Post by : Badri Ariffin

A former economic development official from the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing has been sentenced to death after being found guilty of accepting bribes worth more than 2.21 billion yuan ($325 million) over a period of three decades. The sentence was announced on Monday by the Changzhou Intermediate People's Court, which said the case involved one of the largest amounts of bribery uncovered in China in recent years. Along with accepting bribes, Yang Youlin was also convicted of embezzlement, offering bribes, misappropriation of public funds, abuse of power, and money laundering.

Bribes Collected Between 1993 and 2023

According to the court, Yang illegally accepted money, property, and other assets worth more than 2.21 billion yuan ($325 million) between 1993 and 2023. The court stated that the payments were made in return for Yang's assistance with project approvals, business operations, land grants, and working capital. Officials said he used his position to provide benefits in these areas in exchange for financial gains, making the case one of the most significant corruption investigations in the country based on the value of the bribes involved.

Part of Xi Jinping's Anti-Corruption Campaign

Yang was investigated under President Xi Jinping's long-running anti-corruption campaign, which has led to the prosecution of many government officials and senior executives over the years. Critics of the campaign have argued that it has also been used in part to remove Xi's political rivals. However, the court's statement focused on the criminal charges against Yang and the evidence presented during the investigation and trial.

Yang Expresses Guilt During Court Proceedings

The court said Yang delivered a final statement during the hearing in which he expressed guilt and remorse for his actions. Photographs released by the court showed the gray-haired former official wearing a dark jacket while standing between two uniformed police officers. The case was heard during two public hearings held in March and April, with more than 30 people attending the proceedings, according to the court.

Assets to Be Seized and Bribe Money Recovered

Following the verdict, the court ordered that Yang's personal property be seized as part of the punishment. Authorities were also instructed to recover the full amount of money and assets that he illegally received through bribery. The ruling aims to ensure that all proceeds linked to the corruption case are returned through the legal recovery process.

Latest High-Profile Corruption Death Sentence in China

Yang is the latest Chinese official to receive a death sentence in a major corruption case. In 2021, Lai Xiaomin, a party secretary at a state-owned company, was sentenced to death and executed after being convicted of accepting bribes, embezzlement, and bigamy. More recently, in 2024, Li Jianping, a local official in Inner Mongolia, was executed after being found guilty of embezzlement and bribery, highlighting China's continued action against large-scale corruption cases.

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