China sentences former official Yang Youlin to death over $325 million in bribes, court calls case “extremely serious”

Former senior official Yang Youlin has been sentenced to death by a court in Changzhou, China, after being found guilty of accepting bribes worth more than 2.2 billion yuan, or about $325 million, over a 30-year period.

In addition to that charge, he was also sentenced for embezzlement, abuse of office and money laundering.

According to the court ruling, the 69-year-old used the positions he held in the administration of the city of Nanjing from 1993 to 2023 to favor individuals and companies in obtaining engineering contracts, land transfers and financing, in exchange for money and valuable items.

The court described the case as “extremely serious,” stressing that Yang’s actions caused major damage to the interests of the state and its citizens. Although he cooperated with authorities during the investigation, admitted guilt and showed remorse, the court concluded that the violations were so severe that they could not justify a lighter sentence.

The investigation into Yang Youlin was carried out as part of the broad anti-corruption campaign launched by President Xi Jinping, which has involved senior officials, heads of financial institutions and members of the military.

Although death sentences for corruption in China remain rare, they are applied in cases involving very large sums. In 2021, former financial executive Lai Xiaomin was executed after being found guilty of taking 1.8 billion yuan in bribes, while in 2024 former Inner Mongolia official Li Jianping was executed for embezzlement and bribery worth more than 3 billion yuan.