Discipline watchdogs in Hunan province have launched an investigation into a bribery scandal during the election of the provincial legislative body after a candidate revealed he had given money to more than 300 voters.

Huang Yubiao, 64, chairman of Dayawan Guangbao Industry, a property development and construction material company, published posts on several popular Chinese websites in mid-January saying he had paid about 320,000 yuan ($51,400) to 320 voters last December in an election of the provincial people's congress.

An investigation team of provincial discipline inspectors and legislators has confirmed Huang's allegation and begun to look into it, local officials said.