A Chinese court has sentenced Zhang Zulin, the former vice governor of Yunnan Province, to life imprisonment for accepting bribes totaling over 122 million yuan (approximately $17.03 million).
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, the Intermediate People’s Court of Chongqing Municipality found Zhang guilty of abusing his official positions between 2001 and 2023. During this period, he allegedly leveraged his influence to benefit individuals and organizations in areas such as real estate development, project approvals, construction contracts, and loan acquisitions.
As part of the sentence, Zhang has been permanently stripped of his political rights, and all personal property has been confiscated. The court also ordered that the full amount of his illicit gains be recovered and turned over to the state treasury.
The trial was conducted publicly, with proceedings beginning on April 10. The court described Zhang’s offenses as “especially severe,” citing the large sums involved and the long duration of his misconduct.
The verdict underscores China’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign targeting officials at all levels of government.
Comments