BEIJING: A Chinese court has sentenced former senior official Yang Youlin to death after convicting him of accepting more than 2.2 billion yuan ($324 million) in bribes over three decades, in one of the country’s largest corruption cases in recent years.
The Changzhou Intermediate People’s Court in eastern Jiangsu Province announced the verdict on Monday, saying Yang accepted money and property while serving in various government positions between 1993 and 2023.
What Crimes Was Yang Youlin Convicted Of?
According to the court, Yang accepted bribes in exchange for providing assistance with government projects, business operations, land allocations and financing arrangements.
In addition to bribery, he was convicted of:
- Embezzlement
- Offering bribes
- Misappropriation of public funds
- Abuse of power
- Money laundering
The court ordered the confiscation of Yang’s personal assets and said authorities would seek to recover the full amount obtained through illegal activities.
What Did Yang Say in Court?
Court officials said Yang expressed guilt and remorse during his final statement before sentencing.
Public hearings in the case were held in March and April, with more than 30 people attending.
Reuters reported it was unable to immediately reach Yang or his legal representatives for comment.
How Does the Case Fit into China’s Anti-Corruption Campaign?
Yang was investigated under President Xi Jinping’s long-running anti-corruption campaign, which has targeted thousands of officials across all levels of government.
The campaign has resulted in numerous senior convictions, although critics have argued it has also been used to sideline political rivals.
Is This the Latest High-Profile Corruption Death Sentence?
Yang is among the latest senior Chinese officials to receive the death penalty for corruption.
Previous major cases include:
- Lai Xiaomin, a former state-owned enterprise executive, who was executed in 2021 after being convicted of bribery, embezzlement and bigamy.
- Li Jianping, a former Inner Mongolia official, who was executed in 2024 for bribery and embezzlement.
- Zhang Zhongsheng, a former Shanxi official, who was sentenced to death in 2018 for accepting more than 1 billion yuan in bribes before his sentence was later commuted to a suspended death sentence and life imprisonment on appeal.
The latest ruling underscores China’s continued crackdown on large-scale official corruption under its ongoing anti-graft campaign.