China senior judge ousted over corruption allegations

Chinese leaders are determined to make a strong show against corruption

One of China's most senior judges has been stripped of Party membership and removed from all public positions after being accused of corruption.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said Xi Xiaoming had severely violated political discipline and not ruled according to law.

Mr Xi was one of nine Supreme Court deputy judges.

He could now face criminal charges for allegedly taking bribes and using his position to seek benefits for others.

China's President Xi Jinping has overseen a crackdown on corruption that has seen numerous officials jailed since he came to power last year

Zhou Yongkang was jailed in June for corruption dating back decades

The investigation into Mr Xi began more than two months ago but has now concluded he had been disloyal and dishonest to the Party and failed to disclose personal matters.

The 61-year-old specialised in economic law cases and had been tipped to lead a newly created research group focusing on China's civil code.

It is the latest in a series of corruption cases that has seen dozens of high-ranking Chinese officials arrested and jailed.

In June, former security chief Zhou Yongkang was sentenced to life imprisonment - the highest-ranking former official to be jailed in decades.

In July, former high-ranking general Guo Boxiong was also investigated for graft, and in August another former general, Gu Junshan, was given a suspended death sentence for bribery, abuse of power, misuse of public funds and other offences.