Former Chinese minister sentenced to death for taking bribes
The Chronify
Former Chinese Agriculture Minister Tang Renjian has been sentenced to death for taking bribes. According to a report by China’s state news agency Xinhua on Sunday, a court in Jilin Province delivered the verdict.
The verdict stated that between 2007 and 2024, Tang Renjian accepted bribes totaling 268 million yuan (around 37.6 million USD) in cash and assets while holding various official positions. On Sunday, the Changchun Intermediate People’s Court in Jilin sentenced him to death but suspended the execution for two years, noting that Tang had confessed to his crimes.
In November last year, China’s ruling Communist Party expelled Tang, months after he came under investigation by the country’s anti-corruption watchdog and was removed from all positions.
The probe against the former agriculture minister was concluded swiftly. Earlier, similar investigations were launched into Defense Minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor Wei Fenghe.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has led a sweeping anti-corruption campaign since 2020, targeting officials across the country’s security apparatus. The campaign’s stated goal is to ensure that police, prosecutors, and judges remain “absolutely pure and reliable.” In January this year, Xi reiterated that corruption remains the biggest threat to the Communist Party and continues to spread.
