
Zhang, 66, is one of four party secretaries in Jilin city facing corruption allegations. The four were in office from 2006 to 2017.
The CCDI’s June notice said he was “disloyal to the party” and involved in buying and selling office positions.
The CCTV program revealed new details of the case, reporting that Zhang received “tens of millions of yuan” in property and cash from businessman Liu Youcai.
The two met in the 1980s as junior workers at a machine factory affiliated with Jilin Chemical Group, and have been friends for 40 years. During that time, the narration said, their relationship changed from one based on “brotherly love” to one centered on “naked power and money transactions.”
Mr. Zhang was promoted to manager of the chemical group, while Mr. Liu, a former factory cafeteria chef, succeeded when a friend instructed him to organize a company banquet. The diner prospered, and Liu was able to open a restaurant in another part of the city.
After Mr. Zhang took over as party leader in Jilin City, Mr. Liu reportedly asked him to help secure new projects, and his business soon expanded into fields such as catering, logistics and transportation, and firefighting equipment supply. We plan to expand.
Mr. Liu is said to have returned the favor in kind, ranging from cash to gold bullion and stocks.
‘Tiger hunt’: China’s anti-corruption war sees record purges of senior officials
‘Tiger hunt’: China’s anti-corruption war sees record purges of senior officials
The CCTV program also outlined corruption cases against three former public security chiefs in neighboring Liaoning province in the northeast.
Li Wenxi, who held office from 2002 to 2011, embezzled 541 million yuan (US$75.5 million), while Wang Dawei embezzled 555 million yuan during his 2011-2013 term. According to the report, Wang’s successor, Xue Heng, received 135 million yuan during his tenure from 2013 to 2022.
The committee will meet from Monday to set priorities for the country’s corps of discipline inspectors and supervisors in the new year.