Chen Ruixi, former vice mayor of Sanming, Fujian province has been removed from his post after participating in a lavish dinner which led to the death of one government official.
Chen, who was also Party chief of Shaxian County, invited a businessman to a dinner organized by a local private company. Earlier in the day the two had been discussing an investment project. A cadre who accompanied Chen died following the party. Investigation showed that his death was caused by excessive drinking during the meal.
According to the Communist Party Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the country’s top anti-graft agency, the copious banquet was organized in order to hash out an investment deal between Chen and officials of the unnamed private company. Chen was promptly removed from his position for having a "negative social impact".
Multiple other officials also attended the dinner. Among them were Acting County Director Lin Zhaonao and Deputy County Director Lu Yongqing. They both received a serious warning, according to the CCDI.
In a similar case, Lei Yangsheng, the president of the state-owned China Construction Bank in Shaxian County, was dismissed after inviting several clients to a publicly funded entertainment event in Sanming. The excessive drinking at the feast later caused a bank employee to die. Two other vice presidents received strict warnings and administrative punishments.
Deaths from excessive drinking have become more and more common in China the last few years (as anyone who's been forced to down countless baijiu shots at company end-of-year parties can imagine), in spite of president Xi Jinping’s vow to pursue high level of corruption and graft in the Chinese government.
[Image via Flickr]
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