Beijing, Dec 31 (IANS): A former vice minister of environmental protection has been expelled from the Communist Party of China and removed from public office following a graft investigation, the party's top anti-graft body announced on Thursday.

Zhang Lijun is accused of accepting bribes, seeking profits for others, abuse of power and misusing public funds, a statement from the CPC's Central Commission for Disciplinary Inspection (CCDI) said.

Some of these violations are criminal acts, Xinhua news agency reported.

The former senior leading cadre of the CPC "has lost his ideal, seriously violated the party code of conduct and continued with his corrupt behaviour even after the 18th CPC National Congress," the statement read.

Zhang's ill-gotten gains will be confiscated, and his case transferred to judicial organs.

An investigation centering on Zhang was launched in July. He is the first senior official in the ministry to be implicated in graft.

Earlier this month, Xiong Yuehui, head of the ministry's technological standards division, was also expelled from CPC for corruption.