
Three years ago, China executed the former head of its State Food & Drug Administration after he was found guilty of taking bribes. The agency’s problems continue, however, as one of its deputy chiefs was fired and is under investigation for unspecified "disciplinary violations."
The Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is investigating Zhang Jingli, according to ShanghaiDaily.com, a month after five other SFDA officials were arrested on graft charges and a sixth was suspended pending the results of an investigation.
One of those charged, Wei Liang, is a former senior clerk in the bio-products division of the SFDA’s drug registration department.
He’s accused of taking a $220,000 bribe, according to the website, and came under suspicion after a tip-off from a biotech company.
China stripped the agency of its independence and placed it under the jurisdiction of its Ministry of Health after the 2007 execution of its onetime chief Zheng Xiaoyu, who was found guilty of dereliction of duty and accepting about $855,000 in bribes.