In Chongqing, a foot massage health center owner is under investigation, involving two Chongqing public security officials who have already been removed from their positions. One of the officials is rumored to have around 200 million yuan in cash hidden at home, with 3 kilograms of gold bricks buried at their ancestral tomb.
The Chongqing authorities announced on May 20 that Wang Cheng, the person in charge of the Yunzhiyuan Foot Massage Health Center in Qianjiang, is being investigated. He is accused of colluding with national public officials, working together with them to seek benefits for clients, illegally accepting substantial sums of money. His actions are suspected of bribery and have been referred to the prosecutor’s office for review and prosecution.
The announcement did not specify the names and positions of the involved public officials.
According to Tianyancha data, the nature of Yunzhiyuan Foot Massage Health Center in Qianjiang is that of a private business, operated by Wang Cheng, who is under investigation.
On May 23, the China Business News reported that sources confirmed the connection of this case with two recently ousted officials: Luo, former Deputy Director of the Liangjiang New Area Management Committee and director of the Public Security Bureau, and Li, Political Commissar of the Traffic Police Brigade of the Qianjiang District Public Security Bureau. Luo was reported on May 16 to be suspected of serious violations and is under investigation.
Luo had long held positions in the Chongqing Qianjiang district public security system, including roles such as member of the district government’s party committee, secretary of the district public security bureau’s party committee, and inspector. From March 2022 to September 2024, he served as Deputy District Head and Director of the Public Security Bureau of the Qianjiang District Government. Li, on the other hand, had served as Political Commissar of the Security Management Brigade of the Qianjiang District Public Security Bureau.
Local rumors suggest that around 200 million yuan in cash was found in Li’s home. It is also rumored that during the investigation, authorities unearthed 3 kilograms of gold bricks at his ancestral tomb, though these rumors have not been officially confirmed.
Multiple sources revealed that Wang Cheng acted as a key connection to Luo, Li, and another former political and legal system official referred to as the “underground organization minister”. He allegedly acted as an intermediary to collect large sums of bribes for Li, during which he personally embezzled a substantial amount of the bribery money, including a sum of 500,000 yuan that was revealed after Li’s investigation.
Sources claim that Wang Cheng’s downfall was due to a double investigation involving Luo’s connection to former Chongqing Municipal Political and Legal Committee Secretary Lu Kehua’s case, which led to the discovery of Wang Cheng in Qianjiang. Li, on the other hand, was implicated in an online fraud case, where he was investigated for privately appropriating large sums of money and subsequently linked to Wang Cheng.
This case highlights the corrupt network of collusion between national public officials and businessmen within the Chinese Communist Party’s officialdom, where individuals exploit their authority for personal gain. Such corrupt behavior is pervasive in official circles and may unveil a broader chain of interests during the investigation process.
In recent years, several chief and deputy public security bureau directors in Chongqing have been investigated. In May of this year, Luo Lun, the director of the Liangjiang New Area Public Security Sub-Bureau, was also investigated.
Prior to this, several officials in Chongqing’s Liangjiang New Area have been ousted, including former Secretaries of the Party Working Committee Duan Chenggang, Wu Cunrong, and Xu Ming.