Photo: CFP

Sheng Guangzu, former general manager of the China Railway Corp, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) for abusing his power for personal benefit when he worked as a senior official in the General Administration of Customs as well as in the China Railway Corp, China's top anti-graft body announced on Monday.

The punishment was handed down following an investigation into Sheng by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission approved by the CPC Central Committee, according to a statement released by the top anti-graft body on Monday.

The statement released by the anti-graft body said that Sheng had lost his ideals and convictions, and he lacked political awareness. Sheng was resistant to the investigation and he engaged in superstitious activities.

Disregarding the Party's eight-point frugality code, Sheng accepted banquets, tours, invitations and gifts that may have compromised his impartiality in the performance of his official duties. He also abused his power to seek benefits for others, such as the promotion of officials and the recruitment of working staff.

Sheng also connived with his relatives to carry out activities that were in violation of discipline and laws. He abused his power for his personal gain when he worked as an official in the Customs agency as well as in China Railway. He abused his power to seek benefits for others in business and project operations, and illegally accepted vast amounts of money and valuables in return.

Sheng severely violated the Party's discipline and committed duty-related offenses. He is suspected of having taken bribes, the statement said.

In line with Party regulations and laws, a decision was made to expel Sheng from the Party, revoke the benefits he enjoyed, confiscate his illicit gains, and hand his case over for judicial proceedings.

China Railway Corp was renamed China State Railway Group Co in 2019.