A Chinese official has been sentenced to death with a delay after being found guilty of accepting bribes worth $37.8 million.
Wang Yong, who was once the deputy leader of the Xizang autonomous region, received a suspended death sentence for taking bribes. A court in Hunan province gave the ruling, saying all his rights as a politician have been taken away and his personal property would be seized. His illegal earnings will also be handed over to the government.
Between 2007 and 2023, Wang worked in several important government positions. He served in China’s civil aviation offices and also led the Guizhou Airport Group. In those roles, he helped individuals and companies win contracts and other favors.
In return, he received large amounts of money as bribes, totaling more than 271 million yuan, which is about $37.8 million.
The court described Wang’s crimes as extremely serious. The amount of bribe money was huge, and his actions caused major harm to public resources and national interests.
However, the court also noted that Wang admitted his crimes, said he was sorry, and returned all the stolen money. Because of these actions, the court chose to be less harsh.
Wang’s case was held in public on May 15, and over 40 people came to watch. Prosecutors showed proof of his crimes, and Wang confessed and gave a final speech in court.
In China, when someone is given a suspended death sentence, it usually means they won’t be executed if they don’t commit more crimes in the next two years. If they behave well, the punishment is often changed to life in prison, and sometimes reduced further.
