A court in eastern China has sentenced a former senior city official to death after convicting him of accepting more than 2.2 billion yuan (approximately $325 million) in bribes over three decades.
The court also found Yang Youlin guilty of embezzlement, abuse of power, and money laundering. According to the ruling, the former official accumulated one of the largest amounts of illegal gains reported in recent years.
Court Finds Yang Youlin Guilty of Multiple Crimes
Yang Youlin, 69, held several government positions in Nanjing between 1993 and 2023. During that period, the court found that he used his official authority to benefit others in exchange for money and valuable gifts.
According to the judgment, he helped individuals obtain engineering contracts, land transfer approvals, and financing opportunities through his official positions. The court concluded that these actions resulted in significant financial losses for the state.
Court Describes Offences as Extremely Serious
The court in Changzhou stated that Yang’s crimes were exceptionally severe. According to the judgment, his actions were “of an extremely serious nature” and “caused exceptionally heavy losses to the interests of the state and the people.” Because of the scale of the offences, the court imposed the death penalty.
Case Linked to China’s Anti-Corruption Campaign
Yang’s investigation formed part of China’s long-running anti-corruption campaign launched under President Xi Jinping. The campaign has targeted officials from multiple sectors, including the military, financial institutions, and government departments.
Supporters describe the initiative as an effort to strengthen accountability within public institutions. However, critics argue that anti-corruption campaigns have also been used to remove political opponents.
Death Sentences Remain Uncommon in Corruption Cases
Although China imposes severe penalties for corruption, death sentences for financial crimes remain relatively rare.
They generally occur in cases involving exceptionally large amounts of illegal money. Several previous corruption cases resulted in similar punishments.
Former finance executive Lai Xiaomin was executed in 2021 after being convicted of accepting 1.8 billion yuan in bribes over ten years.
Similarly, former Inner Mongolia official Li Jianping was executed in 2024 after authorities found him guilty of embezzlement and accepting more than 3 billion yuan in bribes.
In many other corruption cases, courts have instead imposed lengthy prison terms or suspended death sentences. Those suspended sentences are often commuted to life imprisonment after a specified period.
Court Rejects Request for Leniency
According to the court, Yang cooperated with investigators during the legal process. In some corruption cases, cooperation with authorities has resulted in reduced sentences.
However, the court ruled that Yang’s crimes were too serious to justify a lighter punishment. The judgment stated that his assistance “was insufficient to warrant a more lenient punishment.”
Yang Pleads Guilty
During the proceedings, Yang admitted the charges against him. According to the court, he pleaded guilty and “expressed remorse in his final statement.” The ruling concludes one of China’s largest recent corruption cases involving a former local government official.
The case also reflects the country’s continued focus on prosecuting high-profile corruption under its ongoing anti-corruption campaign.
