A former Chinese official sentenced to death after accepting bribes for three decades

A court in eastern China has sentenced a former official, Yang Youlin, to death for corruption after receiving bribes worth over 2.2 billion yuan (approximately 325 million dollars) over 30 years.

Yang, at 69 years old, held various positions in the city of Nanjing between 1993 and 2023 and was found guilty of embezzlement, abuse of power, and money laundering. He used his positions to facilitate the obtaining of engineering contracts and land transfers in exchange for money and valuable items.

His sentencing is part of the anti-corruption campaign launched by President Xi Jinping, which has targeted other sectors, including the banking system. Although death penalties for corruption are rare, they are applied in cases involving large sums.

Yang pleaded guilty and expressed remorse before the court, but his crimes were deemed extremely serious, leading to a severe punishment.