Former China Tower chief Tong Jilu under corruption investigation

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) confirmed the investigation on Sunday, saying Tong was suspected of serious violations of discipline and law – a phrase often used as a euphemism for corruption.

The CCDI gave no further details of the investigation, but business news outlet Caixin reported in August that Tong – once a key industry player in China’s 5G development – had been out of contact since the end of May.

According to Caixin, Tong’s case may be linked to that of Ding Wei, former chairman of the private equity investment arm of China International Capital Corp, one of the country’s largest brokerages. The news service reported that Ding had been taken away by graft-busters in July.

Trained as an economist, Tong graduated from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications in 1987 and completed a doctorate in management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2009.

He was executive director of China Tower when it was established in 2014 and played a vital role at the company as it grew to become a backbone of the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure.

South China Morning Post