The former top political adviser of south China's Guangdong Province has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from public office for "severe discipline violations," the CPC's disciplinary department said Thursday.

Chen Shaoji, former chairman of the Guangdong provincial committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), had been investigated for alleged "severe violations of discipline and laws," the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the CPC said at a press release.

The CPC Central Committee approved the penalties according to the CPC inner-party supervisory disciplinary regulations and the country's Law on Public Servants, the release said.

Chen was found using his position to promote the interests of other people in return for a "large sum" of money, it said, giving no more details.

Chen lived a corrupt life, it said. His case has been referred for prosecution.

Born in 1945, Chen had previously been sacked from his post as chairman of the Guangdong provincial committee of the CPPCC after an official announcement in April, which said that he was under investigation for "serious disciplinary violations."

(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2009)