Key information that triggered an investigation into serious disciplinary violations by Liu Tienan, a top official at the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), was provided by his mistress in Japan, said Luo Changping, a journalist who openly outed Liu last year.

Luo, deputy editor-in-chief of the Caijing magazine, told China Business News Monday that before collecting other evidence of Liu's illegal acts, his information first came from Liu's mistress, surnamed Xu.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) announced Sunday that Liu, former director of the National Energy Administration (NEA) and deputy director of the NDRC, is being investigated.

Liu helped Ni Ritao, a businessman, to defraud loans of over $200 million from banks in 2011, and in return, Liu's wife and son then received bribes, Luo said. Ni denied the accusations but admitted that Liu's son worked for his company and Liu's wife was one of the company's shareholders.

Luo said Liu and Xu met in Japan, when Liu was economic counselor in the Chinese embassy. He added that after their break-up, Liu sent several death threats to Xu. 

A source said although the NEA said in a clarification that the accusations were "purely slander" after Luo's report in December 2012, the watchdog had started to collect evidences.

Liu Suhua, a law professor with the Party School of the CPC said NEA's response was rash as only the CCDI has the right to claim whether a ministry-level official has violated any rules.

NEA sources told sina.com.cn that Liu was on the verge of a mental breakdown, with his wife and son having been investigated since early 2013.

Global Times