Shadow of corruption hangs over Olympics
Beijing's vice-mayor, charged with the construction of new venues for the Olympics, has been arrested on corruption charges. China's Olympic committee: "He had no links with us."
Beijing (AsiaNews/SCMP) Organizers of the Beijing Olympic Games have distanced themselves from the vice-mayor of the city, Liu Zhihua, arrested on 11 June on charges of corruption and a "decadent lifestyle".
The arrest of Liu, who was in charge of construction of new venues for the Olympics, has given rise to speculation about possible corruption cases in the lead-up to the Games.
The Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (Bocog) which has repeatedly pledged to make the event "free of corruption" has rejected any such links with the disgraced politician. "Liu Zhihua was not a member of Bocog, nor did he hold any position in the organising committee," said Sun Weide, deputy director of Bocog's media and communications department.
A Beijing government daily newspaper, Wen Wei Po, said Liu had been put under shuanggui [a form of Communist Party internal disciplinary investigation] on Friday, although his dismissal was only announced two days later in a statement published by Xinhua. The newspaper said Liu had been involved in a series of scandals linked not only to corruption but also to his lifestyle: the politician allegedly kept a series of mistresses in luxury villas in the suburbs of Beijing.
The deputy mayor's dismissal from public life came about when a group of foreign investors, who have remained anonymous for security reasons, reported him to his superiors for bribes requested in exchange for land deals.
Beijing Communist Party secretary, Liu Qi, described the scandal as a sign that "the Party's fight against corruption will be arduous and long-lasting". He added: "We deeply regret that the case concerns a high-ranking politician. It is a profound lesson for all of us.
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