Hainan province deputy governor under investigation for 'severe violations'
Tan Li may have received money from convicted Sichuan tycoon Liu Han
Hainan deputy governor Tan Li, who has close ties to the family of the late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, has been placed under internal investigation by the Communist Party, amid a widening graft probe targeting retired security tsar Zhou Yongkang.
Tan is suspected of "severely violating laws and discipline", according to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's announcement yesterday.
He is the second Hainan deputy governor to come under investigation. Last week, Ji Wenlin , who was once Zhou's personal secretary, was expelled from the party for corruption and adultery. Ji is now facing prosecution for graft.
Tan is one of many senior cadres who may have received money from convicted Sichuan tycoon Liu Han, who himself was connected to Zhou, the reported in April.
The reported then, citing sources, that investigators in Liu's case had discovered that a senior Hainan official previously working in Sichuan had received about one million yuan (HK$1.25 million) in gifts from Liu, including rare artefacts and cash for his daughter's wedding.
Liu was convicted on charges of leading a gang on a crime spree, and was sentenced to death in May. In June, Liu lodged an appeal.
