Jiangsu Changzhou Radio and Television Network Corruption Case： The property involved in the collective fall of the team reached 10 million.
The investigators searched Li Zhaofang’s office.
Zhang Hao/Comics
Li Zhaofang, former deputy general manager of Changzhou Wujin Radio and Television Information Network Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Province, was recently sentenced to four years in prison by the court for accepting bribes. So far, through special actions, more than half of the 18 cases of 20-person duty crimes investigated and handled in the field of radio and television networks in Changzhou have been pronounced. Two radio and television network companies in Changzhou City, from the person in charge to the ordinary salesman, have fallen, and the members of the leadership team are "completely annihilated".
After investigation, from 2008 to 2013, Changzhou Branch of Jiangsu Radio and Television Cable Information Network Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Changzhou Branch of Jiangsu Radio and Television Company") and Changzhou Wujin Radio and Television Information Network Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Wujin Radio and Television Company"), as well as members of the leadership team, some middle-level cadres and salesmen of Wujin Radio and Television Station, used the market monopoly right of radio and television resources and the administrative management right of radio and television undertakings. Playing politics and taking bribes in the process of investment and construction, attracting investment, equipment procurement, financial management and personnel appointment, the total amount of property involved is nearly 10 million yuan.
A small set-top box leads to a big nest case
"The key to special investigation is to find the right entry point. The entry point of the case is like the thread of a sweater. If you find the thread, you can untie it with a gentle touch. " Wang Yaming, director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Changzhou Procuratorate, said that the set-top box is the key "thread" in the special campaign against corruption in the field of radio and television.
Since April 2013, the corruption in Changzhou radio and television network field has entered the sight of Changzhou procuratorate because of reports from the masses. During the investigation, the case-handling personnel heard many complaints from the public about the high quality and low price of TV set-top boxes and the frequent failure of remote controllers. "There must be a cat behind the set-top box!" The investigators are keenly aware of this. With the deepening of the investigation, the fact that set-top box manufacturers, agents and distributors paid bribes to relevant personnel of local radio and television network companies in the form of kickbacks in order to enter Changzhou market or increase sales volume gradually surfaced.
The special action to investigate and deal with duty crimes in the field of radio and television networks was immediately launched in the city. Changzhou City Procuratorate has formulated a careful implementation plan, and unified arrangements for initial investigation, unified dispatch of investigation forces, and unified organization of investigation activities. Five grass-roots hospitals and more than 60 investigating police officers conducted an eight-month preliminary investigation according to the plan. Pulling out the radish and bringing out the mud, 18 cases of 20-person duty crimes in the field of radio and television networks in this city were finally solved in one fell swoop.
In Changzhou, the actual operator of set-top box is cable TV operator. There are two operators in Changzhou City, namely Changzhou Branch of Jiangsu Radio and Television Company and Wujin Radio and Television Company. The former is responsible for the radio and television networks in Xinbei, Zhonglou, Tianning and Qishuyan, while the latter independently manages the radio and television system in Wujin District. There is no superior-subordinate relationship between the two, and there are also great differences in the nature of enterprises.
Although the two companies are different in nature, their functions are almost the same. On the one hand, it is engaged in radio and television network business activities, including the construction, management and maintenance of cable TV transmission networks, providing cable TV access and technical services, purchasing set-top boxes, cables and other equipment, and selling electronic products. On the other hand, it manages the people and property of radio and television stations in townships and towns within its jurisdiction.
This semi-commercial and semi-administrative organizational model has many disadvantages, one of which is the high concentration of power-the decision-making power and administrative management power of Changzhou Branch of Jiangsu Radio and Television Company are in the hands of Chairman Zhang Bing, while Wujin Radio and Television Company is in the pocket of Chairman Pan Guoxing.
Promote and appoint cronies and hold decision-making power.
Zhang Bing, 59, worked as a middle-level cadre in an important department of Changzhou Municipal Committee when he was young, and later transferred to the director of Changzhou Cable Radio Station. After the establishment of Changzhou Radio and Television Company, Changzhou Radio and Television Bureau appointed him as the chairman.
From the "top leader" of the administrative unit to the dispatched enterprise, Zhang Bing felt marginalized and often laughed at himself as a "forgotten person". He thinks that since he has been forgotten, it is better to settle down in a corner and set up another mountain. Therefore, Zhang Bing started with the appointment of personnel and firmly controlled the power of Changzhou Radio and Television Company.
Sweet-tongued and diligent is Zhang Bing’s way of employing people. Based on this principle, he promoted a trusted team-Wu Yuequan, director of the office and secretary of the Disciplinary Committee, Liang Changan, deputy general manager in charge of engineering and technology, and Li Xiaolin, deputy general manager in charge of finance. The middle-level cadres of the company, especially the heads of major business departments such as development department and technology department, are basically arranged by Zhang Bing. It is also a matter of his word that the company has a new salesman and which stationmaster is appointed by the subordinate township radio and television station. Power gave Zhang Bing a taste of waving a baton.
