Former Nanjing Official Sentenced to Death for Bribery
A court in eastern China has handed down a death sentence to Yang Youlin, a former economic development official in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, for accepting substantial bribes over thirty years. This decision was announced by the Changzhou Intermediate People’s Court on Monday.
Yang was found guilty of accepting assets valued at more than 2.21 billion yuan (approximately $325 million) from 1993 to 2023. These bribes were reportedly exchanged for assistance in project undertakings, business operations, land grants, and securing working capital.
The investigation into Yang’s activities was part of President Xi Jinping’s extensive anti-corruption campaign, which has been ongoing for over a decade. Although this initiative aims to curb corruption, some critics argue that it is used to eliminate political adversaries.
In addition to bribery, Yang faced charges of embezzlement, offering bribes, misappropriation of public funds, abuse of power, and money laundering. This case stands out due to the enormous scale of the corruption involved.
During his final court appearance, Yang expressed guilt and remorse. Images from the court depicted him with gray hair, clad in a dark jacket, and flanked by two uniformed officers.
The case was publicly heard over two days, in March and April, with attendance from over 30 individuals. The court also decided that Yang’s personal assets would be seized, and efforts would be made to recover the bribe money.
This verdict marks Yang as the latest official to receive a death sentence over corruption charges in recent years. In a similar case, Lai Xiaomin, a former party secretary of a state-owned enterprise, was executed in 2021 for bribery, embezzlement, and bigamy. Additionally, Li Jianping, a local official in Inner Mongolia, was executed in 2024 following his conviction for embezzlement and bribery.
