A senior official in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, was recently placed under investigation on suspicion of bribery, said the top anti-graft watchdog in the province.

Jiang Zunyu, 57, security chief of the city, has become the highest-level official in Shenzhen - China's first special economic zone and one of its most successful - to face trial since the central leadership launched an anti-corruption campaign in late 2012. He was suspected of "serious discipline and law violations", a phrase often used to refer to corruption.

A local source said Jiang would face trial on three charges, including taking bribes in connection with the 2011 Shenzhen Summer Universiade infrastructure construction projects; colluding with local real estate developers; and securing government positions for others.

According to government audit results, nearly 14 billion yuan ($2.3 billion) was invested in the 2011 Universiade projects, of which 7.5 billion yuan was spent on construction of sports-related facilities for the world university games.

There were more than 80 large projects in the Universiade with a budget of 100 million yuan each.

"Jiang had the final say in small projects with a total value of 2 billion yuan," the source said. "People had to line up at his office for his approval of projects."

Jiang's wife owns a bogus company for subcontracting construction projects, the source said, adding that the company was founded only for receiving commissions from granting government projects to other companies.

The source said Jiang has had a broken marriage for many years. Jiang wanted to file for divorce, but his wife refused and threatened to turn him in to anti-graft authorities to face corruption charges. "Both of them have extramarital partners," the source said.

Both Jiang's wife and daughter have been placed under investigation.

Jiang, a native of Jiangsu province, joined the armed forces at the age of 19. He worked in a construction company in Shenzhen after he completed service in the army and later worked in the national land planning bureau in the city. He climbed up the ladder of officialdom in the city and became the head of the legal and political commission in 2013.

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