Wu Tao, deputy head of the Jinjiang district government in Chengdu, Sichuan province, and also the district's police chief, was taken away by the disciplinary inspection department for investigation in May, Beijing News reported Wednesday.

According to the report, Wu was a close colleague of former deputy Party chief of Sichuan Li Chuncheng, who was dismissed from his post and is under investigation.

Wu was once the youngest director-general in the Chengdu public security system.

A well-informed source in Chengdu public security bureau disclosed the news and said Wu allegedly had four passports and was prepared to escape with a large amount of money in the middle of May but was arrested by Sichuan Provincial Public Security Bureau.

An insider told Beijing News that Wu had a close relationship with Li and was known as Li's "steward". Wu also allegedly helped Li's wife, Qu Songzhi, get two passports.