SHANTOU, Guangdong: A probe has been launched into claims three officials in Shantou's Chaonan district took bribes over the illegal use of farmland to build tombs.

Li Rongxing, deputy director of Xiancheng township; Huang Tingzhou, deputy director of the district forestry bureau, and Zhao Chuzhou, director of the township forestry station, were all under police investigation, a spokesman surnamed Zheng told China Daily yesterday.

Zhu Zhenfeng, the Party secretary for Dongfushan village, has been sacked and striped of his Party membership for his part in the scandal.