Chinese mayor 'embezzled ¥3.5 million to build fung shui tomb'
Practice once banned by the Communist Party said to be an obsession for former city boss accused of embezzling government funds
The trial in Guangdong of a former city chief accused of corruption has highlighted how the once-banned practice of fung shui remains an obsession for some mainland officials.
Chen Hongping, the Communist Party secretary of Jieyang, has been accused of embezzling at least 3.5 million yuan (HK$4.4 million) of government funds to build himself a large tomb constructed according to fung shui principles.
Fung shui, once banned by the party, is seen by mainland authorities as improper and superstitious.
Chen appeared on trial in Foshan on April 21, charged with two counts of accepting bribes - of 125 million yuan and HK$17 million - while in office between 2004 and 2011.
During its hearing of these charges, the court was informed that, under the pretence of developing hillside farming for the city, Chen had asked his friend Lin Peiqiang to build him a private tomb and farmhouse, Xinhua reported.
Chen is said to have asked the city's land and highway departments to wire 3.5 million yuan to a company set up by Lin on Chen's behalf to finance the tomb.
Chen has denied this, saying he was merely trying to develop the rural area.
