Shanghai scandal spreads to capital

China's former top statistician was removed from his post last week after links emerged between him and the high-profile Shanghai pension fund scandal, the South China Morning Post reported. "He was dismissed as chief of the statistics bureau this month for 'serious violation of discipline'," said Li Xiaochao, a spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics during a press conference in Beijing. Qiu Xiaohua, who held a ministerial level rank, was abruptly removed from his post last week without explanation after seven months on the job. The spokesman did not offer details of Qiu's involvement in the scandal but analysts were quick to point out that this was just another sign of widespread, systemic corruption and that the scandal may spread into financial affairs in Beijing.