Zhang Zhanwei, Party chief of Jiyuan city, Central China's Henan Province. File Photo: Jiyuan government website

Party Chief Zhang Zhanwei of Jiyuan, Central China's Henan has been removed from his post for slapping the face of a subordinate who was eating in an officials' canteen, the provincial Party committee said on Thursday after investigating a tip-off letter. 

The letter, which was posted online, was written by Shang Juan, the wife of Zhai Weidong, secretary general of the Jiyuan city government, said Zhai was slapped on the face by Zhang while he was having breakfast in the corner of the office canteen on the morning of November 11. The incident caused Zhai to have heart problem and he was hospitalized for weeks. 

"He slapped the other's face, thinking about his own power and prestige. It makes everyone angry at the arbitrary abuse of power, pushing officials further and further away from the people," said a post on Changanjian, a WeChat account affiliated with the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, on Wednesday.

Zhang will be succeeded by Shi Bingrui, former director and Party secretary of the poverty alleviation and development office. The decision was made by the provincial Party commission and announced at a meeting of Jiyuan officials on Thursday, the Henan Daily reported.