Hunan political advisor investigated for neglect of duty

BEIJING -- The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) Thursday decided to investigate Tong Mingqian, former senior political advisor in central China's Hunan Province, for neglect of duty.

Tong was suspected of neglecting his duty in a case of serious election fraud in Hengyang city in Hunan, said the SPP statement.

The SPP decided to put Tong under "compulsory measures" during the investigation, the statement said.

According to China's criminal procedure law, compulsory measures refer to release on bail, residential surveillance and arrest. The SPP statement did not explain which compulsory measure was imposed on Tong.

Tong has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and removed from public office for dereliction of duty, said a statement from the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), also on Thursday.

Before serving as vice chairman of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Tong worked as party chief of Hengyang. He was in charge of local election of deputies to the Hunan Provincial People's Congress between December 28, 2012 and January 3, 2013.

Preliminary investigation has shown that, during the election, 56 lawmakers from Hengyang City bribed 518 fellow municipal lawmakers and 68 staff to be elected to the Hunan provincial people's congress. The bribe money exceeded 110 million yuan ($18.14 million).

The CCDI statement said Tong did not take timely and effective measures to seriously handle bribery cases exposed before and after the election, causing major electoral fraud that "inflicts great losses to the interests of the Party, country and the people, and leaves a harmful political and social impact."

Tong's expulsion from the CPC and removal from public office have been endorsed by the CPC Central Committee, according to the CCDI.