China indicts politician over honeytrap sex tape scandal

Chinese prosecutors have filed corruption charges against a former city official at the centre of a sex tape scandal in which developers allegedly hired women to sleep with officials then extort money or favours from them.

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BEIJING // Chinese prosecutors have filed corruption charges against a former city official at the centre of a sex tape scandal in which developers allegedly hired women to sleep with officials then extort money or favours from them.

The official Xinhua News Agency reported that prosecutors have indicted Lei Zhengfu, formerly a party secretary of a district in the southwestern Chongqing, for accepting bribes.

Mr Lei was the first, high-profile case to break in November when online video clips of him, in the throes of passion, went viral. Mr Lei has became a target of derision and disgust over government corruption.

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.