Partner in crime

As for Xu Detang, the official with the Rural Cooperative Association, the report said he had good connections with different people in society, some of whom did not have a good reputation.

Cheng Sixi. Photo: shisu.21campus.cn

Xu was described by some local residents as a "pervert" who had at least 10 mistresses, and gave his first wife 1 million yuan (US$152,079) when she divorced him, the report said.

Xu also gave a luxury car worth 200,000 yuan (US$30,415) to one of his mistresses, and gave money to another to open a bedroom accessories store.

Some local residents had been puzzled as how a rural cooperative association employee could afford an Audi car and so many mistresses, the report said, adding he also offered high interest loans to property developers.

The Poyang government said they would conduct detailed investigations into the financial situation of every department soon to ensure the safety of public funds. They would also take steps to guarantee that every part of the supervision process regarding the distribution of funds is carried out.

The investigation team has retrieved about 10 million yuan (US$1.5 million) of the embezzled funds and is aware of the whereabouts of another 46 million yuan (US$7 million).