The Chinese court has sentenced its former agricultural minister to death with a two-year reprieve for receiving massive bribes during his tenure, confirmed the state media reports on Monday.
According to officials, the court in the northeastern province of Jilin handed down the sentence to Tang Renjian on Sunday.
The court ruling said that from 2007 to 2024, Tang misused the dignity of his various positions to assist others in such matters as business operations, project contracting and job adjustment.
It ruled that Tang accepted money and valuables worth more than 268 million Yuan, or around 37.5 million dollars, in total. The ruling Chinese Communist Party's anti-graft watchdog announced in May of last year that Tang was under investigation for suspected violations of discipline and law.
He was an agriculture and rural affairs minister at the time. However, upon his alleged involvement in the crimes, he was removed from the post about four months later.
Also Read : Europe condemns Russia after massive attacks on Ukraine
Chinese authorities in the country and even in cases where the accused had fled the country have been persecuted and handed down a death sentence.
Chinese authorities have been cracking down on corruption and other suspected crimes involving high-ranking government and military figures.
Analysts say President Xi Jinping's top leadership has been trying to tighten discipline within party ranks and show the results of its anti-corruption drives to the people.
China remains among some of the nations where corruption can lead to a death penalty; the list also includes Middle Eastern nations, parts of Southeast Asia and South Asia.
Follow us
