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Top Customs Official Accused of Taking 53 Million Yuan in Bribes [CND, 04/29/01] Beijing's anti-smuggling campaign caught the highest-level customs official yet, the Hong Kong iMail reported on Friday. WANG Leyi, vice-director of the General Administration of Customs will stand trial for corruption. He has been relieved of duty from official posts and has lost his membership in the Communist party. The procuratorate authority is handling Mr. Wang's case, reported Xinhua, citing the party and the government's anti-graft watchdogs. Between December 1995 and July 1997, Wang allegedly took bribes of 53 million yuan (HK$49.9 million) from YANG Gaiqing so that Yang could get smuggled cars and car parts already confiscated by the Shenzhen customs authorities. Yang was then the general manager of a company with its headquarters in Shenzhen. The government also accuses Wang of receiving gifts from business companies and customs officials. Since the anti-smuggling campaign began in 1998, almost all customs chiefs of coastal cities have been charged and found to be guilty of corruption. (Sue Bruell)