Local Authorities Involved in Crimes
A notice dated August 2019 from the Organization Department of the Inner Mongolia Party committee revealed the scope of gang-related activities among low-level officials in Chifeng city.According to the document, 2,743 candidates were disqualified in administrative village elections and 505 current members of residential committees were ineligible for public offices.
The Organization Department admitted that it failed to crack down on illegal gang activities and lacked oversight in grassroots organization management in certain areas.
According to data compiled in June 2018, the major members of the villagers’ committees and Party branches in Chifeng city were involved in unlawful activities such as theft, gambling, embezzlement, vote buying, organizing and colluding with mafia groups, human trafficking, beating, and even murder.
Vote Buying in Village Leadership Election
Another leaked document revealed that Liang Shaofei, the party chief of Lianghou village, Yihegong town, Ongniud Banner, was reported to have been successfully elected in June 2018 by buying votes at 1,000 yuan ($147) each. Evidence includes a recorded testimony of Zhang Dianjin, who helped Liang lobby for votes.Liang had also helped her husband’s brother, Bi Shizhang, get elected into the local Party branch by buying votes.
Another vote buying case involved Guan Cheng, the head of Sandaogou village, Wuduntaohai town, Ongniud Banner. Guan was elected at the cost of 200 yuan ($29) for each vote. Afterwards, he turned into a local despot with the help of his family influence. In return, he became their “protective umbrella,” indulging them in a variety of illegal activities. Guan himself beat fellow villagers, seized land and collective assets, according to leaked reports.
A whistleblower claimed that he had reported Guan’s unlawful acts to the local police, but they have not yet opened an investigation.
Commentator Li Linyi said that vote buying has become widespread and that new guidelines are needed to curb the illegal practice.
Stealing Public Funds
Another leaked document revealed a corruption case in Daxiying village, Qiaotou town, Ongniud Banner, which involved party secretary Wang Shuhai, party committee accountant Zhang Ju, and party committee member Wang Yan. The whistleblower was the former head of the same village committee, Zhang Rong. Zhang accused them of pocketing several million yuan of government poverty relief funds or benefits. Zhang also claimed they falsified records to gain benefits in the name of deceased fellow residents.
Zhang claimed that he took a risk in reporting their illegal activities because he was repeatedly turned away by all levels of government offices that tried to conceal or downplay the severity of the case even after they reluctantly agreed to look into the matter. Even the local watchdog and procuratorate authorities were no exceptions, according to Zhang.
The Epoch Times has so far not found evidence of the above suspects being brought to justice after searching through records available to the public.
Beijing launched its campaign to “sweep away blackness and eliminate evil” in January 2018. Authorities announced that it would be a three-year campaign to eliminate mafia and gang organizations across the country.
