Former China Justice Minister jailed for life over corruption

A Chinese court on Monday, February 2, sentenced a former justice minister to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of accepting bribes totaling nearly $20 million over more than a decade.
 

Tang Yijun, 64, served as China’s justice minister from 2020 to 2023 and held several senior roles during his career, including governor of Liaoning province and Communist Party chief of Ningbo city.
 

According to a statement by the Xiamen Intermediate People’s Court in eastern China, Tang abused the authority of the positions he held between 2006 and 2022 to secure benefits for individuals and companies. In return for payments, he assisted with matters such as initial public offerings, bank loan approvals, land acquisitions and other business interests.
 

The court said Tang received bribes totaling 137 million yuan (about $19.7 million), describing the amount as “particularly high” and noting that his actions caused “extremely serious damage” to the interests of the state and the public.
 

Despite the severity of the offence, the court cited mitigating factors, including Tang’s confession after his arrest, expression of remorse, guilty plea and cooperation with investigators.
 

President Xi Jinping has led an extensive anti-corruption campaign since taking power in 2012, a drive that has resulted in the prosecution of numerous high-ranking officials. Critics argue the campaign has also been used to remove potential political rivals.
 

Tang is the latest former justice minister to be convicted. In 2022, Fu Zhenghua was found guilty of corruption and initially sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, later commuted to life imprisonment.
 

Chinese authorities also announced last month the launch of an anti-corruption investigation into Zhang Youxia, one of the country’s most powerful generals, making him the highest-ranking military figure targeted in decades.