Chinese Ex-Official Sentenced to Death in $325 Million Bribery Case

A Chinese court has sentenced former economic development official Yang Youlin to death after finding him guilty of accepting bribes totaling more than $325 million over a 30-year period.

A Chinese court sentenced a former senior official to death after convicting him of accepting hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes. (Photo: CCTV)

According to The Associated Press (AP), Yang was also convicted of embezzlement, offering bribes, misappropriating public funds, abuse of power, and money laundering.

The Changzhou Intermediate People's Court said Yang accepted more than 2.21 billion yuan ($325 million) between 1993 and 2023 in exchange for helping businesses secure projects, land grants, financing, and commercial opportunities.

The case is among the largest corruption prosecutions in China in terms of the value of bribes involved.

Yang reportedly expressed remorse during his final statement before sentencing.

The prosecution is part of President Xi Jinping's long-running anti-corruption campaign, which supporters say has strengthened government accountability, while critics argue it has also been used to sideline political rivals.