China charges former official in sex tape scandal with accepting bribes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chinese prosecutors have filed corruption charges against a former city official at the center of a sex tape scandal in which developers allegedly hired women to sleep with officials then extort money or favors from them.
The official Xinhua News Agency reported Friday that prosecutors have indicted Lei Zhengfu, formerly party secretary of a district in the southwestern megacity of Chongqing, for accepting bribes.
Lei was the first, high-profile case to break in November when online video clips of him, in the throes of passion, went viral. Images of his jowly, pop-eyed face became targets of derision and disgust over government corruption.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In January, 10 more officials were fired in relation to the scandal.
The scandal comes as China's new leadership has vowed to crack down on corruption.