The Communist Party of China's (CPC) Organization Department on Friday published penalties meted out to three local officials for "violating the rules of leadership reorganizations".

Former finance bureau director of Hengnan County, central China's Hunan Province, has been stripped of his post for offering bribes in a leadership reshuffle and is awaiting further punishment.

The official, who was only identified with by his surname He, offered 1,000 yuan (138 U.S. dollars) in September last year to each of the local officials with right to endorse his nomination as vice-county magistrate.

Former women's federation director of Dancheng Township in Guoyang County, east China's Anhui Province, was dismissed from her post for giving gifts worth a total of more than 5,000 yuan to more than 30 township legislature delegates in January 2007 to get elected as vice township head.

The official surnamed Jing achieved her aim on Jan. 10 last year. Her election was nullified after her misconduct was brought to light.

She got a two-year jail sentence with a two-year reprieve in August for sabotaging an election. Seven others involved in the case received criminal, Party or administrative penalties.

In a separate case, an official surnamed Gao in Pingdingshan city, central Henan Province, received a Party warning in April 2007 for making a rush to promote 25 of his subordinates after he was notified he was going to be promoted and take the post as a secretary of a county Party committee.

The Organization Department hoped the cases could serve as a warning to officials involved in ongoing local leadership reorganizations.

China is going through nationwide leadership elections and reshuffles of legislatures, governments and political advisory bodies at provincial level in the first half of this year as many officials complete their five-year terms.

Earlier this month, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has warned government officials against the "ten taboos" ahead of the local leadership reshuffles.

According to the Organization Department and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the "ten taboos" include:

-- using various ways to win support during the reshuffle, including making phone calls, conducting visits, holding banquets and giving gifts;

-- lobbying officials of higher rank to achieve promotion;

-- handing out pamphlets or giving souvenirs without authorization;

-- holding social activities in the name of reunions of classmates, townsmen or fellow soldiers to form cliques;

-- offering bribes in cash, gifts and stocks to buy government jobs;

-- taking bribes or attending banquets staged to drum up support during the reshuffle;

-- covering up or shielding illicit activities during the reshuffle;

-- spreading hearsay or using letters, leaflets, text messages or the Internet to vilify others;

-- using intimidation or deception to hamper and infringe upon the democratic rights of delegates or committee members;

-- arranging jobs for people or making a rush for somebody's promotion.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2008)