Former vice-chairman of Xinjiang regional government prosecuted on bribery counts

Chen Weijun, former vice-chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regional government, has been prosecuted on charges of bribery, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said on Friday.

The case was investigated by the National Commission of Supervision before being transferred to prosecutors for review and prosecution. The SPP approved Chen's arrest on suspicion of accepting bribes and designated the Chuzhou People's Procuratorate in Anhui province to handle the case. Chen was also a former member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regional committee.

The Chuzhou procuratorate recently filed an indictment against Chen with the Chuzhou Intermediate People's Court, according to the SPP.

Prosecutors alleged that Chen took advantage of a series of senior positions he held in Zhejiang province and Xinjiang to seek benefits for others and illegally accepted an especially large amount of money and valuables in return.

The positions cited in the indictment include mayor and Party chief of Huzhou, vice-governor of Zhejiang, Party chief of Wenzhou, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, and member of the standing committee of the CPC Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regional committee and vice-chairman of the regional government.

Prosecutors said Chen should be held criminally responsible for bribery. During the review and prosecution process, prosecutors informed Chen of his procedural rights, questioned him, and heard opinions from his defense counsel, the SPP said.

Chen, 60, a native of Zhejiang province, began his career in 1986 and spent more than three decades working in Zhejiang. He served in a number of senior local and provincial posts, including mayor and Party chief of Huzhou, Party chief of Wenzhou, and vice-governor.

He was transferred to Xinjiang in May 2021 and later served as a member of the regional Party committee's standing committee and executive vice-chairman of the regional government.

Chen was placed under investigation in November 2025 and was expelled from the CPC and dismissed from public office in June 2026.

Anti-graft authorities said Chen resisted investigation, failed to truthfully report personal matters, engaged in profit-making activities, and allowed relatives to use his influence for private gain. He was also accused of seeking benefits for others in personnel appointments, land use, tax and fee reductions, and construction contracts in exchange for large amounts of money and valuables.

His suspected criminal offenses were subsequently transferred to procuratorial authorities for review and prosecution.