In a landmark ruling underscoring China’s intensified anti-corruption campaign, the Shanghai First Intermediate People’s Court has delivered a severe verdict against Zheng Jianhua, the former Party secretary and chairman of state-owned Shanghai Electric Group Co Ltd. The court sentenced the 63-year-old executive to death with a two-year reprieve for extensive occupational crimes committed over nearly two decades.
The comprehensive judicial investigation revealed Zheng’s systematic exploitation of his powerful position from 2003 through 2021. The convicted executive was found guilty on four major counts: bribery involving assets exceeding 156 million yuan ($22.4 million), embezzlement of 2.15 million yuan ($308,000) with accomplices, misappropriation of public funds totaling over 700 million yuan ($100 million) for personal loans, and abuse of power that severely damaged national interests for personal political gain.
The court emphasized the extraordinary scale of Zheng’s bribery activities, noting particularly damaging consequences for national and public interests. His sentence includes death with a two-year reprieve for bribery charges, permanent deprivation of political rights, and complete confiscation of personal assets. Additional sentences include five years imprisonment plus a 200,000 yuan fine for embezzlement, fifteen years for funds misappropriation, and seven years for power abuse.
Mitigating factors influenced the court’s final determination, including the recovery of most illicit assets, partial unsuccessful bribery attempts, and Zheng’s full confession following apprehension. The two-year reprieve period allows for potential sentence reduction to life imprisonment based on behavior during incarceration.
This case represents one of the most significant corporate corruption sentences in recent years, reflecting China’s continuing crackdown on graft within state-owned enterprises that dominate critical sectors of the world’s second-largest economy.