China sentences former Nanjing official Yang Youlin to death in $325m bribery case

BBC – A court in eastern China has sentenced a former city official to death for taking more than 2.2bn yuan ($325m; £243m) in bribes over 30 years. Yang Youlin, who served in various positions in Nanjing city from 1993 to 2023, was also convicted of embezzlement, abuse of power and money laundering, with his […] The post China sentences official to death for taking $325m in bribes appeared first on Kaieteur News.

A Chinese court has sentenced Yang Youlin, a former city official, to death after convicting him for taking more than 2.2 billion yuan ($325 million; £243 million) in bribes over three decades.   Yang served in various positions in Nanjing city from 1993 to 2023, including executive deputy director of the Nanjing Economic and Technological Development Zone, director of the Jiangning District Construction Bureau, and general manager of the Jiangning Economic and Technological Development Group.   In a verdict delivered on Monday, Yang was also convicted of embezzlement, misappropriating public funds, abuse of power, and money laundering.   The court found that he manipulated engineering contracts, business operations, land transfers and financial transactions in exchange for property and funds worth more than 2.214 billion yuan, making it one of the biggest bribery cases in China.     The court also found that between 2014 and 2016, Yang colluded with co-conspirators to embezzle 12 million yuan in government funds.   He also paid more than 25 million yuan in bribes to other state officials to secure unlawful benefits, misappropriated 15 million yuan of public funds for private business operations, and caused 23 million yuan in direct economic losses to the state through unauthorised property demolitions and illegal land fee refunds.   In 2023, he tried to launder one million yuan in criminal proceeds through a company he controlled.   Judges acknowledged that Yang had provided information leading to the exposure of other crimes, which would ordinarily qualify as a “meritorious service” and could lead to a lighter sentence.   However, the court ruled that the “extremely huge bribe amounts, particularly serious criminal circumstances, extremely vile social impact and especially heavy losses to the state and the people” ruled out the possibilities of leniency.   Yang pleaded guilty and expressed remorse during his public trials in March and April.   The court imposed a consolidated death sentence, stripping Yang of his political rights for life, and ordering the confiscation of all personal assets.W

A Chinese court has sentenced a former public official, Yang Youlin, to death for bribery, offering bribes, embezzlement, misappropriation of public funds, abuse of power, and money laundering. The former executive deputy director of the Nanjing Economic and Technological Development Zone Management Committee is also expected to pay millions of yuan in fines. The Changzhou […] Another Chinese official sentenced to death for corruption

Yang Youlin, a former Nanjing economic development official, was sentenced to death for accepting $325 million in bribes over 30 years. Convicted of embezzlement and money laundering, his case highlights China’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign spearheaded by President Xi Jinping.

A court in eastern China has sentenced former Nanjing city official Yang Youlin to death after convicting him of accepting bribes worth more than 2.2 billion yuan (around Rs 2,800 crore) over three decades.The 69-year-old was also found guilty of embezzlement, abuse of power and money laundering. According to Chinese state media, the case is one of the country's biggest corruption scandals in recent years.Misused Public OfficeYang served in several important government positions in Nanjing between 1993 and 2023. During this period, he allegedly used his authority to help companies and individuals win engineering contracts, secure land transfers and obtain financing. China Executes 11 Members Of Myanmar's Ming Family For Running Scam Mafia In Laukkaing TownIn return, he accepted huge amounts of cash and expensive gifts. Investigators said he repeatedly misused his public office for personal financial gain.Linked to Xi's Anti-Graft CampaignYang's case is part of President Xi Jinping's long-running anti-corruption campaign, which has targeted senior government officials, military leaders, bankers and executives across China.The campaign has led to investigations and punishments for thousands of officials. While the Chinese government says the drive is aimed at cleaning up corruption, critics claim it has also been used to remove political opponents.Court Rejects LeniencyThe Changzhou court described Yang's crimes as "extremely serious" and said they caused "exceptionally heavy losses" to the interests of the state and the public.Although Yang pleaded guilty, admitted his crimes and expressed regret during the trial, the court ruled that the scale of his offences was too severe to justify a lighter punishment. It added that his cooperation with investigators was not enough to reduce his sentence. Justice After 31 Years: Noida Postal Clerk Sentenced For Money Order Embezzlement Of ₹1,575Death Sentences Remain RareChina rarely imposes the death penalty in financial crime cases, but courts may award the punishment when corruption involves exceptionally large sums.In 2021, former finance executive Lai Xiaomin was executed after accepting bribes worth around Rs 2,300 crore. In 2024, former Inner Mongolia official Li Jianping was also executed after being convicted of embezzlement and bribery involving more than Rs 3,800 crore.Many corruption cases in China result in life imprisonment or suspended death sentences that are later commuted. However, the court said Yang's offences were so serious that the death penalty was the appropriate punishment, despite his confession and remorse.

A Chinese court sentenced former official Yang Youlin to death after convicting him of taking more than $325 million in bribes over three decades.