Former Chengdu people's congress chief expelled from CPC

Bao Hui, former head of the standing committee of the Chengdu people's congress in Sichuan province, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China for serious violations of Party discipline and suspected violations of national laws, the country's top anti-corruption authorities announced on Wednesday.

The announcement was published online by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision.

Bao was placed under investigation in January. According to the investigation findings, she violated the central leadership's requirements on preventing and defusing major financial risks, made improper decisions that led to significant financial risks, held a distorted view of political performance and resisted organizational investigation.

She also accepted gifts and cash in violation of regulations, as well as banquets and travel arrangements that could affect the impartial performance of her official duties. During the investigation, she failed to truthfully explain relevant issues and did not report personal matters as required, the commissions said.

Bao also improperly helped others secure benefits in the selection and appointment of officials and tolerated and acquiesced in family members' use of her official influence for personal gain, according to the commissions.

In addition, she improperly interfered in market economic activities and abused her power for personal gain. She engaged in extensive power-for-money transactions, using her position to help others obtain benefits in areas including commercial bank restructuring, construction land acquisition and engineering project contracting, in return for huge sums of money and property.

The commissions said Bao's conduct constituted serious violations of Party discipline and serious duty-related violations, and that she was suspected of bribery.

Her illicit gains will be confiscated, and the suspected criminal offenses and related assets have been transferred to prosecutors for further review and investigation, the commissions said.

Public records show that Bao, 63, is a native of Yunnan province and graduated from Southwest Jiaotong University in Sichuan. She began her career in July 1984.

In 1998, she became deputy head of Qingyang district in Chengdu. She later held several key positions in the city, including head of the municipal environmental protection bureau, head of the local federation of trade unions and head of the municipal publicity department.

In January 2013, she became mayor of Dazhou, Sichuan province. In early 2022, she was appointed head of the standing committee of the Chengdu people's congress, the city's top legislative body.