Suzhou authorities announced on December 15th the disciplinary decision regarding the former Party Secretary and Director of the Suzhou Industrial Park Bureau of Commerce, Zhu Huanmay Xuanyu. Zhu Huanmay’s subordinate, Xuanyu, began reporting issues of corruption and malpractice five months ago. On December 5th, Xuanyu once again posted a lengthy exposé online about his experiences after reporting, emphasizing that he would not “give up on monitoring the outcome of Zhu Huan’s case,” sparking public attention.
According to official news released on the Suzhou Daily’s Weibo account, Zhu Huanmay was found to be responsible for issues like insider trading in procurement projects at the Bureau of Commerce, colluding in bidding and falsely representing information during inspections by the Suzhou Industrial Park Party Committee. As a result, he was dismissed from his position and demoted from his directorial role to a lower rank.
On July 28th earlier this year, Xuanyu, a staff member at the Suzhou Industrial Park Bureau of Commerce, made a public video report, accusing bureau officials including Zhu Huan of engaging in illegal activities such as bid rigging, embezzlement through fictitious projects, bribery, and providing false materials to the provincial commission’s inspection team, involving an amount exceeding 17 million yuan. Despite reporting to the Suzhou City Disciplinary Committee last year, there had been no progress for over a year and four months, leading Xuanyu to resort to online reporting, which attracted public attention.
Under public pressure, Zhu Huan was investigated. On August 2nd, a special working group in Suzhou reported that initial investigations revealed collusion and bid rigging issues within the industrial park, leading to Zhu Huan’s suspension from duty pending further investigation. However, there was no follow-up from the special working group afterward.
On December 5th, the whistleblower, Xuanyu, released another detailed statement on his Weibo account, “A Huge Ionic Hydrogen Zone,” detailing the various challenges he faced following his initial report online. He criticized those who have been relentlessly trying to defend Zhu Huan by justifying his actions as part of his job responsibilities like bid rigging and providing false information.
Xuanyu stressed that bid rigging is inherently illegal and interfering with inspection activities is a severe violation of disciplinary rules. He pointed out discrepancies such as Zhu Huan’s arrangement of funds without delivery of project results to Lin Xiaoli and continuing to assign projects to Lin Xiaoli despite these serious issues.
Xuanyu urged the public to focus on the truth by questioning whether the initial investigation findings and his report correspond accurately. He also mentioned that blame for peculiar incidents in the industrial park had been wrongly attributed to him, falsely circulated as a manipulation tactic.
Furthermore, Xuanyu advised relevant individuals to concentrate on lawful matters. If they persist in their wrongful actions, he is prepared to expose the truth progressively.
Reflecting on the past few months, Xuanyu asserted his determination not to abandon the pursuit of justice in Zhu Huan’s case, hold defamers and slanderers legally accountable, and prevent any distortion of historical facts.
Xuanyu’s detailed account once again generated discussions online. Many netizens admire his courage and determination against all odds and express concerns about the delayed resolution of the case, questioning the efficiency of the local authorities in Suzhou. Some highlighted the prevalent practice of handling issues discreetly as a common approach in Suzhou and other regions.
One netizen shared a cautionary note, warning about the potential repercussions of spreading rumors and false accusations, leading to psychological distress and justification for persecution under the guise of “preventive treatment.” The individual shared personal experiences of becoming a subject of mockery and gossip by neighbors, classmates, and colleagues at different life stages.
In the midst of ongoing scrutiny and public debate, Xuanyu remained steadfast in his advocacy for transparency and accountability in the face of adversity, setting an example of courage and resilience in challenging systemic injustices.