Former vice-minister gets 15-year sentence for bribery

Former vice-minister of culture and tourism Li Jinzao was sentenced to 15 years in prison for taking bribes worth more than 65.5 million yuan ($10 million), according to a statement by the Intermediate People's Court of Shenyang in Liaoning province.

Li was also fined 6 million yuan and his illegal gains will be turned over to the State treasury, the court statement said.

The court found Li took advantage of his former positions such as head of the State tourism administration, vice-minister of commerce and deputy governor in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region from 1996 to 2020 to benefit others illegally including qualification approval for construction projects and job promotion.

The court found Li did not take attempted bribes worth 7 million yuan, confessed his crime truthfully and returned all illegal gains, thus a lenient verdict was given by the court.

Li was removed from his post as vice-minister of culture and tourism in 2020 and later investigated for serious violations of discipline and law.

Li, 64, was born in Xiantao, Hubei province, and holds a doctorate in economics.