Ex-Chinese daily chief faces probe

A former chief of a Chinese daily has been placed under investigation for suspected "serious disciplinary violations", the media reported on Tuesday.

It is alleged that Zhao Xinwei, former editor-in-chief of Xinjiang Daily, publicly made comments that were contrary to major work plans and policy decisions issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Xinjiang Uygur region party committee, China.org reported.

He also deliberately made decisions opposing major work deployments made by central and local party authorities, the Xinjiang anti-graft watchdog said.

From 2005 to 2011, Zhao served as the editor-in-chief and vice-president of Xinjiang Daily, a party newspaper under the regional Party Committee Publicity Department.

The commission said Zhao allegedly wasted and embezzled public funds or failed to investigate or stop internal departments at Xinjiang Daily from secretly setting up bank accounts.

He also allegedly abused his power to gain benefits for others on personnel selection and appointments, transfers and retirement and enterprise management. He then accepted huge bribes from them either in cash or property, according to the commission.

He is also suspected of hindering anti-graft officers in reviewing his alleged wrong-doings and of colluding with others to fabricate evidence, it said.

Evidence in his case will be sent to law enforcement authorities for further investigation.

On Monday, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection issued a revised regulation on disciplinary punishments. Under it, any party member who contravenes its major policy decisions and destroys its unity will be subject to punishment.