"The Supreme People's Procuratorate has decided to open an investigation into the case of Liu," Xinhua news agency said.
The announcement came after China's ruling Communist Party earlier this month expelled Liu, once the deputy director of the influential National Development and Reform Commission, as leaders wage a high-profile campaign against corruption.
On August 8, Xinhua, citing the party's anti-corruption watchdog, said Liu "took advantage of his position to seek profits for others" and was "morally degenerate".
"Both Liu and his family accepted huge amounts of bribes," it added.
Liu lost both his party and government posts.
Expulsion from the party is normally a precursor to criminal prosecution for Chinese officials and on Sunday the official news agency said an investigation into Liu was "underway".
The announcement came after China's ruling Communist Party earlier this month expelled Liu, once the deputy director of the influential National Development and Reform Commission, as leaders wage a high-profile campaign against corruption.
On August 8, Xinhua, citing the party's anti-corruption watchdog, said Liu "took advantage of his position to seek profits for others" and was "morally degenerate".
"Both Liu and his family accepted huge amounts of bribes," it added.
Liu lost both his party and government posts.
Expulsion from the party is normally a precursor to criminal prosecution for Chinese officials and on Sunday the official news agency said an investigation into Liu was "underway".
