Ex-cyberspace official charged with abusing position, receiving bribes

Peng Bo, former deputy head of the Office of the Central Leading Group on the Prevention and Handling of Cult-related Issues, who was charged with receiving bribes worth over 54 million yuan ($8.5 million), pleaded guilty in court on Thursday.

The Wuxi Intermediate People’s Court in Jiangsu province held a public hearing of the case. Peng made his final statement in court. His sentence will be announced later.

Prosecutors said that between 2006 and 2021, Peng made improper use of his positions, including those of deputy head of the Office of the Central Leading Group on the Prevention and Handling of Cult-related Issues and of deputy head of the Cyberspace Administration of China, to help facilitate the settlement of litigation, expand business networks and handle land transfer procedures.

In return, he received both money and property, either directly or via relatives, to the value of about 54.64 million yuan from those he helped.

Prosecutors have suggested that Peng be investigated for possible criminal liability.

Peng was placed under investigation in March and expelled from the Communist Party of China in August.

In October, he was charged with taking significant bribes to control negative information about others on the internet by taking advantage of his positions.