Trending in China: ‘Lenient’ Punishment of Corrupt Retired Official Sparks Anger

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Retired official Zhong Gengci (right) was found to have abused his power while in office. His case surfaced after his granddaughter (left) flaunted the family’s wealth online in March.

What’s trending?

Netizens in China are outraged about what they view as lenient punishment handed down to a 76-year-old retired official, who was not criminally indicted after he was found to have accepted bribes, with some demanding criminal charges brought against him and the amount of his illegal gains made public.

Zhong Gengci, former director of the Shenzhen transportation bureau’s freight management branch who retired in 2007, was expelled from the party but got to keep his retirement benefits, albeit after being lowered to a level given to an entry-level clerk.