The second episode of the TV documentary "Never Stop, Never Back Down," titled "Severely Punish Corruption Through Collusion Between Government and Business," co-produced by the Publicity Department of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission and CCTV, aired on CCTV-1 at 8 p.m. on January 12. It was also broadcast simultaneously on CCTV News' new media platform.
Combating corruption and building a clean political environment are consistent and clear political stances of our Party, and major political tasks that the Party must continue to prioritize in its self-revolution. We must make severely punishing corruption involving collusion between government and business a top priority in this crucial battle, resolutely crack down on profit-seeking behavior based on power, resolutely prevent various interest groups and powerful organizations from infiltrating the political sphere, continuously purify the political environment, promote the building of a new type of clean and cordial relationship between government and business, and facilitate high-quality economic and social development.
Luo Baoming, former vice chairman of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee of the 13th National People's Congress: My corruption crimes have greatly damaged Hainan's business environment, seriously damaged Hainan's political ecology, and also caused great damage to the cause and image of the Party.
Luo Baoming, former vice chairman of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee of the 13th National People's Congress, worked in Hainan for a long time, serving successively as deputy secretary of the provincial party committee, governor, and party secretary. The investigation revealed a complex network of political and business connections surrounding him, involving numerous business owners, leading cadres, and his relatives.
Kang Zhihui, a staff member of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, said: Luo Baoming's violations of discipline and law spanned a long period of time, involved a wide range of people, and caused great harm. His political and business relationships were intricate and complex, and his interest chains were deeply intertwined. He was characterized by the intertwining of political and economic problems, as well as the intertwining of his own corruption and family-style corruption.
Luo Baoming's career began in Tianjin. As early as the 1990s, when he served as the director of the Tianjin Municipal Commission of Commerce, he crossed the line of discipline and law for the first time by accepting 500,000 yuan in cash from a businessman.
Luo Baoming: A developer wanted to get approval for an auction house, and I approved it for him. Later, he brought me money, and after giving me the money, he turned around and left. I struggled internally, but as time went on, the feelings faded, and I didn't return the money.
From then on, Luo Baoming developed ties with some Tianjin businessmen. In 2001, Luo Baoming was transferred to Hainan, but his connections with these business owners did not end there; rather, they extended with him to Hainan. This practice of "bringing business owners to office" is a prominent characteristic of current corruption involving collusion between government and business. Some leading cadres bring familiar and trusted business owners with them wherever they go. These business owners naturally try every means to curry favor with Luo Baoming, and Luo Baoming is happy to "mutually benefit" with these wealthy fellow townsmen.
Li Shenkai, Deputy Director of the Ninth Supervision and Inspection Office of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission: The "hometown circle" dynamic, as seen in the Luo Baoming case, is a prominent characteristic. Businessmen and bosses are attracted by the power of leading cadres, while leading cadres are attracted by the potential benefits that businessmen and bosses can bring them. Hometown people share a natural sense of closeness, asking each other favors and then transferring benefits in return.
Zhang, a businessman from Tianjin, was one of the fellow townsmen who had a "mutually beneficial" relationship with Luo Baoming. Zhang developed a real estate project in Hainan, but during the development process, he illegally added two extra floors. Due to strict height restrictions on surrounding buildings, relevant departments ordered him to immediately demolish the excessive height. However, Zhang approached Luo Baoming, asking him to contact relevant officials and "give the green light" to this illegal construction.
Luo Baoming: I said, "This person is from Tianjin. I know him. I'd like to ask him to look after me." At first, the planning department didn't quite agree, but later the leaders stepped in and spoke on his behalf, and they agreed to let it go.
Luo Baoming's invitation was naturally not for nothing, but to avoid suspicion, he accepted the favors very discreetly. Initially, Zhang offered to give him a house in Hainan, which Luo Baoming refused, finding it too conspicuous. However, shortly after, Luo Baoming's wife seemingly casually mentioned that their two houses in Tianjin were too old and they wanted to upgrade them. Zhang immediately understood the implication.
Luo Baoming: This boss exchanged our two old and small houses for his two large and new apartments.
The trade-in program was merely a smokescreen. The real illicit transaction between Luo Baoming and another Tianjin businessman, surnamed Du, was concealed through the sale of a property at an inflated price. Luo used his position to help Du secure numerous construction projects in Hainan, while Du purchased an old property owned by the Luo family in Tianjin for several million yuan more than the market value. This seemingly legitimate transaction was used to conduct an illegal exchange of benefits.
Kang Zhihui: Luo Baoming has long been deeply involved with businessmen and bosses, accepting huge bribes from them through means such as shareholding on behalf of others, property swaps, and delayed payments, even at the expense of the long-term interests of social and economic development.
Luo Baoming's network of hometown associates included not only business owners but also leading cadres. He used his influence in personnel selection to place his own people in various positions, Dong Xianzeng being one of them. Dong Xianzeng had been Luo Baoming's subordinate in Tianjin. After both were transferred to Hainan, under Luo Baoming's patronage, Dong Xianzeng's career progressed smoothly. He was first promoted to Party Secretary of Qiongzhong County, and then placed as Director of the Provincial Department of Transportation.
Dong Xianzeng, former director of the Hainan Provincial Department of Transportation: I was promoted from deputy director-level secretary of Qiongzhong County to director of the Department of Transportation. Such a popular department, of course Luo Baoming must have played a role in it, without a doubt.
Luo Baoming: I think he's one of my own people, so he's more likely to listen to me. If I need to contact him for personal matters, he'll be willing to help.
With his own people controlling the Department of Transportation, Luo Baoming could get whatever he wanted within the system without any obstacles. Whether it was coordinating projects and securing contracts for business owners, or interfering in personnel arrangements within the Department of Transportation, Luo Baoming could get things done with just a word from Dong Xianzeng.
Kang Zhihui: Dong Xian had accepted Luo Baoming's invitation to help certain businessmen secure projects and promote relevant cadres, becoming Luo Baoming's pawn in monetizing his power.
Dong Xianzeng: When it comes to cadres who need to be promoted or supported, Luo Baoming and I don't need to beat around the bush. Basically, if he tells me something, I will definitely carry it out without hesitation.
Centered around Luo Baoming, the circle of fellow townsmen, which included many business owners, leaders, and cadres, gradually became a distorted circle characterized by collusion between officials and businessmen, blurring the lines between public and private interests, abusing power for personal gain, and engaging in power-money transactions. This corrupted social relations, damaged the development environment, and had an extremely negative impact on the local area.
(CCTV News Client)
