WEB DESK: China’s former justice minister, Tang Yijun, was sentenced to life in prison for accepting bribes, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.
The Xiamen Intermediate People’s Court in Fujian province found Tang guilty of illegally obtaining over 137 million yuan ($19.71 million) between 2006 and 2022 by exploiting his position to benefit entities and individuals in areas like company listings, land dealings, bank loans, and legal matters.
The court deemed the bribes exceptionally large, citing severe harm to state and public interests. Along with the life sentence, Tang was permanently stripped of political rights, and all personal assets were confiscated.
This case aligns with President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign, which has recently implicated top officials. Over the weekend, the anti-graft body announced an investigation into Emergency Management Minister Wang Xiangxi. Last month, General Zhang Youxia, a senior military leader, was reportedly under investigation amid broader leadership purges.
Tang Yijun, 64, spent over three decades in Zhejiang province before serving as Liaoning governor and becoming justice minister in 2020. Corruption investigations against him began in April 2024, resulting in his expulsion from the Communist Party later that year.
