The former deputy police chief in the southwest city of Chongqing has been arrested on suspicion of corruption, which is described as the latest in a series of downfalls of high-ranking officials in the city.

Tang Jianhua [file photo]

Tang Jianhua, once honored as hero for his campaigns to crack down on organized crimes, was picked up for criminal investigation on June 27 and arrested on August 13, Capital Week magazine reported yesterday.

His wife, surnamed Huang, was also taken into police custody on August 22. No details were given on why Huang is in police custody.

Prosecutors didn't disclose either whether Tang's arrest was tied to the downfalls of Chongqing's former Party chief Bo Xilai, and the city's former vice mayor and police chief Wang Lijun.

Bo was removed from the leadership post for serious violation of Party disciplines. Wang entered the US Consulate in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, and stayed there for one day in February.

Bo's wife Bogu Kailai was found guilty last month of murder of British businessman Neil Heywood. She was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve and was also deprived of political rights for life.

Tang was appointed the deputy director of Chongqing Public Security Bureau in early 2010 for his role in the city's fight against mafia-style crimes.

The drive involved 2,000 arrests, 500 prosecutions and 13 executions, including that of Wen Qiang, the former director of the city's judicial bureau, over bribery, rape, extortion and gang-related charges.

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