In recent news from Shanxi Province, it has been reported that Zhao Mengsuo, the former principal of Fensixi County Second Middle School (referred to as Fensixi No.2 Middle School), has been transferred to the procuratorate for embezzling over 4.2 million yuan in cafeteria meal funds.
According to the state-run media People’s Daily, in 2021, shortly after Zhao Mengsuo was appointed as principal of Fensixi No.2 Middle School, discrepancies were discovered between the reported meal expenses and the actual expenditures. Taking advantage of the institutional loopholes, Zhao began to pursue personal gains.
It was calculated that during Zhao Mengsuo’s tenure as principal from September 2021 to May 2024, the total amount spent on purchasing food materials at Fensixi No.2 Middle School exceeded 10.72 million yuan. However, Zhao Mengsuo and others diverted, embezzled, and misappropriated over 4.2 million yuan in food expenses, accounting for approximately 40%.
Moreover, there were instances of substandard food materials, vegetarian dishes replacing meat dishes, and unclear whereabouts of surplus food materials at the school, resulting in less than 60% of the actual food reaching the students.
Interestingly, the actual supplier of food materials to the Fensixi No.2 Middle School cafeteria was none other than Zhao Mengsuo’s younger brother, Zhao Mouliang. The cafeteria manager Kang Mou was also a former colleague of Zhao Mengsuo.
In August 2024, Zhao Mengsuo was expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office due to suspected criminal activities, and the case has been transferred to the procuratorate for examination and prosecution.
It has been reported that since the crackdown on corruption in “campus meals” in Shanxi last April, a total of 1994 individuals have faced disciplinary actions.
This incident has not only raised concerns about integrity and transparency in school management but also underscored the importance of proper oversight and accountability measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.