Ai Baojun, Shanghai's deputy mayor and director of the Shanghai free trade zone

BEIJING - Former vice mayor of Shanghai Ai Baojun was expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and removed from office for "serious discipline offenses," authorities said Tuesday.

The decision was approved by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. Ai's illicit earnings have been confiscated and the case has been transferred to judicial organs, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said.

Investigations found that Ai, who is also former member of the standing committee of CPC Shanghai committee, seriously violated the Party's political discipline, cheating the Party organization and confronting the investigation.

Ai was also accused of violating organizational discipline, accepting assets and seeking interests for others by taking advantage of his post, as well as not reporting his personal issues to the organization.

Ai violated discipline for clean governance, seeking benefits for his relatives' businesses and trading powers for sex. He seriously violated the Eight-point regulation for frugality, joining private clubs and playing golf.

He also embezzled public assets by taking advantage of his post and sought interests for others, acts that are suspected of being criminal offenses.

The CCDI said as a senior official of the Party, Ai lost his faith and seriously violated the Party's discipline. Moreover, he did not cease his wrongdoings even after the 18th National Congress of CPC.