Ling Jihua has been expelled from the Communist Party of China and prosecutors have opened an investigation into his suspected crimes and decided to arrest him, the authorities announced on Monday.

The arrest of Ling, former top political advisor, seven months after he was placed under internal investigation for disciplinary violations is a reflection of the central authorities' resolve to fight corruption.

The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee passed the ruling because Ling, according to Xinhua, had taken huge bribes, used his position to seek benefits for others and obtained many core secrets of the Party and the country in violation of Party discipline and the country's laws.