Former Xizang official sentenced for bribery

Wang Yong, a former vice-chairman of the government of the Xizang autonomous region, has been given a suspended death sentence for taking bribes, a court in Hunan province announced Tuesday.

The Chenzhou Intermediate People's Court sentenced Wang to death for bribery with a two-year reprieve. The court deprived him of his political rights for life and ordered the confiscation of all his personal assets. All of Wang's illicit gains and related interests will be turned over to the State treasury.

In China, a suspended death sentence is typically commuted to life in prison after two years if the inmate commits no further crimes. The term can be further reduced based on the inmate's behavior.

The court said that from 2007 to 2023, Wang used his various positions — including as director of the policy and regulations department of the Civil Aviation Administration of China Southwest Regional Administration, Party secretary and director of the Civil Aviation Safety Supervision Bureau of Guizhou province, and Party secretary and chairman of Guizhou Airport Group — to seek benefits for organizations and individuals in project contracts and other areas.

In return, he accepted bribes worth more than 271 million yuan ($37.8 million).

The court said Wang's offenses were extremely serious, with an "extreme" amount of bribes, and causing significant damage to public assets and the interests of the country and the people.

Wang confessed to his crimes, pleaded guilty, showed remorse and actively returned his illegal gains, which have been fully recovered, the court said. These actions led to a lenient punishment.

Wang's case was heard publicly on May 15, with more than 40 people attending the trial. Prosecutors presented evidence, and Wang admitted guilt and made a final statement in court.