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| Liu Peizhu in an undated photo. (Internet photo) |
Almost a
year to the day since Chongqing's former police chief Wang Lijun attempted to
defect to the US consulate in Chengdu, a move which would trigger the downfall
of his boss Bo Xilai in China's biggest political scandal in 20 years, the
deputy head of the public security bureau in the northeastern province of Jilin
has been caught trying to flee to the American consulate in Shenyang, reports
the Daily Chinese Herald in Australia.
In a
complex series of events, it appears as if internet and media censorship almost
stymied news of Liu's break from reaching the authorities, as Liu was under
investigation though news about him was being blocked. The provincial
authorities were apparently made aware that Liu was planning to run to the
American consulate by a post by the spokesman for the Chinese embassy in the
United States, Bao Riqiang, on his Weibo microblog on Feb. 17. The message was
seen by a reporter but was swiftly deleted.
Liu
apparently tried to flee to the consulate as he is currently under
investigation having sold a fake coal mine to the state-run Changling Company
for 20 million yuan (US$3.2 million) and using his power to defraud the
company's boss Wang Xingcheng.
On Apr. 7
last year, all adult members of Wang's family, himself included, were arrested
by the public security authorities under Liu's direction. Nearly all managers
at Changling were detained as well. Liu seized the assets of Wang's family and
the company and took them away in trucks. In protest against Liu's actions,
hundreds of employees from the company withdrew their party membership prior to
the 18th National Congress in November. Sources within the Jilin public
security bureau have said that the new provincial party secretary Sun Zhengcai
was ordered by the central government to investigate Liu.
To save
face, the media were told not to report that Liu was facing disciplinary action
and instead made up fake reports that he was continuing to inspect the forces
under his command as usual.
On Feb. 17,
Liu decided to make his move to Shenyang, the capital of neighboring Liaoning
province. It appears it may have been the tip-off from the Chinese embassy's
Weibo that allowed Sun to apprehend Liu as he made his way to the US consulate
by freeway. To prevent a repeat of the Wang Lijun incident, Sun reportedly
mobilized 100 officers from the People's Armed Police and 30 agents from the
city's state security bureaus to catch Liu, who is now in the custody of the
People's Armed Police.
References:
Liu Peizhu 劉培柱
Wang
Xingcheng 王興成
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