China probes officials following alleged 'salamander banquet'

Shenzhen police said on Monday that they have started investigating the incident

A Chinese giant salamander - the largest in the world - can grow up to 1.8 meters in length (GOH CHAI HIN/AFP/Getty Images)

Police officers in south China’s Guangdong Province have come under fire after they were accused of consuming a rare, protected animal with government funds during an underground feast.

Fourteen Chinese police officers have been suspended following an incident where three undercover journalists were allegedly assaulted during an attempt to expose them.

State-run publication Global Times reported that three journalists claimed they were severely beaten by officials who consumed a giant salamander at a restaurant in the Luohu district. The salamander was provided by one of the diners who said it had been bred in captivity, according to the report.

The incident is said to have taken place on Wednesday 21 January in Shenzhen. Citing the Nandu Daily, the Global Times said that 28 people attended the dinner party, including the head of public security bureau of the Dongshen branch Wang Yuanping.

Shenzhen police said on Monday that they have started investigating the incident and Wang Yuanping was under investigation.

Last year Chinese legislature approved a law including prison sentences for people who were caught eating rare wild animals.