In a significant judicial ruling demonstrating China’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, Tang Yijun, former senior official from Jiangxi province, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for extensive bribery offenses. The Xiamen Intermediate People’s Court in Fujian province delivered the verdict on Monday, concluding a high-profile case that has drawn national attention.
The court established that between 2006 and 2022, Tang systematically exploited his influential positions—including serving as governor of Liaoning province, Party chief of Ningbo city in Zhejiang province, and minister of justice—to provide unlawful advantages to various organizations and individuals. His corrupt activities encompassed multiple sectors, facilitating company listings, orchestrating favorable land repurchase deals, securing bank loans, and manipulating legal case outcomes.
In exchange for these illicit services, Tang accepted bribes exceeding 137 million yuan (approximately $19.7 million), according to official reports from China Central Television. The court determined that his actions constituted severe bribery crimes involving extraordinary sums of money, resulting in particularly substantial damage to state and public interests.
Beyond the life imprisonment term, the court imposed additional penalties including permanent deprivation of Tang’s political rights and comprehensive confiscation of all personal assets. All illicit gains and associated proceeds recovered in the investigation will be transferred to the state treasury, with provisions for continued recovery of any outstanding amounts.
The ruling underscores China’s intensified judicial efforts against corruption at senior governmental levels, reflecting the central government’s commitment to maintaining disciplinary integrity within the Communist Party of China and public institutions.