BEIJING -- The former secretary of Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Sun Zhengcai has been expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office for "serious discipline violations."

A meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Friday reviewed and approved a report on Sun's investigation and made the decision.

According to evidence found by the authorities and tip-offs from the public, the CPC Central Committee decided to remove Sun from his position as Chongqing Party chief on July 14.

A meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on July 24 decided to put Sun under investigation. The investigation was conducted by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The investigation found that Sun had betrayed Party principles and lost political stance, ignoring the Party code of conduct and rules, according to a statement issued after Friday's meeting.

He was also found to have seriously violated the CPC eight-point code on frugality and maintaining close ties with the masses. He sought pomp, ostentation and privileges, according to the statement.

The statement said that Sun was guilty of nepotism and seeking benefits in selection of officials. He was also found guilty of leaking confidential Party information and seriously breaching Party rules on integrity.

He took advantage of his power and influence to seek benefits for others, and accepted a "huge amount" of money and gifts in return.

He was found to have sought substantial benefits for his relatives' businesses and accepted valuable gifts.

Also, the statement accused Sun of bureaucracy and sloth in work and degradation and power-for-sex trades in life.

Sun totally deviated from the Party spirit and political requirements on senior officials, the statement said, adding that his misconduct betrayed the trust of the CPC Central Committee and the public, inflicting huge harm to the Party and the country with an "extremely bad" social influence.

The case involving Sun's suspected crimes will be transferred to the judiciary.

The decision to expel Sun from the CPC will be put before a plenary meeting of the CPC Central Committee.