Ex-Interpol Chief Ousted From China Top Advisory Body

The former Chinese head of Interpol, who is facing a corruption
case in his home country, has been expelled from China’s top
political advisory board, state media said Friday.

The National Committee for the Chinese People’s Political
Consultative Conference (CPPCC) agreed to revoke Meng Hongwei’s
membership following a meeting, Xinhua news agency reported.

The CPPCC is a 2,000-strong assembly of delegates whose role is
supposed to “advise” the government by putting forth policy
suggestions.

Though powerless, it includes celebrities such as film star
Jackie Chan, basketball giant Yao Ming and some of China’s richest
corporate chiefs.

Meng, also a vice public security minister, disappeared in
September while on a visit to China from France, where Interpol is
based.

Authorities later revealed he was facing a graft investigation
and Meng resigned as head of the international police
organisation.

The committee also accepted the resignation of the former head
of China’s Buddhist association, abbot Xuecheng, who is under
criminal investigation for sexual assault and financial crime.

He has also been removed as deputy head of the ethnic and
religious committee of the CPPCC.

A report by fellow monks earlier this year accused Xuecheng of
sexual and financial improprieties, including coercing several nuns
to have sex with him.

Investigators had also uncovered evidence that his monastery had
broken national financial rules.

Before his fall from grace, Xuecheng was a prominent personality
in Chinese Buddhist life, with a social media following of
millions.

AFP

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