Zhang Xilai, head of the organization department of the Communist Party of China Jincheng City Committee, in north China's Shanxi Province, has been arrested by the police for allegedly providing protection for a local criminal gang.
Also arrested under the same charge were Sun Hailong, former vice-mayor of Gaoping City, and Jin Zhiqiang, former deputy head of Gaoping City's Public Security Bureau.
The arrest of the officials follows the fall of a 43-member criminal gang in Gaoping, which was headed by Song Kuixiang.
Song and his men are accused of illegal possession of weapons, blackmail, and monopolizing the local coal and pig iron markets by force.
It is believed the gang's illegal activities have brought them income totaling 20 million yuan since 1992. The gang has also dodged nine million yuan in tax and it owed three million yuan in unpaid bank loans when it was cracked, police said.
Zhang is accused of taking bribes from Song and helping him set up coal mines, obtain bank loans and avoid police arrest.
(People's Daily 07/23/2001)
