Local legislator detained for illegal fundraising in China

A local legislator and four members of his family have been detained for alleged illegal fundraising of over one hundred million yuan, in northeast China's Liaoning Province. Ma Deqiang, a deputy to the people's congress of Tieling City, and his wife Cheng Hong, legal representative of a pawn company in the city's Xifeng County, were arrested on Dec. 13, according to sources with the county publicity department. Cheng raised almost 110 million yuan (about 18 million U.S. dollars) from more than 400 people, promising them high interest rates, but had not paid principal or interest since July 2013, the sources said. Ma's son, daughter, and daughter-in-law were also detained. Both Ma's son and daughter work for the county government. Police have seized 25 houses, 1.97 million yuan in cash, along with gold, antiques and jewels. Further investigation is under way.