16 September 2014
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said in short statement that Sun Zhaoxue, Chairman of metals giant Aluminum Corp. of China (Chinalco) was suspected of severe “severe disciplinary violations”. Mr. Sun, 53, took the helm of Aluminum Corp. in October 2013. This was a lateral move for him from his previous position as head of China National Gold Group Corp.
In its filing to Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Chinalco stated that Mr. Sun has resigned from the company and was under investigation, which will not affect the operations of the company.
Last week Mr. Sun chaired a panel on energy and resources at the World Economic Forum’s Summer Davos forum in Tianjin. This happens to be his last public appearance.
Shanxi, the centre of China’s mining wealth seems to be also the hot bed of corruption crackdown. In August the Central Commission for Discipline said that Shanxi Communist Party Standing Committee member Bai Yun was under corruption investigation. Prior to that, the Commission announced that Ling Zhengce, vice chairman of Shanxi’s political advisory committee, was brought under investigation.
In another interesting drama in Shanxi, a municipal officer, Guo Shuanglong, signed a termination agreement with his jilted 26 year old mistress to end their relationship, paying her Yuan 400,000 (US$ 65,000) in compensation. The document was even witnessed by the local village head. Earlier on when he tried to end the relationship, his mistress resisted and started harassing him and his family. She agreed to cease all harassment of him, his family and friends on payment of Yuan 400,000. To Guo’s embarrassment, she posted a copy of the agreement on line. This comes in the midst of all the corruption investigations going on in Shanxi.
Dong Xuegang, director and party head of Yuncheng city’s economic and information technology commission jumped to death from a residential building on 14 September. He was interrogated twice by the provincial discipline inspection team before the Mid-Autumn holiday on 8th September. This type of suicide is not uncommon. It is speculated that some 30 officials have committed suicide rather than face the disgrace and trial.
