China's anti-corruption watchdog announced on Monday that the former director of an agricultural center pocketed more than 800 million yuan of state funds. The guilty official has been removed from the Chinese Communist Party and is now facing various criminal charges.

Zhang Peishan once served as the Machikou agriculture service director in the Changping district.

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The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) disclosed that Zhang illegally enriched himself by diverting government funds to his personal investment schemes between 2008 and 2014.

Zhang reportedly used 3 million yuan of state funds for his own investment. Once the diverted funds started making money, he treated the earnings as his personal money. Zhang is also being charged with bribery since he was reportedly paid about 140,000 yuan by a financial company.

The CCDI has listed on its website more than 150 government officials including Zhang, who have been accused of various offenses ranging from hosting very expensive parties to more serious charges of stealing from public coffers.

Almost three years ago, the Chinese leadership announced that it will prosecute corrupt and incompetent officials no matter how lowly or powerful their position is in the government.

The government campaign against corruption has extended to the military as well. Recently, a high ranking People's Liberation Army (PLA) official was given a two-year stay from his execution, according to state-owned media. 

Former Lieutenant General Gu Junshan received the death penalty when a military tribunal found him guilty for using his position to misappropriate military funds as well as taking bribes.

Gu has since been removed from the army and his properties have been seized.

Former head of security Zhou Yongkang is currently the most senior government official that has been removed from power. In June this year, a court found him guilty of several charges including divulging confidential government information, influence peddling, and taking more than a 100 million yuan in bribes as well as various charges of corruption. Zhou is currently serving a life sentence.

TagsChinese corrupt officials, China corruption, zhang peishan, Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, CCDI, lieutenant gu junshan, pla corruption, Zhou Yongkang, China anti-graft drive