China removes official over ‘superstitious’ activities

BEIJING – A former vice governor of a province has been dismissed from public office for superstitious activities and trading power for sex and money, China’s anti-corruption watchdog announced Tuesday.

Chen Shulong had long abused his power to seek “huge profits,” the ruling Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said in a statement. It didn’t give a sum or explain what “superstitious activities” he had allegedly been involved in. It said his illegal gains will be confiscated and his case transferred to the judiciary.

Chen was also expelled from the Communist Party, which nominally espouses atheism. He had been the vice governor of eastern China’s Anhui province and had been under investigation since November, the statement said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has made fighting corruption a hallmark of his administration since being appointed head of the party in late 2012. More than 1 million party members have been punished in the campaign, which has brought down two former top generals and a past member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the apex of political power.