A Beijing district health chief is being investigated for accepting a bribe during the period when the national capital was combating SARS in 2003.

Wang Xuewen, 46, who was promoted to the position of Pinggu District health office director early this year, is suspected of accepting a commission from a medical equipment company of at least 90,000 yuan in 2003 when Wang was president of the district hospital, according to the anti-corruption office in Miyun County, east Beijing.

In exchange, the hospital bought disinfection equipment from the company, said an official with the anti-corruption office, who declined to give his name.

The current president of Pinggu District Hospital, Yang Xiaodong, 45, is also being investigated for his suspected involvement in the bribery case.

(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2006)