440 senior officials of CPC probed for graft: Official

Xi launched the high-profile anti-corruption campaign five years ago, which led to the downfall  of a number of high-level officials, known as “tigers”, and lower-level “flies” who serve at the  grassroots level. Among those investigated were 43 members and alternate members of the CPC Central Committee as well as nine members of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), Yang Xiaodu, Deputy Secretary of the CCDI, said on the sidelines of the 19th CPC  National Congress here. 

Among the “tigers” targeted in the campaign were former security czar Zhou Yongkang, senior leader Bo Xilai, top Generals Guo Boxiong, Xu Caihou and party officials Sun Zhengcai and Ling Jihua. Ling was an aide of former president  Hu Jintao. 

Yang said more than 8,900 city level officials and over 63,000 county level officials were punished  during that period. A total of 278,000 grassroots party members and officials were also punished, he said. China is working with the international community to catch suspects who fled overseas, leading to the capture of 3,453 fugitives, Yang said. 

Among the top 100 fugitives listed on an Interpol red notice, 48 have been arrested,  he said.