Prosecutors will investigate a former justice of China's Supreme Court on corruption charges, after he was stripped of membership in the ruling Communist Party and fired from all public positions, the party announced Tuesday.
Xi Xiaoming, formerly one of the nine deputy justices for the country's top court, has severely violated political discipline and disobeyed the cardinal policy of ruling the country in accordance with the law, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said in a written statement posted to its website.
Xi took bribes in civil litigations and used his position to seek benefits for others, the commission said, but it did not provide further details. The commission said Xi was disloyal, dishonest and that he improperly leaked trial information.
Xi's case points to substantial corruption at the highest level of China's judiciary, and could erode public trust in the country's justice system.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign since he took office in late 2012. He has said fighting corruption is a matter of life and death for the ruling party.
