Officials punished for deaths caused by drinking

Several officials in Fujian province have been removed from their posts following deaths caused by drinking, China's top disciplinary watchdog announced on Monday.

Chen Ruixi, former deputy mayor of Sanming city, who was also Party chief of Shaxian county, was removed from his post as the deputy mayor after he participated in a dinner that caused one of participants to die, according to the disciplinary authority.

Investigation showed that the participant's sudden death was attributed to drinking at the meal.

Lin Zhaonao, former acting chief of Shaxian county, and Lyu Yongqing, the deputy head, also received warnings after they took part in the dinner, which was held on Sept 9 by a local private enterprise, according to the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the country's top anti-graft agency.

In another case, two officials from the State-owned China Construction Bank in Shaxian county were punished for entertaining with public funds, the authority said.

On Aug 13, Lei Yansheng, the branch's head, invited clients for entertainment in Sanming city with public funds, according to the watchdog's website, adding that the entertainment and drinking later caused a participant to die.

The authority removed Lei from his post, while the branch's deputy head Chen Zhiyu received administrative punishment.

The two cases had caused serious negative social impact, the authority said.