Former Shaanxi senior legislator sentenced to death for bribery

Li Jinzhu, a former senior legislator in Shaanxi province, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Wednesday for bribery, according to a report by CCTV.

The Intermediate People's Court of Guangdong province ordered the confiscation of all of Li's personal assets with all illicit gains to be turned over to the state treasury, said the report.

From 2004 and 2023, Li leveraged his positions — including the mayor of Yulin, vice-governor of the province and deputy head of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi People's Congress, the provincial top legislature — to seek profits for individuals and entities in matters such as business operation, project contracting and job promotion, the report stated.

Li was found to have accepted bribes of more than 431 million yuan ($59 million).

"The amount was extremely large, with severe circumstance and harmful social influence," the court noted, concluding that the offense warranted the death penalty.

"Considering Li's confession, his attempted bribery and voluntary disclosure of most facts unknown to authorities, the court sentenced him to death with reprieve," the report added.

Li, 69, a native of Hebei province, joined the Communist Party of China in 1976 and started his career in 1982.

He was engaged in the country's coal industry for many years. Then, he worked for the National Academy of Governance from 2001 to 2006. Later, he went to Shaanxi, beginning his job in the province.

In 2015, he became deputy head of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee.

In May 2023, he was probed for suspected serious violations of the Party disciplines and national laws. At the end of that year, he was expelled from the Party.

Liu Boqian contributed to this story.