The photo was taken when he alive
Another official suspended over death in custody
A mid-ranking official has become the latest official to be suspended following the death in custody of a popular local legislator that sparked street protests in Lichuan, a county-level city in Hubei Province, according to the Lichuan government publicity department.
Mou Laijun, standing committee member of the Lichuan commission for discipline inspection, has been suspended over the death of Ran Jianxin, 49, the Party secretary of Lichuan’s Duting Community in Lichuan People’s Procuratorate and the former head of the Lichuan Anti-corruption Bureau.
Ran died on June 4 while being interrogated on bribery charges in Badong county, Enshi Miao Autonomous Prefecture. He was popular among residents because he opposed a local government crackdown on unauthorized construction work, the Southern Metropolis Daily newspaper reported Sunday.
Ran’s family believe he was beaten to death after seeing blood and wounds on his body and are waiting for the autopsy report, which is due to be released on June 27, the newspaper reported.
“Everyone is waiting for the report,” an employee with the Lichuan publicity department who asked to remain anonymous told the Global Times.
Mou was heavily involved in Ran’s case in Badong, Southern Metropolis Daily reported Sunday. Ran’s lawyer also claimed to the newspaper that a member of the Procuratorate, Ren Zhonghai, has also been detained.
Mou is the latest in a string of officials to be touched by the investigation into Ran’s death. On June 7, Zeng Zhengping, head of Anti-corruption Bureau in Badong county, was suspended. Two days later, Zheng Xuesong, the chief procurator of Badong County People’s Procuratorate resigned and two of his colleagues were detained, Southern Metropolis Daily reported.
On Thursday, more than 1,500 residents gathered in front of the Lichuan government building to protest Ran’s death and were dispersed by security forces.
The following day, the Lichuan government suspended Li Wei, a Lichuan deputy Party chief and secretary of the commission for discipline inspection Friday, according to the government website.
Global Times