Ex-official sentenced to 15 years for taking bribes

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 court statement released by the Intermediate People's Court of Shenyang in Liaoning province on Tuesday.

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

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

The court said Li had confessed to his crimes truthfully, showed repentance and all his illegal gains have been recovered, thus a lenient verdict was handed down by the court, according to the statement.

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

Li, 64, was born in Xiantao, Hubei province.

China Daily