BEIJING (AFP) - - Video footage of a Chinese official's drunken attempt to force himself on an 11-year-old girl has triggered a police inquiry and a torrent of online criticism, state media reported Tuesday.

Lin Jiaxiang, party secretary of the Shenzhen maritime bureau in southern China's Guangdong province, allegedly grabbed the girl by the throat after she gave him directions to the toilet in the restaurant where he was eating.

Footage of the incident taken from the restaurant's CCTV camera was posted online, and showed the girl running into the dining area after the incident, the China Daily reported.

The girl's father challenged a drunken Lin, who offered to pay him off.

"Yes I did it, so what? How much do you want, just tell me. I'll give you the money," Lin said according to footage shown on the sina.com website.

"Do you know who I am? I am from the Ministry of Transport," he goes on to tell the father, according to the website.

Lin, who was only identified after appearing on the Internet, lost his job and is now the target of a police investigation.

The alleged incident has sparked outrage online, with netizens calling for Lin to be severely punished.

"It looks like organised crime and the government should swap places, in this case organised crime seems more righteous than the government," an online user said on sina.com.

Abuse of power is widespread in China and the government is quick to react to incidents that reach the public domain, including executing officials for serious corrupt deeds to show it is trying to tackle the problem.

Police in Shenzhen told the China Daily that an investigation was underway and "hopefully a result will be released within the week."

The transport ministry said it would step up the investigation, the Beijing News reported, and "after the questions have been clarified, the issue will be dealt with seriously according to relevant regulations."

Is this article useful to you?