Ex-Henan official gets 15-year sentence

Jin Suidong, former vice-chairman of the Henan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), received a sentence of 15 years in prison and fine of 4 million yuan for corruption on Thursday, Jinan Intermediate People's Court in Shandong province said in a verdict.

Between 1999 and 2018, Jin was found to take bribes of 44.3 million yuan after making use of his work positions, including mayor of Anyang, Henan, to benefit others in project land use, loan approval and job promotion, the verdict said.

Jin confessed many criminal facts not yet known by authorities and returned the bribes, so he could be given a light punishment according to law, the court said.

Separately, Huo Ronggui, former deputy director of the Gansu Committee of the CPPCC agriculture and rural affairs committee, was given a sentence of 18 years and fine of one million yuan on Thursday for bribery, embezzlement of public funds and abuse of power, at the province's Dingxi Intermediate People's Court.

Huo made use of his work posts, including deputy director of the general office of the Gansu provincial government and Party chief in Wuwei city, to offer illegal aid to others including promotions, in business operations, construction projects and land development approval.

In return, Huo took bribes of more than 13 million yuan, the court said in the verdict.

Huo asked a staff member at a State-owned company to lend 50 million yuan to another company.

He also ordered someone in a government department to give more than 13 million square meters of a State-owned, unexploited desert to a private company for its loan on mortgage, it said.

The court said it gave Huo a light punishment due to his confession and return of the bribes.