Investigations into military corruption find irregularities
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E-mail Xinhua/Shanghai Daily, April 2, 2014
Inspectors have uncovered irregularities and suspected corruption among military units based around Beijing, China’s Defense Ministry said yesterday.
The ministry said the inspections in the Beijing and Jinan military regions were carried out directly under the authority of the Central Military Commission, headed by President Xi Jinping.
It said multiple leads were obtained concerning problems with the handling of promotions, discipline among officers, land transfers, the construction and allocation of buildings and military medical services.
The commission said those cases would be further investigated and publicized “for their deterrent effect,” raising the likelihood that offenders would be brought before military courts.
Promotions and plum assignments are sometimes secured by providing payments or favors to higher ranking officers and military assets, especially land, used for private economic benefit.
The inspections were carried out between December 10 and March 13, with the initial results presented at a meeting last Friday, according to the People’s Liberation Army’s newspaper.
Yesterday’s PLA Daily said Xu Qiliang, vice chairman of the military commission, heard reports from teams involved in the first round of inspections by the CMC.
Focusing on anti-corruption work, inspectors found issues concerning self-discipline, construction projects, land transfers, low-income housing projects, among other areas.
Xu said the army’s disciplinary inspection system should be strengthened as it is of strategic importance for the building of the army.
Xu told the meeting that Party committees of large units and their members should be the focus of inspection work, and more effort is needed to tackle corruption in areas where it is prone.
On Monday, the military said it was charging Lieutenant General Gu Junshan with embezzlement, bribery, misuse of state funds and abuse of power.
Gu had been deputy head of the People’s Liberation Army’s general logistics department, a position offering him power over procurement and contracts with which to allegedly amass a vast fortune.
No word has been given on when and where Gu would be tried. Legal expert Yu Xiao, writing in the PLA newspaper, said proceedings may be held in private since they could involve military secrets.
“The investigation and Gu’s trial is important and will have an active and far-reaching impact on cracking down on graft in the PLA,” Yu wrote.
National security
The case may involve the production and procurement of logistics equipment in the army, which would be deemed to be military secrets, said Yu.
Cases involving military secrets concern national security are not allowed to be tried in public in accordance with laws, said Yu, adding that it is also an international judicial practice.
Under Chinese criminal law procedure, the court should give reasons in public for hearing the trial privately, Yu said.
All legal procedures must be strictly enforced and supervised by the procuratorial organ and the higher level court, Yu said.
Yu said the military court will complete a review and accept the case within seven days.
The military court will form a collegial panel, deliver a copy of the indictment to the defendant and his counsel 10 days ahead of the trial, Yu said.
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