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Former Chinese Justice Minister Sentenced to Life for $20 Million Bribes
China’s ex-justice minister Tang Yijun gets life imprisonment for accepting $19.7M in bribes over 16 years. The court cited abuse of power and serious damage to state interests.
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-02
Former Chinese Justice Minister Sentenced to Life for $20 Million Bribes

A Chinese court has sentenced former justice minister Tang Yijun, 64, to life imprisonment for accepting bribes totaling nearly $20 million over a period of more than a decade.

Tang served as China’s justice minister from 2020 to 2023 and held other senior positions, including governor of Liaoning province and head of the Chinese Communist Party in Ningbo.

The Xiamen Intermediate People’s Court said Tang “abused the advantages associated with the positions he successively held” to provide benefits to various individuals and companies in exchange for payments. These benefits included assistance with initial public offerings, securing bank loans, and acquiring land. Tang received a total of 137 million yuan ($19.7 million).

The court described the amount as “particularly high” and said it caused “extremely serious damage to the interests of the state and the people.” However, it acknowledged mitigating factors, noting that Tang confessed, expressed remorse, pleaded guilty, and cooperated with the investigation.

Tang is the latest high-profile figure to be punished amid President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign, which critics argue is also used to eliminate political rivals. Another former justice minister, Fu Zhenghua, received a death sentence with a two-year reprieve in 2022, later commuted to life imprisonment.

Last month, authorities launched an anti-corruption probe into Zhang Youxia, the highest-ranking military official investigated in decades.
Tagged:

XiJinping

ChinaCorruption

TangYijun

JusticeMinister
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