BEIJING, Sept. 11 -- Li Chongxi, former top political advisor in southwest China's Sichuan Province, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and removed from public office following a graft investigation.

The decision has been approved by the CPC Central Committee.

The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) found that Li abused his power to seek interests for others and accepted "a huge amount in bribes" via his relatives, the CCDI announced in a statement on its website on Thursday.

"These acts have seriously violated CPC discipline and Li is suspected of committing crimes," the statement said.

The CPC also decided to transfer Li's case to judicial agencies, it added.

Also on Thursday, the Supreme People's Procuratorate announced that prosecutors are investigating Li's suspected bribe-taking crimes.

Li formerly served as chairman of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's political advisory body.