A court in eastern China has handed the death penalty to former Nanjing government official Yang Youlin after convicting him in one of the country’s largest corruption cases in recent years. Authorities found that Yang accepted more than 2.21 billion yuan (around $325 million) in illegal payments over a period spanning three decades.
The ruling highlights China’s continued efforts to crack down on large-scale corruption involving public officials, with prosecutors describing the case as one of the most significant in terms of the amount of money involved.
Court Finds Multiple Corruption Offenses
According to the court’s verdict, Yang used his government positions between 1993 and 2023 to provide favors related to business operations, land approvals, investment projects, and financial matters in exchange for illegal payments.
In addition to bribery, the former official was convicted of several other offenses, including embezzlement, abuse of power, money laundering, offering bribes, and misappropriation of public funds. The court ruled that the scale of the crimes and the financial losses justified the harshest punishment under Chinese law.
Assets to Be Confiscated
Judges also ordered the confiscation of Yang’s personal assets, while authorities will work to recover the full amount of money obtained through illegal activities.
During the court proceedings, Yang reportedly admitted his wrongdoing and expressed remorse. Public hearings for the high-profile case were conducted over multiple sessions earlier this year with members of the public attending the proceedings.
Part of China’s Ongoing Anti-Corruption Drive
The sentencing comes as China continues its long-running anti-corruption campaign targeting officials accused of abusing public office for personal gain.
Over the past several years, numerous senior government and state-owned enterprise officials have faced severe legal penalties, including life imprisonment and death sentences in major corruption cases. Yang’s conviction is among the largest bribery cases to reach a verdict in recent years, underscoring the government’s strict stance against official misconduct.
