Former Chinese presidential aide faces graft prosecution: Xinhua

[BEIJING] A former senior Chinese Communist Party official whose son died in a now notorious Ferrari crash in Beijing is facing prosecution for corruption and trading "power for sex", state media reported Monday.

Ling Jihua - once a close aide to former president Hu Jintao - has been expelled from the party and details of a possible criminal case against him have been passed to legal authorities, Xinhua said.

"Investigations found Ling seriously violated the political discipline and rules of the CPC," the agency reported, citing a statement released by the ruling party's central committee.

"He took advantage of his posts to seek profit for others and accepted huge bribes personally and through his family," the report added.

It also accused him of using his position to commit adultery and benefit his wife's business.

Party disciplinary officials opened an investigation into Ling for "suspected serious disciplinary violations" - normally a euphemism for corruption - in December.

The handing of his case to prosecutors means he will almost certainly face trial, with a guilty sentence and jail term almost guaranteed to follow.

His prosecution comes as part of a high-profile crackdown on graft by current President Xi Jinping that has deposed several senior officials, notably former security chief Zhou Yongkang.

Once a senior figure in China's top advisory body, Ling's career was sent into a tailspin when his playboy son died after crashing his Ferrari in the Chinese capital in March 2012.

The incident scandalised China despite a media blackout on reporting details of the accident - partly because two young women, one nude and one partially clothed, were also injured in the crash.

China's Internet users questioned how the son of a party official could afford a car worth a reported five million yuan.

Ling's family faced further accusations on Monday, with Xinhua reporting his wife was also corrupt.

"Ling violated regulations on integrity and self-discipline, accepting others' money and belongings personally and through his wife, and sought benefits for his wife's businesses," Xinhua said.

"Ling committed adultery with a number of women and traded his power for sex. He should bear major responsibility for his family members' acts of seeking profits with the influence of his position."

AFP