រដ្ឋអាជ្ញាចិនបញ្ជាឱ្យចាប់ខ្លួនអតីតអ្នកកាន់សាសនាអ៊ិស្លាមនិងជាអ្នកត្រួតពិនិត្យអ៊ិនធឺណិតលោកប៉េងបូ

- Peng is accused of party disloyalty, receiving bribes and failing to supervise the internet in China, says CCDI

- He once worked under Lu Wei, the disgraced internet tsar, who was jailed for 14 years for corruption in 2019

Peng Bo was expelled from the Communist Party earlier this month. Photo: Handout

Senior cult-buster Peng Bo is set to be prosecuted after being investigated by the nation’s anti-corruption watchdog since March, according to Chinese prosecutors.

The Supreme People’s ­Procuratorate said in a statement that it had approved the order for Peng’s arrest and was moving the case forward.

Before his arrest, 64-year-old Peng was teaching at Peking University following service as deputy director of the central government’s office responsible for combating cults and cult-related issues.

In China, “cults” are deemed to be groups engaging in inhumane, antisocial or unconstitutional practices, which could involve violent crimes, fraud, sexual abuse or posing a threat to social stability.

In March, Peng was placed under investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection for allegedly receiving bribes. 

His loyalty to the party was questioned and he was accused of failing to supervise the internet industry while serving as the deputy chief of the Cyberspace Administration of China.

This month, Peng was stripped of his Communist Party membership in a high-profile notice from the CCDI, which documented details of his alleged misconduct.

“Investigations have found that Peng Bo has lost his faith and was disloyal to the party,” the commission said in a statement earlier this month.

“He strayed from the decisions and plans laid down by the Party Central about the propaganda struggle over the internet.

“He also used his authority for his personal gain, sought benefits from internet companies, resisted investigations by the party and engaged in superstitious activities.

“He violated the eight-point requirements on frugal living, visited private clubs frequently and accepted invitations to extravagant banquets and dinners,” it added.

Peng had direct responsibility for regulating the internet industry as deputy head of the cyberspace administration. In 2015, he was transferred to the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, the party’s top law enforcement agency, which was responsible for the online monitoring and policing of cults.

He retired three years later and began teaching new media at Peking University. He played a key role in establishing the Chang An Jian social media account run by the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

Peng also worked under Lu Wei, the disgraced internet tsar, who was jailed for 14 years for corruption in 2019.

SCMP