A former economic development official in the Chinese city of Nanjing has been sentenced to death after being convicted of accepting bribes totaling $325 million over a period of 30 years. The Changzhou Intermediate People's Court announced the sentence on Monday.
Yang Youlin was found guilty of bribery, embezzlement, offering bribes, misappropriation of public funds, abuse of power, and money laundering. The bribes, which amounted to over 2.21 billion yuan, were paid to Yang in exchange for assistance with undertaking projects, business operations, land grants, and working capital, according to a court statement.
The investigation into Yang's activities is part of an extensive anti-corruption campaign led by President Xi Jinping. Critics of the campaign have suggested it has also been used as a tool to sideline political opponents.
During a court hearing, Yang reportedly expressed guilt and remorse. Court documents indicate that his personal property will be confiscated, and authorities will attempt to recover the full amount of the illicit gains. Photos released by the court show Yang, described as gray-haired, standing between two uniformed police officers.
Yang's case is one of several high-profile corruption convictions in China in recent years. In 2021, Lai Xiaomin, formerly a party secretary for a state-owned company, was sentenced to death and subsequently executed for bribery, embezzlement, and bigamy. More recently, in 2024, Li Jianping, an official from Inner Mongolia, was executed after being convicted of embezzlement and bribery.