Zhao Shuqi, director of the river management department of the water conservancy bureau of Yexian County, was suspended after it became known that his son Zhao Zihang has been receiving a salary from the department since 2007 even though he never worked there.
An anonymous tipster revealed that Zhao Zihang has been receiving a monthly salary of 1,200 yuan (USD 208) from the department since he was just 15.
The tipster also revealed that 10 of the department's 69 staffers were under the age of 18 when they started showing up on the department's payroll.
Local disciplinary authorities are investigating the case, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.