Former Liaoning police leaders admit corrupt behavior in TV series

In a television series that began airing over the weekend, three consecutive heads of the Liaoning Provincial Public Security Department discussed how they had engaged in corruption from 2002 to 2022, accepting bribes collectively exceeding 1.2 billion yuan ($170 million).

The three abused their authority, interfered with judicial and law enforcement proceedings, colluded with unscrupulous business owners and, in one case, even sold official job positions.

The four-episode anti-corruption special began airing on CCTV-1 on Saturday night, with the first episode titled Resolving Unique Challenges, and will conclude on Tuesday.

Jointly produced by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision and China Central Television, the series aims to strengthen political supervision, uphold strict Party governance, enhance the Party's discipline and deepen the fight against corruption.

In a jaw-dropping account during the first episode, Wang Dawei, former deputy governor of Liaoning and former head of the province's public security department, vividly recounted accepting a single bribe amounting to 40 million yuan and $4 million in cash.

Wang, who led the Liaoning police department between 2013 and 2022, was placed under investigation in March 2022. He recalled telling investigators that he struggled to drive his car up the slope of a parking garage because he was hauling 22 cardboard boxes filled with cash at the time.

He ultimately accepted over 555 million yuan during his term.

"Looking back, I was truly insane at that time," Wang said. "I caused serious damage to the political ecosystem of the local public security system and bear the main responsibility. I should receive legal punishment, the most severe punishment. I deserve the blame."

Wang pleaded guilty in court in October and is awaiting sentencing.

His two predecessors, Li Wenxi and Xue Heng, were also placed under investigations in 2021.

Li served in the province's police departments at various levels for over 40 years and ultimately served as the provincial department chief from 2002 to 2011.

He accepted bribes of over 541 million yuan, with the majority coming from the owner of an iron ore mine asked Li to help him avoid serious punishment for his involvement in illegal mining. In return, the owner gave Li 30 percent of the shares of another iron ore mine, and Li arranged for his brother-in-law to be the nominal shareholder.

"It's a sort of betrayal, because I was in charge of fighting crime and punishing criminals. I deeply regret this," Li said.

In January last year, Li was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, deprived of his political rights for life and had all his personal property confiscated. After the two-year suspension, his sentence will be commuted to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole or commutation.

Li also set a bad example for Xue, his successor.

In 2005, while serving as head of the Liaoning Provincial Civil Affairs Department, Xue approached Li to seek leniency for a business owner involved in an extortion case.

"I was worried that Li might not want to help me, but Li was quite cooperative and helped resolve the matter," Xue said.

Xue took over Li's position in 2011. During his two years in office, he received money and property totaling 135 million yuan.

Xue also abused his position and helped business owners resolve their legal matters, set up business operations and obtain projects. He was found guilty of accepting bribes and engaging in corruption and was sentenced last month to 17 years in prison.

Wang replaced Xue in 2013.Though Wang had once been involved in corruption before, he said he was still shocked to discover just how pervasive it was in the department upon assuming office.

Wang recalled that even deputy department heads in the same building would send him money during Chinese New Year.

Nearly half of the over 555 million yuan in bribes that Wang accepted was gifted by Liu Zhongtian, the actual controller of Liaoning Zhongwang Group. Once the largest aluminum extrusion producer in Asia, Zhongwang is now seeking bankruptcy protection.

In 2017, the company's illegal capital outflows were uncovered, and Liu sought Wang's assistance. Having heard of Liu's extravagant behavior, Wang handled the case lightly. After closing the case, he met Liu and implied that Liu should bribe him.

"I intentionally made him appreciate me, because I helped him get out of a huge amount of trouble," Wang said.

Liu initially offered Wang 40 million yuan and $4 million in cash. Later, Liu gifted Wang an additional HK$200 million in four installments in Macao.

In 2019, the Ministry of Public Security transferred tip-offs about Zhongwang's wrongdoings to the Liaoning Provincial Public Security Department for investigation. However, Wang promptly informed Liu about the investigation and instructed investigative agencies to hold off.

By 2020, the company's huge debt had caused major financial risks in the region, but Wang was still trying to shield Liu and help him stave off the company's collapse.

Li, Xue and Wang also helped others procure jobs. Wang even openly sold official positions, promoting individuals recommended by business owners.

"It made people feel that they needed to rely on relationships with these business owners to advance their careers. The impact is very serious," Wang said.

In 2021 alone, six members of the Party Committee of the Liaoning Provincial Public Security Department, who worked alongside Wang, faced investigations. In total, 43 senior public security and legal-related officials in the province were investigated.