We start 2016 with a story about corruption in Beijing’s police department.The spotlight is on Song Jianguo, a 61-year-old veteran of Beijing’s police force and head of the Traffic Management Bureau.In November, the court convicted and sentenced Song for life on numerous counts, which include accepting nearly 24 million yuan in bribes.His son, Song Zhe has also been sentenced to 20 years in prison for accepting bribes worth 12 million yuan in connection to his father’s activities.Father and son have both appealed the ruling.In its conviction statement, the court said that Song senior had accepted payoffs from taxi services, art dealers, a property developer and others for at least eight years.For instance, Song’s position as head of the Traffic Management Bureau had allowed him to secure for his clients driving plates with special privileges.Known as the “A Jing” plates, these are licenses intended for high-level government and party-owned vehicles, and they carry special privileges like one that allows owners to park in no-parking zones.Song’s clients have included the controversial property tycoon Guo Wengui, founder of Beijing Pangu Investment and Beijing Zenith Holdings, and Liu Changqing, the chairman of Beijing’s largest taxi service United Crescent.Besides securing special driving plates, Song has also helped Guo win government approval to put up outdoor LED commercials as well as aiding United Crescent to win permit to run a driving school.
