Former Hubei political adviser sentenced to 14 years for bribery

Zhou Xianwang, former vice-chairman of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for bribery by the Shangqiu Intermediate People's Court in Henan province on Saturday.

Zhou was also fined 5 million yuan ($747,145), and his illicit gains and related proceeds were ordered confiscated and turned over to the state treasury, according to the court's ruling.

The court found that from the first half of 2003 to May 2025, Zhou took advantage of his positions in Hubei to secure benefits for individuals and departments in areas including project contracting, business operations and administrative approvals. In return, he accepted bribes totaling more than 60.5 million yuan.

The court said the amount involved was "extremely large" and that Zhou's conduct warranted severe punishment. However, it granted him leniency because he had not obtained some of the bribes, confessed to his crimes, voluntarily disclosed numerous bribery incidents previously unknown to investigators and actively returned his illicit gains.

Public records show that Zhou, 63, is a native of Hubei. He began his career in December 1980 and joined the Communist Party of China in January 1987. He spent his career in the province, holding several key positions, including mayor of Wuhan, the provincial capital.

Zhou came under disciplinary and supervisory investigation in July 2025. Earlier this year, he was expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office.

He was charged with bribery in April, and the court held a public hearing on July 9, during which Zhou pleaded guilty. More than 20 people, including national lawmakers and political advisers, attended the trial.