More officials sacked in Shanghai corruption investigation - Xinhua.

(From AFX Europe (Focus))

BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - The Shanghai corruption scandal that has already seen the fall of some of the financial hub's top politicians has widened, as more government officials were sacked, Xinhua news agency reported.

Xu Jianguo, director of the Shanghai Economic Commission, Bao Xianming, top judge of the city's No 1 Intermediate Court and Shen Mantang, vice head of its Maritime Court, were all relieved of their duties, Xinhua said.

No official reason has been given for their sackings at a meeting of the Shanghai People's Congress on Friday. Shanghai officials were unavailable for comment due to a week-long national holiday that began today.

The dismissals come after the central government announced last week that top Shanghai leader Chen Liangyu had been sacked and suspended from the Communist Party's powerful 24-member politburo, the ruling party's top organ.

The dismissal was the highest-level sacking of a government official in more than a decade. It has been linked to an apparent power play by President Hu Jintao to eliminate rivals ahead of a five-yearly Communist Party Congress expected late next year when a new group of leaders will be appointed.

The probe, which has also ensnared other senior city officials, centers on the alleged misuse of up to 400 mln usd from Shanghai's 1.2-bln-usd retirement fund.