In 2008, Jiangsu Radio and Television Department integrated the cable TV networks of 10 cities and established Jiangsu Radio and Television Company. Changzhou Radio and Television Company was merged and reorganized into Changzhou Branch of Jiangsu Radio and Television Company, and Zhang Bing was appointed as Party Secretary and General Manager.
In 2008, the Olympic Games was held in Beijing. In order to ensure that more users can watch this event through digital TV, cable digital TV operators in various regions increased their translation efforts before the Olympics, and the market sales of set-top boxes ushered in a blowout. At that time, there were more than 200 enterprises engaged in the production of set-top boxes in China, and the market competition was fierce.
The brand access of set-top boxes in Jiangsu province is unified by the newly established Jiangsu Radio and Television Company, and eight manufacturers who have the right to sell set-top boxes are determined. Which brand is used by each city, and then the branch company chooses from these eight companies, which forms a "trumpet mouth" with strict entry and wide exit. The highly monopolized market model makes it possible for manufacturers to get through the provincial companies, and the future depends on how to pull business with branches in various cities.
After bidding, eight companies including Shengjie, Weiqi, Yuanhang and Xutian won the bid. Zhang Bing, who has the right to decide which brand of set-top box to purchase in Changzhou, met Yu Ting, regional manager of Sunan of Shengjie Company. As the two became more and more familiar with each other, Yu Ting began to love her, sending some calligraphy and painting, teapot and so on. Gradually, the big and small things in Zhang Bing’s family were also taken care of by "enthusiastic" Yu Ting: Zhang Bing’s daughter graduated as an intern, and Yu Ting arranged to go to Shengjie Hong Kong head office; The younger daughter wanted to go out for fun, and Yu Ting took out a 60,000 yuan travel card. When she got married, Yu Ting gave tens of thousands of yuan worth of Cartier watches and a pair of gold bracelets … Shengjie Company soon became one of the largest set-top box manufacturers in Changzhou.
Facing the collective fall of layers of public relations teams
In 2012, set-top boxes faced another major technological innovation, from digital set-top boxes to high-definition set-top boxes. The new round of upgrading has brought about another huge fluctuation of behind-the-scenes interests.
Yuanhang Company has always wanted to cooperate with Changzhou Radio and Television Company to carry out business. Gao Weijun, its regional manager, took the opportunity of this large-scale replacement to come to Zhang Bing several times. Cigarettes and shopping cards are common gifts. Considering that there are few manufacturers of new intelligent terminal products in Changzhou, Zhang Bing signed a purchase contract with Yuanhang Company in order to enhance market competition, and the gift brought by Gao Weijun was accepted.
Companies such as Weiqi and Xutian, which are engaged in the production of set-top boxes, did the same thing. First, the regional director contacted Zhang Bing and got his approval. Then, he got through with the leaders of companies such as Liang Changan and Li Xiaolin, then the project manager and middle-level leaders dredged up, and finally, the direct salesman docked. So go through customs from top to bottom until the relationship of cooperation and common prosperity is unbreakable.
Soon, the set-top box market in Changzhou city was divided up by four companies: Shengjie, Weiqi, Yuanhang and Xutian. The almost zero-competition market makes manufacturers no longer pay attention to the quality of set-top boxes, and most of the funds are used to get through the internal relations of operators, so the price of boxes remains high. The cost of digital set-top boxes is only around 100 yuan, but it has sold for four or five hundred yuan in the market; The cost of high-definition set-top boxes is about 200 yuan, and the market price is as high as seven or eight hundred yuan! The box with high quality and high price makes the people complain.
In recent two years, many brands have launched digital TV all-in-one machines, integrating the functions of set-top boxes into televisions. Set-top boxes once again ushered in innovation, and manufacturers who came to Zhang Bing took intensive actions together. Shi Jinjun, the deputy general manager in charge of marketing, is a member of the team parachuted from the head office and has been excluded from the group in Zhang Bing. Shi Jinjun seized the opportunity and, with the acquiescence of Zhang Bing, made a great contribution to the purchase and sale of all-in-one machines, and successfully integrated into the circle of Zhang Bing.
In addition to set-top boxes, manufacturers of related peripheral products, including cable, cable broadband equipment, data transmission equipment and other electronic products, also use almost the same way, relying on Zhang Bing and his company to earn a lot of money.
After Zhang Bing was put on file for investigation by the procuratorate, investigators found a lot of cash, calligraphy and painting, gold and silver, high-end cameras and lenses when searching his home and office, and there were countless unopened cigarettes, alcohol, shopping cards and red envelopes. In the end, the property that was well documented and recognized by the procuratorate totaled more than 600,000 yuan.
Zhang Bing’s cronies have also fallen. In just two months, the number of people involved reached eight, and no member of the leadership team escaped.
