A Shanghai Customs officer is under investigation after being accused of taking more than 110,000 yuan (US$17,700) in bribes from customs brokers, prosecutors in Qingpu District said yesterday.

The suspect, Yang Zhengyang, is alleged to have accepted kickbacks from various brokers in return for allowing goods entering and leaving the city to pass through customs unchecked.

The official accepted more than 60,000 yuan from a man named Wang Zhenlan in return for turning a blind eye to a cargo delivery, and took 50,000 yuan from a broker named Zhou Shijun for a similar "favor," prosecutors said.

Yang's alleged activities came to light after Zhou mentioned his name while being questioned by police about a separate incident.

Police reported the matter to the customs bureau — Yang's employer — which initiated its own investigation. During questioning, the bureau asked Yang why he had received 40,000 yuan via a bank transfer from Wang.

The official claimed he was in the process of buying a house and that the money was a loan, prosecutors said.

Following the internal investigation, the customs bureau forwarded the case to the discipline inspection commission.

Yang has been detained since March pending the results of an investigation.

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