BEIJING -- Yang Fasen, a former senior official of Northwest China's Qinghai province, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from public office for serious violations of Party discipline and laws, an official statement said on Monday.

Yang, an alternate member of the 20th CPC Central Committee, was formerly a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Qinghai Provincial Committee and secretary of the commission for political and legal affairs of the CPC Qinghai Provincial Committee.

An investigation by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision found that Yang had breached discipline in the selection and appointment of officials.

He also abused his position to seek benefits for others in project contracting and business operations, illegally receiving large sums of money and valuables in return, the statement said.

The investigators believe that Yang has committed duty-related malfeasance and the crime of taking bribes, the statement said.

Yang's illicit gains will be confiscated and his case will be transferred to the procuratorial authorities for examination and prosecution, according to the statement.