The urban management bureau in Luotian county, Hubei province, is being accused of using public money to compensate an officer's family after he died of excessive alcohol consumption at a banquet, local news portal cnhubei.com reported on Friday.

The accusation was posted on an online bulletin board on the cnhubei.com website.

The bureau confirmed the officer's death on Friday, but said they paid about 640,000 yuan ($105,520), instead of the 1.24 million yuan as claimed in the anonymous online post. Local disciplinary authorities are investigating the case.

The deceased officer, surnamed Feng, attended a businessman's banquet on Jan 9 and died after consuming too much alcohol. The compensation was provided to pacify the Feng's grieving family, according to the bureau.

The bureau has filed a lawsuit against the banquet host and other attendees.