China sentences politician to death for taking over S$46.7 million in bribes

China has sentenced a former senior political adviser to death for accepting S$46.7 million in bribes and profiteering, over a period of 30 years.

Han Yong, 68, who previously served as a senior political adviser of China's Shaanxi province, was handed down the suspended death penalty on May 19 by a court in Nanning, according to Xinhua and China Daily.

The suspended death sentence gives Han a two-year reprieve from execution.

In China, a suspended death sentence is typically commuted to life imprisonment if no further offences are committed during the two-year reprieve. It can be further reduced with good behaviour.

Accepted S$46.7 million in bribes over 30 years

Han is a former chairperson of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and a former vice director of the Committee of Population, Resources and Environment of the CPPCC National Committee, which is China's top political advisory body.

The court had found Han guilty of abusing his position and influence in Jilin, Xinjiang and Shaanxi to accept 261 million yuan (about S$46.7 million) in bribes, including property, from 1993 to 2023.

In exchange, Han would illegally seek benefits for other companies and individuals in matters such as business operations, project contracts and personnel arrangements, said the court.

In addition to the suspended death penalty, Han was also deprived of his political rights for life and had all his personal assets confiscated.

The court also ruled that Han's illegal gains be recovered and turned over to the state treasury.

Why a suspended death sentence?

According to China Daily, the court sought a death sentence for Han given that the "extremely huge" amount of bribes and the extent of damage caused to the interests of the country and people.

The court chose to impose a suspended death sentence as Han had admitted to the crimes, voluntarily disclosed some bribes unknown to investigators and voluntarily returned his illicit gains, among other reasons.

In October 2023, Han had been placed under investigation for "serious violations of laws and regulations", according to the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Report.

The anti-corruption probe was conducted by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and the National Supervisory Commission, China's highest anti-corruption agency,

In April 2024, Han was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over "serious violations of Party discipline and laws".

This is the second suspended death penalty China has meted out this month.

On May 14, Zhao Weiguo, former chairman of semiconductor firm Tsinghua Unigroup, was sentenced death with a two-year reprieve over corruption and embezzlement, Reuters reported.

Top image from @ali_naka/X