Chinese official claims to be 'master' in major family corruption case

"When I was trusted to be appointed as the leader of Jiangxi province, I should have been strict with myself and wholeheartedly served the people. However, when my family and I came here, we sought personal gain. This is the degeneration of power. Now, even if I were released, I would have no face to meet anyone." These are the words of repentance, the belated regret behind the iron frame of Su Rong - former Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Su Rong's wife, son and even various close relatives all took advantage of the official's power for personal gain, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said.

"There are more than 10 relatives of To Vinh involved in the case. To Vinh himself claims to be the 'mastermind' of the family's major corruption case. A typical example of a corrupt family," said Mr. Truong Phu, a member of CCDI.

To Vinh recounts the crime in a documentary. (Photo: CCTV)

Su Rong is the first deputy central official to fall from grace for corruption after the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (2012). Before becoming Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Su Rong held the positions of Deputy Secretary of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Qinghai Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Gansu Provincial Party Committee, and Secretary of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee.

In 2013, when the CCDI inspection team conducted an inspection in Jiangxi Province, they picked up some interesting information in conversations with local officials.

"At that time, a local official said that they had just finished holding the Jiangxi Provincial People's Congress and Su Rong had lost nearly 50 votes of confidence. At the National People's Congress that followed, Su Rong lost nearly 70 more votes. As a provincial party secretary, losing so many votes showed that there was no small amount of dissatisfaction with Su Rong," said Ninh Dinh Linh, an inspector of the CCDI.

According to CCDI, more and more people later reported to the inspection team about various problems of Su Rong when he was in power in Jiangxi, especially information that he took advantage of his position to let relatives and family members interfere in construction projects in Jiangxi, meddled in the promotion of cadres and personnel, and accepted bribes.

After the CCDI investigation, the above issues were all verified to be true.

Su Rong's wife is Yu Lifang, also known as "Sister Yu". Many people have reported that she has repeatedly interfered in local government affairs, creating relatively negative influences.

Jingde Town in Jiangxi Province is a famous pottery village. In order to ask for Vu's help, many people bought precious porcelain as gifts. Vu not only did not refuse any gift but even took the initiative to "invite".

CCDI said that through investigation, Su Rong was not that corrupt at first. When he was in charge of the Qinghai and Gansu departments, Su Rong also made some mistakes, but they were all minor problems. It was only when he held the position in Jiangxi that this official became corrupt. Su Rong's change was also confirmed by his son Su Tiezhi.

"When he arrived in Jiangxi, my father began to feel that it might be his last term. Before that, he would not introduce his subordinates or friends to us. When I was in Qinghai, I did not know any local cadres, and the same was true in Gansu," Su Tiezhi said in his testimony.

To Thiet Chi later admitted that he took advantage of his relationships with officials introduced by his father to help friends and relatives get projects and receive large amounts of "gratitude" from them.

The night before Su Rong was arrested, China Central Television (CCTV) aired a special program about family traditions. Su Rong said that when the program was shown on TV, he felt guilty and did not dare to watch it.

“I am a bad father, a useless husband. It is my fault for making my wife greedy and my son fall into corruption. I not only ruined myself, but also pushed my whole family into the abyss. If they were not the wife and children of a secretary, if I were not a provincial party secretary, things would not have come to this,” To Vinh expressed his regret.

According to the investigation results of CCDI, from 2002 to 2014, Su Rong took advantage of his positions to help many individuals and businesses make illegal profits, thereby receiving bribes and goods worth more than 116 million yuan (more than 380 billion VND). In addition, the corrupt official Su could not explain the origin of his assets of up to 80 million yuan (more than 262 billion VND).

In January 2017, Su Rong was sentenced to life in prison by the Jinan City People's Court in Shandong Province.

Hua Yu ((Source: IFeng))

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