Ma Jian, one China's spy chiefs, has been detained over alleged corruption, another official caught in the path of the juggernaut that is President Xi Jinping's anti-graft campaign.

The detainment makes Ma the highest-ranking national security official to be investigated since the downfall of Zhou Yongkang.

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The South China Morning Post reports that several of Ma's close relatives were under investigation as well. It is unknown what set off the investigation into Ma nad his family, but it is reportedly linked to a high-profile anti-graft investigation into activities at the top of Founder Group, a Peking University-owned technology conglomerate.

Ma is the executive deputy minister of the Ministry of State Security, and sources tell The South China Morning Post he was also in charge of China's counter-espionage operations. Ma is reportedly close to Founder chief executive Li You, who allegedly financed profitable securities trades carried out a family member of Ma's.

The Post also reports that Founder has been involved in a high-profile fight with Beijing Zenith, the second-biggest shareholder in the Founder Securities, and a property developer with a mysterious background. Beijing Zenith publicly accused Founder executives of insider trading and misappropriating company assets to the tune of several billion yuan.

Company chairman Wei Xin, CEO Li and president Yu Li were taken away to "assist the authorities with their investigations," Founder announced last week.

Ma is also reportedly closely connected to Ling Jihua , the one-time chief of staff to former president Hu Jintao. Ling was detained last month.

There is not much known publicly about Ma, other than he worked at the spy agency for more than 30 years. In 2006, he was reportedly promoted to a deputy minister of counter-intelligence operations, one of  China's most powerful positions.  

According to the Post, there have been many rumors about rogue spy agents engaged in illicit business deals and extortion rackets. There have also been claims that rogue agents played a part in political power struggles, including illegally wiretapping leaders.

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