(July 6): A Chinese court handed a rare death sentence to a former official on corruption charges, in a severe punishment underscoring the intensity of President Xi Jinping’s anti-graft crackdown.
Yang Youlin, a former vice director of an economic zone in the eastern city of Nanjing, was sentenced to death on Monday for taking more than 2.21 billion yuan (US$325 million or $420.3 million) of bribes between 2013 and 2023, according to the state broadcaster China Central Television.
Yang was found guilty also of embezzlement, abuse of power and money laundering. His crimes were “exceptionally grave” and caused massive losses, warranting the capital sentence, CCTV reported, citing the Changzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Jiangsu province.
Death sentences for economic offenses are rare in China. However, the country has executed two former officials at China Huarong International Holdings Ltd — one of the nation’s largest managers of bad debt — since 2021 amid Xi’s yearslong crackdown on financial crimes.
During a speech celebrating the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party last week, Xi touted his signature anti-corruption campaign, which has ensnared an unprecedented number of military and civilian officials. The party is determined to “eliminate all viruses that erode its health,” Xi said.
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