China: Regional party chief admits $5.8 million graft

By Fuat Kabakci

BEIJING

A regional Communist Party chief has pleaded guilty to taking bribes of more than 40 million yuan ($5.8 million), using much of the money to finance a life of luxury.

State news agency Xinhua reported Thursday that Zhou Benshun had two personal chefs recruited from his hometown and two nannies to tend to his family in their 800-square-meter (8611-square-feet) villa; one whose sole responsibility was to take care of his pets.

A court statement issued Wednesday said that Zhou, former Party chief of Hebei province, had pleaded guilty at Xiamen Intermediate People's Court in Fujian province.

While leader of Hunan and Hebei provinces and on the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Party's Central Committee, Zhou is reported to have used his position to facilitate bank loans for companies, and provide "easy access to property development and promotions".

The court said that from 2003 to 2015, he received illegal gains of 40.02 million yuan directly or indirectly through his wife and son.

He was placed under investigation in October 2015, and expelled from the Party.

China's anti-corruption campaign shifted into a higher gear following the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in late 2012.

Many senior officials have since been probed and exposed.