Corrupt Chinese officials betrayed by pillow talk

Mistresses and "second wives" are common among governmentofficials and businessmen in China and are often blamed fordriving officials to seek money through bribes or other abusesof power.

"At least 80 percent of corrupt officials exposed inDongguan had mistresses who gave us important information thatwe did not possess," Zhou Yuefeng, deputy director of theindustrial city's anti-graft bureau told the China Daily.

He declined to give details.

Besides having mistresses, Zhou said receiving bribes inthe form of share dividends was also common among corruptofficials in Dongguan.

"Our focus this year will be on the taxation and medicaldepartments." he said. "However, that doesn't mean we won't belooking at corruption in other areas."

A report by China's top prosecutor's office last year saidthat of 16 provincial-level officials punished for seriousgraft in the previous five years, most were involved in"trading power for sex", along with gambling, money-launderingand shady land sales to developers.

(Editing by David Fox)