Guangxi ex-official gets suspended death sentence for bribery

Peng Xiaochun, former vice-chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was sentenced on Monday to death with a two-year reprieve for accepting bribes worth more than 263 million yuan ($39.2 million).

The Foshan Intermediate People's Court in Guangdong province also deprived Peng of his political rights for life and ordered the confiscation of all his personal property.

The court said Peng's illicit gains and related proceeds that had already been recovered would be turned over to the State treasury, while efforts to recover the remaining amount would continue, according to the verdict.

The court found that from the second half of 2006 to March 2025, Peng had abused several senior positions he held in Guangxi, including Communist Party of China chief of Hezhou and Baise and vice-chairman of the CPPCC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee, to seek benefits for certain organizations and individuals in matters involving construction contracts, fund disbursement and project approvals.

In return, directly or through others, he illegally accepted money and valuables worth more than 263 million yuan, the court said.

The court ruled that Peng's conduct constituted the crime of accepting bribes. The amount involved was especially large, and his actions caused particularly serious losses to the interests of the State and the people, warranting the death penalty.

However, the court said an immediate execution was not warranted because of several mitigating circumstances.

Some of Peng's bribery offenses were attempted but not completed. After being placed under investigation, he truthfully confessed to his crimes and voluntarily disclosed most of the bribery offenses that investigators had not previously uncovered.

Peng also rendered major meritorious service, pleaded guilty, expressed remorse and actively returned illicit gains. All of his personal illicit gains and related proceeds had been recovered, the court said.

Peng, 64, a native of Guangxi, joined the CPC in 1985 and began working in 1989. He spent his career in Guangxi, serving as director of the regional Party committee's general office, Party chief of Hezhou and later Party chief of Baise.

He became vice-chairman of the CPPCC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee in 2018 and retired after leaving the post in January 2023.

Peng was placed under investigation in June 2025 and expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office in December that year.

At the time, disciplinary authorities said Peng had failed to fulfill his responsibilities for exercising full and rigorous Party governance, resisted organizational investigation, accepted banquets and travel arrangements in violation of regulations, failed to truthfully report personal matters, improperly accepted gifts and money, held shares in unlisted companies in violation of regulations and traded power for money.

He was prosecuted in April 2026. The case was heard publicly by the Foshan court on July 16.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence, while Peng and his defense counsel conducted cross-examinations, and both sides fully presented their arguments. Peng made a final statement and pleaded guilty in court.