At least six senior officials have been punished as of Tuesday on allegations they committed adultery as the country’s top antigraft watchdog begins its crackdown on “moral corruption”.

The most recent official to be punished is Yang Baohua, former vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Hunan Provincial Committee — Hunan’s top political advisory body — who was expelled on Tuesday from the Communist Party of China.

Disciplinary authorities found that the 67-year-old had taken bribes, wielded his power for the benefit of others, and committed adultery according to a statement by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Judicial authorities are currently investigating the allegations against Yang. The CCDI did not provide any further details about the allegations, nor did it reveal with whom Yang committing adultery.

He is the sixth senior official accused by the CCDI of committing adultery since early June.

On June 7, the CCDI announced that Party members are governed by rules that are stricter than the country’s laws and that Party members must have high moral standards. It also said that offi cials who commit adultery and leave a negative social impression could be removed from their posts and stripped of their Party membership.

Though adultery is not forbidden under China’s laws, such behavior is now forbidden under CPC rules.

The CCDI’s June 7 statement came after Dai Chunning, former deputy general manager of China Export and Credit Insurance Corp, a Stateowned enterprise, was expelled from the Party over allegations of embezzlement, accepting bribes and adultery.

Anti-graft authorities have previously used ambiguous terms to accuse offi cials of having extramarital relationships, such as “living a degenerate lifestyle” or “moral corruption”.

There is however no official explanation of what “moral corruption” is, though an official from the top anti-graft watchdog told the Henan Business News that the term means an official has had at least three mistresses.

Officials directly probed by top anti-graft body

June 5

Dai Chunning, former deputy general manager of China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation, was expelled from the Communist Party of China on allegations of adultery, embezzlement, bribery and using power for personal gain. He was the first senior official exposed for adultery by the top anti-graft watchdog.

June 27

Xu Jie, former deputy head of the State Bureau for Letters and Calls, was expelled from the Party for adultery, accepting bribes and holding off petitions filed with the bureau.

July 2

Ji Wenlin, former vice-governor of Hainan province, was expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office on allegations of adultery, accepting huge bribes and using power to seek profits for others.

July 2

Yu Gang, former deputy director of the general office of the Commission for Political and Legal Aff airs of the CPC Central Committee, was expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office on allegations of adultery, accepting huge bribes and using power to seek profits for others.

July 11

Yang Gang, former vicedirector of the economic committee of the country’s top political advisory body, was expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office for adultery and other charges.

July 15

Yang Baohua, former vicechairman of the top political advisory body of Hunan province, was expelled from the Party for adultery and other charges.