Pegasus consulting, subsidiary of Edelman, 'cooperating' with CCTV graft probe
Pegasus consulting, cofounded by detained star anchor Rui Chenggang, is 'helping with probe'
The graft inquiry at China Central Television has expanded to a Beijing company co-owned by US public relations giant Edelman and one of its co-founders is cooperating with the investigation, the subsidiary has said.
One of CCTV's most recognisable anchors, Rui Chenggang , was taken away by prosecutors earlier this month as part of a wider crackdown at the state broadcaster, which was for decades controlled by a key ally of former security tsar Zhou Yongkang . Zhou is now believed to be the focus of a massive graft investigation.
Investigators visited the offices of Pegasus Public Relations Consulting on Thursday, the firm told the . Edelman in 2007 acquired a majority stake in Pegasus, which was founded by Rui, Steven Cao Gang and Howard Hong Xing.
Cao was "cooperating with authorities in the investigation", Pegasus said. He is also the head of Edelman's China arm, the Daniel J.Edelman China Group.
Rui sold his remaining 7.9 per cent stake in Pegasus to Cao in 2010. Neither Rui nor Cao could be reached for comment as their mobile phones were turned off.
"Relevant authorities visited the Pegasus office in Beijing on July 24. They have asked Pegasus to assist with an investigation," the firm said, adding that it was cooperating.
