China arrests college officer over alleged bribes

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities said Friday that they had arrested a man for allegedly taking bribes while serving as an admissions official at Beijing's elite Renmin University.

The arrest highlights contentions by anti-graft experts who say corruption has permeated all corners of Chinese society, and that academic corruption is troubling because it can shake the nation's confidence in education.

The prosecuting office in the eastern city of Nanjing said Cai Rongsheng was arrested on allegations that he took more than 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) in exchange for the help he extended to those seeking admission to the university.

China in general has a rigorous, neutral university admissions process based on test scores from college entrance exams, but a few elite schools, including Renmin University, are allowed to accept a small number of students each year with greater flexibility.

Critics have said a lack of transparency and supervision in those special admissions processes has bred corruption.

The personnel office of Renmin University said Friday that Cai was no longer employed by the school. Calls to its news office went unanswered.

State media said prosecutors in Nanjing had been appointed to handle the case. The jurisdiction change is a common practice in China to avoid likely interference and ensure impartiality.