Former Jiangxi official receives death sentence with reprieve

Yin Meigen, a former senior Jiangxi official, received a death sentence with a two-year reprieve for accepting over 207 million yuan ($28.3 million) in bribes, a court in Sanming, Fujian province, announced on Tuesday.

According to the court, Yin's assets will be confiscated, and he has been deprived of his political rights for life. His illicit gains and relevant interests have been turned over to the national treasury, with any shortfall to be further pursued.

The court found that between 2003 and February 2023, Yin took advantage of his positions, including as deputy director of the Jiangxi Provincial Economic and Trade Commission and vice-governor of Jiangxi province, to seek profits for individuals and departments in various matters such as project contracting and enterprise operation, after accepting bribes worth more than 207 million yuan.

According to the court, Yin's behavior constituted the crime of bribe-taking and should be harshly punished, as the amount of the bribes he took was especially large.

Yin received a lenient sentence, given that he truthfully confessed his crimes, voluntarily disclosed some acts of bribery that the investigating authorities were not yet aware of, admitted guilt and remorse and actively returned the illicit gains, most of which have been recovered, the court said.