Ai Wenli, the former publicity director of Hebei Province, was dismissed from the Party for serious violation of disciplines and laws, National Supervisory Commission announced Friday.

Ai was also vice-secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the CPPCC Hebei Committee, and the committee’s vice chairman.

The investigation shows that Ai violated organizational disciplines and failed to report required information, received gifts from unscrupulous merchants, engaged in profit-making activities with his family, and demanded others to buy houses for him in Beijing.

He is also suspected of corruption by exchanging power for huge amounts of bribes, the commission said in the statement.

"As a senior party cadre, Ai lost his faith and ideals, deviated from the principle, unscrupulous and lawless, was willing to be 'hunted' [by bribers], turned public power into a tool for personal gain, and seriously violated Party discipline and law,” the statement said.

Due to Ai’s surrender and sincere repentance, the commission has decided to expel his Party membership, cancel related treatment, confiscate all of his illegal gains and transfer his criminal misconduct to the procuratorate for review and prosecution, and propose mitigation of punishment.

On July 31, 2018, Ai was officially being investigated.