A local government employee exposed for stealing the identity of a school classmate in northwestern China 20 years ago has been sacked, Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday.

Authorities in Shaanxi province have punished Li Min along with her mother, middle school principal and several officials who either aided the deception or failed to spot it.

Investigations by disciplinary and supervisory commissions in Sanyuan county found that Li’s mother, surnamed Wen, wanted her daughter to attend a vocational school in September 1998, but the girl did not qualify.

Wen enlisted her daughter’s middle school principal, surnamed Wang, and a recruitment officer at the vocational school, surnamed Xi, who swapped Li’s school record with that of her classmate, Jing Gaofeng, who did qualify.

Li obtained an ID card in Jing’s name shortly after starting at her new school. After graduating in 2001, she was hired by a kindergarten and later began working for the county education bureau.

Authorities said Li has been sacked and her case passed to police for criminal investigation. Wen, a Party member, received a serious warning, which could affect her career prospects.

Wang, who has since retired, has seen his pension benefit cut as punishment, while Xi has been demoted and expelled from the Party.

One recruitment officer with the county educational bureau has been demoted, with another given a serious warning, and a former admissions officer has seen his pension benefit reduced.