China: Ex-official gets death for $323M bribery

A Chinese court has handed down a death sentence to Yang Youlin, a 69-year-old former executive deputy director of the Nanjing Economic and Technological Development Zone Management Committee. The sentence, issued by the Changzhou Intermediate People's Court on Monday, was for accepting bribes valued at over $323.7 million in property across a 30-year period, from 1993 to 2023.

Yang was found guilty of illegally accepting bribes from entities to whom he provided assistance with projects, business operations, land transfers, and capital turnover. In addition to the death penalty, all his personal property was confiscated. He also received multiple prison sentences, ranging from six months to 11 years and six months, along with fines for related charges including embezzlement and abuse of power.

The sentencing occurs within the broader context of President Xi Jinping's extensive anti-corruption campaign, which has reportedly investigated nearly five million officials since 2012. The campaign aims to maintain the Chinese Communist Party's control and legitimacy. While China's execution rates are not public, the country is widely believed to have the highest number globally. This follows other high-profile cases, such as the execution of Li Jianping in 2024 and Lai Xiaomin in 2021 for similar corruption offenses.