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China Daily | English | News | July 18, 2025 | Political Scandal or Corruption

Wu Yingjie, former Party chief of the Xizang autonomous region, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve by a Beijing court for accepting bribes totaling over 343 million yuan ($47.78 million). In addition to the suspended death sentence, Wu was deprived of his political rights for life and had all his personal assets confiscated. His illegal gains and associated interests will be turned over to the State treasury. The sentence means Wu may serve life imprisonment if he commits no further crimes during the two-year probation period, with the possibility of further reduction for good conduct.

From June 2006 to February 2021, Wu abused his official positions to secure benefits for departments and individuals in project contracting and business operations, receiving substantial bribes in return. The court justified the death sentence due to the large amount involved and the serious societal impact of his crimes. However, leniency was shown because Wu confessed, cooperated with investigators by providing information on other suspects, voluntarily disclosed previously unknown bribes, and returned illicit funds. The court also noted that Wu did not receive some bribe money as expected.

Wu, aged 68 and originally from Shandong province, began his career in 1974 and joined the Communist Party of China in 1987. He held various roles in Xizang and served as deputy head of a National People's Congress committee from 2021 to 2023. Before his investigation in June 2024, he was a member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, leading its Committee on Cultural, Historical Data and Studies. He was expelled from the Party and removed from office at the end of 2024. Wu was formally indicted on bribery charges in March 2025, with his trial held publicly later that month.