Former Hainan official sentenced in bribery case

Former Hainan senior official Chen Xiaobo was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined 3 million yuan ($430,000) for taking bribes, according to a first-instance verdict issued on Tuesday by the Shanghai First Intermediate People's Court.

Chen, who served as deputy secretary of the Hainan provincial commission for discipline inspection and as the deputy director of the provincial supervisory commission, was found guilty of accepting bribes worth more than 37 million yuan between 2007 and 2024. The court ordered that all illicit assets and any interest accrued be recovered and handed over to the state treasury.

The court said Chen abused his positions to assist organizations and individuals with land acquisitions, construction contracts, and job appointments in exchange for bribes.

While the sums involved were considered "particularly large", the court cited several mitigating factors. Part of Chen's offences were attempted, he cooperated with authorities, admitted to most of the crimes voluntarily, showed remorse, and returned illicit proceeds. All related bribes, assets, and interest have been recovered.