Chinese president's son linked to African corruption probe

Chinese search engines have been ordered to block searches relating to a corruption investigation in Namibia that involves a company linked to the son of President Hu Jintao, the Financial Times reported. Action was taken after African media reported that three people had been charged with corruption over a contract awarded to Nuctech, an airport scanner company. Hu Haifeng, the 38-year-old son of China’s leader, was president of Nuctech and is now party secretary of its state-owned parent, Tsinghua Holdings. Namibian prosecutors were said to be on their way to Beijing to try and question Hu, although he is not believed to be under suspicion. The three people in detention stand accused of paying bribes to secure a US$55 million contract for Nuctech. The Namibian government agreed to put up US$12.8 million and the rest was to come through Chinese soft loans. However, the three people allegedly stole nearly half of the government’s contribution and spent it. In a separate development, the EU said it was investigating claims that Nuctech engaged in unfair trade practices.