Wire reporting: (AP, via Local 10)

Prosecutors in Yichang, in China’s Hubei province, have filed bribery charges against Ma Xingrui, a former Politburo member and former Communist Party chief of Xinjiang, state media reported on Thursday^1,6.

China’s Supreme People’s Procuratorate assigned a municipal procuratorate in Yichang to handle the case after approving Ma’s arrest, and local prosecutors recently filed the charges in the Yichang Intermediate People’s Court, according to state broadcaster CCTV as reported by the South China Morning Post⁶.

The Associated Press, citing Xinhua, said prosecutors accused Ma of using leadership posts to accept exceptionally large bribes and to secure benefits for others¹. CCTV, as summarized by SCMP, said he sought benefits for others and illegally accepted money and valuables worth an exceptionally large amount⁶.

SCMP, citing CCTV, said the alleged bribery dates to 1999, when Ma was deputy general manager, then general manager and party chief, at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and also covers later posts as Shenzhen mayor, Guangdong governor and Politburo member⁶. AP noted his aerospace background and later roles in Guangdong and Xinjiang without that 1999 start date¹.

Ma, 67, was named to the Politburo in 2022, AP said¹. Authorities made public an investigation in April; in July he was stripped of party membership and dismissed from public office^1,6. SCMP said he is among the most senior officials investigated in the anti-corruption campaign and the fourth Politburo member to face corruption charges since Xi Jinping took power in late 2012⁶.

AP said Communist Party leaders last week ratified the expulsions of more than 30 senior officials, including Ma, at the Central Committee’s fifth plenum¹. SCMP did not lead with that meeting⁶.

SCMP also reported that CCTV said Guo Yonghang, a former Guangdong official described as a former top aide to Ma in Shenzhen, has been dismissed from the party and public office⁶. The amount of money alleged, a trial date and any response from Ma were not given in the accounts reviewed^1,6.

Sources

1. (AP, via Local 10)Former Chinese Politburo member Ma Xingrui charged with taking bribesAlso (AP, via ClickOrlando), (AP, via ClickOnDetroit), (AP, via The Philadelphia Inquirer), (AP, via KSAT)1:12 AM
2. SCMPEx-Politburo member Ma Xingrui’s corruption charges extend to end of last century1:50 AM
3. ReutersChina indicts ex-Politburo member Ma for briberyNov 4, 9:30 PM

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