THE investigation into China’s former national security chief is expected to take a long time but the government is committed to releasing details to the public, a senior official said yesterday.

    Zhou Yongkang is by far the highest-profile figure caught up in President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on corruption. He is the most senior Chinese official to be ensnared in a graft scandal since 1949.

    Zhang Sujun, a deputy justice minister, said the investigation was still in the hands of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection — the Party’s anti-graft watchdog — in rare public comments on the case.

    “The investigation is still continuing because we are going to review and investigate the case according to the law and also pay attention to evidence, so this process may be a long process, but also a more serious and responsible process,” Zhang told a news conference.

    “I believe that once the relevant authorities have done their probe, they will definitely announce it to the public in an appropriate way via an appropriate channel.”

    Zhang reiterated the Central Government’s stance that the Zhou case “reflects equality before the law.”

    “I think you should not worry, I can only say that this matter enhances confidence in the rule of law,” Zhang said.

    (SD-Agencies)