Ling Zhengce Probed for Bribe-taking

Ling Jihua， a senior Party official and national political advisor， was under investigation for “suspected serious disciplinary violation.”

Later， Lings elder brother Ling Zhengce was removed from his post as vice chairman of the CPPCC provincial committee in North Chinas Shanxi Province for serious disciplinary violations.

In late November， it is reported that Ling Jihuas other brother， Ling Wancheng， was also arrested. Ling Wancheng established Huijin Lifang， a private equity firm in 2008.

The company has pocketed more than 1.4 billion yuan （$225 million） from initial public offering deals since then.

The elder brother is deceased， and their sister is a doctor who has not been connected to the investigation.

Although authorities did not disclose any other information in their announcement， observers said the corruption probe into his relatives and government officials connected to them had apparently led to Ling Jihuas eventual fall.

A large number of officials in Shanxi， known as a center of Chinas lucrative coal industry， have been mired in allegations of corruption and have been investigated in the past two years.

This includes provincial officials and some from the provinces largest cities. The former deputy governor of Shanxi， Du Shanxue， was brought down in June when authorities announced the probe into Ling Zhengce.

Ling Jihua was born in Shanxi and served in posts there before being promoted to a central Party body.