Journalist: Chinese Regulator Failed Duty

BEIJING (AP) – The deputy head of China’s industry regulator is the latest high-level official to be publicly accused of wrongdoing by a journalist as more individuals test the new leadership’s resolve to fight graft at the highest levels.

A reporter with the New Express Daily newspaper wrote on his microblog Wednesday that the deputy head of the State Administration of Industry and Commerce, Ma Zhengqi, had failed in his previous duties as an official in Chongqing.

The reporter says Ma approved the problematic sale of a state-owned company to two officials that resulted in the loss of millions of yuan in state assets.

A man surnamed Chen at the industry regulator’s press office said he had no immediate comment on the report.