Former senior customs official sentenced to 13 years for bribery

Sun Yuning, former member of the Party Leadership Group and deputy director of China's General Administration of Customs, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for bribery by the Hefei Intermediate People's Court in Anhui province on Wednesday.

The court also fined him 4 million yuan ($566,300). Bribes and illegal gains recovered in the case were ordered to be turned over to the state treasury, and any shortfall will continue to be pursued.

The court found that between 2005 and 2024, Sun abused his positions — including deputy director of Changchun Customs in Jilin province, Party chief and director of Manzhouli Customs in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Party chief and director of Zhengzhou Customs in Henan province, Party chief and director of Dalian Customs, and deputy director of the General Administration of Customs — to seek benefits for certain companies and individuals in matters such as business operations, project contracting and promotions.

In return, he accepted property either directly or through third parties, with the total value exceeding 50.72 million yuan, the court said.

The court held that Sun's actions constituted the crime of bribery involving an extraordinarily large sum. However, it cited mitigating factors including incomplete bribery acts, his truthful confession, voluntary disclosure of previously undiscovered crimes and active return of illicit gains, and imposed a lenient sentence.

Sun's case was heard in public in September 2024. Prosecutors presented evidence that was cross-examined by Sun and his defense counsel. Sun made a final statement in court and pleaded guilty.

Sun, 60, a native of Jilin province, began working in 1985 and joined the Communist Party of China in 1988. He spent his entire career in customs-related positions.

He served as deputy director of Changchun Customs in 2004, became director of Manzhouli Customs in 2012, and took office as director of Zhengzhou Customs in 2015. In 2018, he was appointed director of Dalian Customs in Liaoning province, and from 2020 served as deputy director of the General Administration of Customs.

In September 2024, Sun was placed under investigation for suspected serious violations of Party discipline and national laws and was removed from his post the same month. In March 2025, he was expelled from the Party and approved for arrest by the Supreme People's Procuratorate.