While Chinese singer Wanting Qu's career is on a high note, it is the opposite for her mother, who reports said on Friday was arrested over accusations that she oversaw the sale of state properties below market value because she allegedly gained personally from the transactions.

Wanting's mother, Qu Zhang Mingjie, held a high post in Harbin City's Communist Party chapter. However, in November, she was fired as director of the Urban Development Infrastructure Division in Harbin due to the alleged anomalous sale of real estate.

Like Us on Facebook

While Zhang Mingjie's political is down following her detention, Wanting recently finished a world tour of 25 cities. Her two pop albums in English and Mandarin were declared multi-platinum. She has many fans in China and Malaysia.

Even her love life is flourishing after she admitted in February being in a relationship with Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson who divorced his wife. Now 31, Wanting has been in Canada since she was 17, initially to take up a business course.

However, Wanting signed a record deal in Vancouver and opted to live in Canada. But she admits to missing her mother.

Braedan Caley, Robertson's spokesman, declined to comment on the reported arrest of Wanting's mother. The mayor also told CKNW, "I don't really know anything about the story. Naturally, you know it's a very difficult situation for her and her family in China but no one really has much information so there is nothing I can comment on," quotes The Province.

Robertson was introduced to Wanting through Lara Honrado, the mayor's aide, who sought the endorsement from the singer who has over 500,000 followers on Sina Weibo, China's microblogging site. Robertson launched a profile on Weibo in October 2012.

The two initially exchanged political and marketing messages on Weibo until Wanting was made Tourism Vancouver's first ambassador to China. The pair traveled from Vancouver to China in November 2013. In spring of 2014, Wanting asked for Weibo followers to support Robertson and his Vision Vancouver Party.

In January, reports came out that the two were in a relationship, confirmed the next month by a selfie with a Valentine's Day message to the Chinese singer.

TagsQu wanting, Anti-corruption