Lottery officials in China suspected of corruption

Two top officials were removed from their positions as they’re suspected of taking bribes.

China.- China’s top corruption watchdog confirmed late on Sunday that two top officials that were in charge of the official state lottery of the Asian country have been removed from their positions because they’re suspected of corruption and taking bribes.

As Reuters explained, the former head of the China Welfare Lottery Management Center, Bao Xuequan, and his former deputy, Wang Yunge, were accused of corruption after an investigation conducted by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). The Welfare Lottery is run by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the entity that removed the officials: Bao was accused and found to have used his position to achieve personal benefits, accept bribes and “improper sexual relations,” whilst the other official was guilty of the same crimes and resisting the investigations, as well as suspicion of leaking state secrets.

Last month, it was reported that the Welfare Lottery ticket sales increased 8.8 percent year-on-year to US$2.6 billion in June, whilst whilst sports lottery sales experienced an 8.9 percent fall to US$2.3 billion. Moreover, sales of welfare lottery tickets were also up 3.7 percent to US$15 billion, sports lottery numbers following with US$14.6 billion.