Corruption charges for Chinalco ex-chief
THE former general manager of Chinalco has been expelled from the Chinese Communist Party.
THE former general manager of Chinalco, one of China’s largest state-owned enterprises which owns a 10 per cent stake in Rio Tinto, has been expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and faces several high-level corruption and adultery charges.
Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, announced that Sun Zhaoxue was being investigated by the Supreme People’s Procurate for allegedly accepting bribes during his lengthy career in the steel industry.
Mr Sun stood aside from the board of Chinalco and its listed united, Chalco, three months ago after rumours surfaced that he was under investigation for official wrongdoing.
Xinhua said Mr Sun was now under ‘‘coercive measures’’ by the SPP, which is likely to mean he is in state detention.
“The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced earlier ... that Sun had been expelled from the CPC and public office following its own investigation,” Xinhua said.
“The CCDI investigation found that Sun took advantage of his post to seek profits for others, accepted ‘a huge amount in bribes’ and ‘committed adultery’.”
During his career, Mr Sun also served as the former president of China National Gold Group, the country’s biggest gold producer, and had a track record of being appointed to high-ranking positions by the government to state-owned enterprises.
Mr Sun was president and party secretary of the gold group in 2006 and it has been suggested the alleged corruption was carried out while he held this position
During his leadership of Chinalco, Mr Sun worked closely alongside Rio developing a memorandum of understanding for the two companies to share technology development projects.
Mr Sun signed the deal in Beijing with Rio chief executive Sam Walsh in November last year.
A Rio spokesman said the company would not comment on the corruption allegations.
Additional reporting: Wang Yuanyuan