The anti-corruption campaign launched by Xi Jinping, China’s president, has brought down its most powerful figure so far, after the ruling Communist party expelled a former military leader and accused him of handing out promotions in exchange for bribes.

The case against General Xu Caihou, once one of the most senior generals in the People’s Liberation Army, will be referred to prosecutors, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported yesterday, citing an announcement by the party’s Central Committee.

Gen Xu’s prosecution, agreed yesterday at a meeting of the politburo, is the latest development in an anti-corruption drive established shortly after Mr Xi came to power in 2012, in which he pledged to take on “tigers” – members of China’s elite – as well as low-level bureaucrats, or “flies”.