Chinese journalists who accused a Communist Party official of corruption released on bail

Two Chinese investigative journalists detained in Sichuan province earlier this month after accusing a local Communist Party official of corruption have been released on bail pending a trial.Liu Hu, 50, a veteran Chinese investigative reporter, and his colleague, Wu Yingjiao, 34, were taken into custody on suspicion of “making false accusations” and conducting “illegal business operations”, police in Chengdu’s Jinjiang district said on February 2.In an article posted last month that has since been taken down, the two cited a source as alleging that Pu Fayou, party secretary of Pujiang county, which is overseen by Chengdu, had abused his authority to suppress private enterprises.The reporters’ article said other county officials had been involved in corruption as well.Liu, a veteran journalist, was detained in 2013 under similar circumstances and acquitted.