Financial management chaos, self-enrichment in advertisements
The corruption caused by set-top boxes in Wujin Radio and Television Company is exactly the same as that in Changzhou Radio and Television Company. Because of the special situation of radio and television system in Wujin District, there are other forms of corruption.
Wujin District Radio and Television Bureau and Wujin District Radio and Television Station are two brands, and the two units are jointly responsible for Wujin Radio and Television Publicity, the development and management of radio and television undertakings, and the operation and management of TV stations and subordinate enterprises.
Pan Guoxing is also the director of Wujin Radio and Television Bureau and director of Wujin TV Station. After the establishment of Wujin Radio and Television Company, Pan Guoxing is also the chairman. It can be said that all the people, money and things of Wujin District Radio and Television System are in the hands of Pan Guoxing.
With the high concentration of power, Pan Guoxing has amassed wealth without scruple. In addition to taking bribes in the operation of set-top boxes and supporting equipment, another big source of "income" for Pan Guoxing is advertising business.
Since 2005, Wujin TV Station has implemented a diversified advertising revenue-generating system, which is a great "contribution" after Pan Guoxing became the director. Taiwan will set a relatively low income-generating target, and the assessment will be divided into rewards for the excess part. Everyone in each department will have a share, and the more advertisements you pull, the richer the commission. For a time, the whole stage was caught in the craze of advertising. Within one or two years after the implementation of the system, the business quota increased from more than 20 million yuan to more than 70 million yuan, almost quadrupling.
As the saying goes, support the bold. Wang Zhijian, the deputy director of the station, is also the manager of Changzhou Chaoyue Film and Television Program Production Co., Ltd., which belongs to the tertiary industry of Wujin TV Station and is the backbone of advertising. Wang Zhijian knows very well that the advertising revenue-generating system in Taiwan is actually a gray industry, but with Pan Guoxing on it, he is not only not worried, but also has a bigger appetite. Most of the advertising business brought back by income generation does not follow the normal accounting procedures, and the management is extremely chaotic. Wang Zhijian thinks that it is better to find a way to embezzle the commission from Taiwan. He remitted the advertising fees he received to his personal card without issuing any bills. Over the past few years, Wang Zhijian has embezzled more than 430,000 yuan. Many people in the company also follow this method and take money with both hands.
With his own golden idea, the whole company benefited, but as the director, Pan Guoxing could not personally intervene in the operation, and he could only get an administrative death salary, which was somewhat unbalanced in his heart. Pan Guoxing’s resentment was keenly captured by his men. They began to find various reasons to "honor" Pan Guoxing. According to the investigation by the procuratorate, Pan Guoxing took bribes totaling more than 1 million yuan. His downfall involved seven related cases and seven people, and two sets of leading bodies were wiped out.
Indiscriminately setting up the supervision of the secretary of the Disciplinary Committee is ineffective.
Is such blatant corruption unsupervised?
As mentioned earlier, the secretary of the Disciplinary Committee of Changzhou Radio and Television Company is Wu Yuequan, but according to the investigation by the procuratorate, this secretary of the Disciplinary Committee turned out to be "privately established".
Wu Yuequan was hand-picked by Zhang Bing. He was originally the director of the office, but the annual salary of the director of the office was only more than 200,000 yuan, and he was only a middle-level cadre and could not enter the inner circle. In order to further strengthen his leading group, Zhang Bing created a post of Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission for Wu Yuequan, who was in charge of personnel management, and his annual salary rose to more than 400,000 yuan. Wu Yuequan has been more dead set on Zhang Bing since then.
In this way, there is a secretary of the discipline inspection commission in the company without the discipline inspection department. The secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection is responsible for personnel, regardless of disciplinary inspection. With this secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection, some of Zhang Bing’s property has a seemingly incorruptible place. He sometimes gives alcohol, tobacco, shopping cards and cash to Wu Yuequan, and Wu Yuequan also seems to formally record them one by one. Wu Yuequan has asked Zhang Bing many times what to do with these properties. Zhang Bing sometimes said that the company would take them out when necessary, and sometimes used them to help the poor. But as of the time of the incident, most of this property had been kept by Wu Yuequan except a small part for the company’s official reception.
After Zhang Bing was put on file, Wu Yuequan was terrified. He copied the account book that recorded Zhang Bing’s property for three times again until he could no longer reflect the briber and the amount involved. Wu Yuequan destroyed the original account books, which led to the fact that part of Zhang Bing’s bribery was finally unfounded.
Wujin Radio and Television Company has not set up a regulatory agency from beginning to end. According to the regulations, the company is controlled by Wujin District Radio and Television Bureau, which has the right to supervise it, but the director of Radio and Television Bureau and the chairman of the company are both Pan Guoxing. How can he supervise himself?
(Some people and companies involved are pseudonyms)
(Original title: Small set-top box uncovers the corruption case of radio and television. Changzhou, Jiangsu: investigating and handling 18 cases of duty crimes in the field of radio and television networks)