Yang Zixing, the former vice-governor of Gansu province, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined 5 million yuan ($700,000) for bribery and abuse of power. The verdict was announced by the Intermediate People’s Court of Weinan in Shaanxi province, following a statement released on the official website of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate. The court found that Yang, during his tenure in various senior positions including mayor and Party secretary of Dingxi, accepted bribes totaling over 50.4 million yuan ($6.9 million) between 2006 and 2024. Even after retirement, Yang continued to exploit his influence to secure contracts and investments for others, amassing an additional 8.57 million yuan. The court imposed a 13-year sentence and a 4-million-yuan fine for bribery, and a seven-year sentence with a one-million-yuan fine for leveraging his influence. The combined sentence totals 14 years, with all illicit gains confiscated and turned over to the state. Mitigating factors, such as Yang’s confession, return of illegal proceeds, and voluntary disclosure of unknown offenses, were considered by the court. The trial, which began on August 7, 2025, was attended by over 30 representatives from the National People’s Congress, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the media, and the public.