BEIJING
One of China's top spy chiefs is being investigated for corruption, state media reported Friday.
Ma Jian, an executive deputy minister at the Ministry of State Security, was detained for suspected "disciplinary violations," the state-run China Daily reported, citing a Friday statement from the country’s anti-corruption agency.
The Commission for Discipline Inspection said Ma, who is thought to have headed China’s counter-espionage operations, was being investigated for suspected “serious violation of party disciplines and law” - a euphemism for corruption.
Although no further details were provided, the South China Morning Post reported the inquiry is believed to be connected to a high-profile probe into the management of a Peking University-owned technology conglomerate.
Last week, the Founder Group said that its Chief Executive Li You, Chairman Wei Xin and President Yu Li had been summoned to “assist authorities with investigations.”
According to the Post, Ma is close to Li, who allegedly financed profitable investment trading by one of Ma’s relatives – some of whom have also been reportedly placed under investigation.
The announcement is the latest in a series of high-profile investigations into communist cadres under President Xi Jianping's anti-corruption drive. Among those arrested has been Zhou Yongkang, the former head of China’s domestic security service.
According to the Post, Ma worked at the intelligence agency for more than 30 years and was promoted to a deputy minister of counter-intelligence in 2006.
The Ministry of State Security does not publicly disclose the names of its deputy ministers.
Last week, state news agency Xinhua reported that 71,748 corrupt officials - high-level violators known locally as "tigers" and low-level "flies" – were punished in 2014 for violations of anti-corruption rules.
