Beijing - Two Chinese officials have been
sacked for involvement in "superstitious activities", including
casting spells to aid promotions and attending geomancy courses
under the guise of business trips, state media said.
Members of the ruling Communist Party are not supposed to
follow any religion in officially atheist China, and the
government takes a particularly harsh line on officials who
practise what it deems are superstitious folk beliefs.
Xinhua news agency said Tang Yuansong, a former county
housing official in the central province of Hunan, went on five
fengshui training courses under the guise of "investigation
tours" starting in 2008.
Each session cost 54,000 yuan (approx. R107 809.60), which Tang claimed
back as business expenses, Xinhua said, citing a statement from
the local anti-corruption watchdog office.
Tang also earned 5,000 yuan (approx. R9 982.37) a year for practising fengshui
for others, it added.
The other person sacked, also a former county official, had
"asked others to set up an altar to cast spells and paid 100,000
yuan (approx. R199 647.41) in tribute each time, with hopes of being promoted", Xinhua
said.
Both have been expelled from the party and will be further
investigated for suspected criminal acts, it added.
It was not possible to reach either official for comment and
it was unclear if they have been allowed to retain lawyers.