Corruption is once again in the spotlight after a chief discipline inspector in central China's Hunan Province was linked to economic crimes.

The case involving Luo Ziguang, secretary of the Loudi Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China (CPC), is a signal that corruption has tainted even the corruption watchdogs.

Shao Daosheng, a special researcher of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC, said that the country's anti-corruption departments and the Party's discipline inspection branches have become major targets.

Luo was put under disciplinary detention in April, according to the Beijing weekly Oriental Outlook.

According to the report, Luo "revealed municipal Party committee secrets, took part in activities organized by illegal groups and viciously assaulted provincial leaders."

Last week, the Hunan Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC declared Luo was connected to "economic irregularities involving huge amounts of money. " It said that the provincial People's Procuratorate has taken "tough measures" against him.

Judicial departments have also begun to investigate the case.

A low-key official, Luo was once regarded as upright by many, reported China Youth Daily. He held the position of secretary at a supervisory department and a concurrent post on the Loudi Party Committee as deputy secretary.

Many officials in Loudi were shocked to learn Luo was in custody. His driver reportedly said, "Luo is the cleanest leader that I have ever seen."

But an anonymous official who was a coworker of Luo's was quoted as saying that Luo just kept up a spotless public image. The official said that Luo formed political cliques and faked achievements.

According to Oriental Outlook, Luo once accepted a huge bribe from a factory leader to send his child to study overseas.

Meanwhile, Peng Jinyong, former secretary of the Changde City Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC in Hunan, was sentenced to 16 years in jail by the Yueyang Intermediate People's Court earlier this month.

Peng, who was also deputy head of the city Party committee, was accused of taking bribes, embezzlement and failure to account for his personal wealth, said People's Daily.

The 58-year-old Peng, who also impressed many with his clean image, was found to have accepted bribes and gifts on 18 occasions between 1998 and 2003, totaling 615,600 yuan (US$74,400).

He also embezzled 155,000 yuan (US$19,000) using fake account bills, according to People's Daily.

Peng told China Youth Daily that he will appeal to a higher court.

Shao, a former researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has been researching corruption for two decades. In an article posted on the website of the People's Daily, he suggested the government curb corruption through reforms.

"The leading official in a department is too powerful, and a considerable number of them 'have problems,'"he wrote.

Public supervision should be strengthened, Shao believes, as effective supervision can deter officials from corruption.

(China Daily July 22, 2004)