Official probed over apartments

By Ethan Tang  |   2009-4-22  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

A RETIRED official is being investigated for negligence and misconduct in a housing purchase scandal by the Party disciplinary authority in Zhejiang Province.

The scandal came to light after an online bulletin board published a list that named government employees who had purchased apartments reserved for relocated residents.

Wu Quanshu, 62, a former deputy director of the Old House Renovation Headquarters in Wenzhou City, has been placed under "double designation" status. Other officials are also being investigated, according to the city's Commission of Discipline Inspection, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.

"Double designation" is a special investigative procedure under which a Party official is ordered to explain allegations of disciplinary violations or corruption at a designated time and place.

Wu was appointed deputy director of the headquarters in 2005, when 143 apartments built as resettlement homes were sold to government officials without permission. He retired in 2008.

The allegations came after an online post in early April, which included a list, claimed 49 staff from the renovation headquarters and 94 from "related government departments" had bought 143 apartments at below market price.

Wu was on the list.

The headquarters claimed the apartments were left over properties after the relocations were completed.