Gao Yichen, former deputy director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Preventing and Handling Cult Issues and former vice-minister of State Security, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China for serious disciplinary and legal violations, China's top anti-graft watchdogs announced on Thursday.

Gao, who also served as the former deputy director of the State Council's Office for Preventing and Handling Cult Issues, was found to have engaged in collusion between politsics and business, exchanging benefits, and severely polluting the political environment. The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission announced in a statement that he continued to exploit his position for personal gain even after retirement.

Investigations revealed that Gao lost his ideals and convictions, lacked political awareness and discernment, and resisted organizational investigations. He was found to have accepted banquets and improperly assisted others in job transfers. Additionally, he breached integrity by accepting gifts and monetary rewards and receiving vehicle services from private business owners without compensation.

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Furthermore, Gao interfered in judicial activities and used his influence to benefit others in company listing approvals, land use rights transfers, and case executions, illegally accepting large sums of money and valuables. His actions constitute a severe breach of the Party's political, organizational, integrity, and work disciplines, amounting to serious misconduct and suspected bribery and influence peddling crimes.

In addition to being expelled from the Party, Gao's illegal gains have been confiscated. His case, involving suspected criminal activities, has been transferred to the procuratorial organ for legal prosecution.