China's top procuratorate has approved the arrest of Tang Yijun, former minister of justice, on suspicion of accepting bribes.

The approval was disclosed by the Supreme People's Procuratorate on its website on Friday, adding that the case is still being further investigated.

Public information shows that Tang, 63, a native of Shandong province, began his career in 1977 and joined the Communist Party of China in 1985. He worked in Zhejiang province for more than three decades, where he held various positions, including mayor of Ningbo and deputy Party chief of Zhejiang.

He served as Minister of Justice from April 2020 to January 2023, and then he was elected chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

He was placed under investigation for suspected severe violations of the Party disciplines and national laws in April this year.

Early this month, he was expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office.