A stern judgment in eastern China underscores the harsh reach of President Xi Jinping’s anti‑corruption campaign.
Yang Youlin, a former city official in Nanjing, was handed a death sentence on Monday after prosecutors accused him of taking more than 2.2 bn yuan (about $325 million) in bribes over a 30‑year career. He also faced charges of embezzlement, abuse of power and money‑laundering.
The 69‑year‑old exploited his positions to secure engineering contracts, land transfers and financing for private enterprises, exchanging favors for cash and valuable goods, according to state media. His illicit gains rank among the highest recorded in recent years.
The case is part of President Xi’s sweeping anti‑corruption drive that has penetrated the military, high‑level banking and other sectors. Past years have seen a handful of executions for large‑scale white‑collar offences, such as former finance chief Lai Xiaomin (1.8 bn yuan) in 2021 and Inner Mongolia official Li Jianping (over 3 bn yuan) in 2024.
In most other cases, courts imposed life sentences or commuted death terms after a period of imprisonment. Occasionally, a guilty party’s cooperation with authorities can reduce the penalty, but Yang’s “extremely serious” offenses were deemed too grave for leniency, the Changzhou court said.
While Yang reportedly pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, the court emphasised that his cooperation did not mitigate the severity of his crimes. His sentencing reflects a broader pattern of strict punishment for officials who defraud state and citizens, and highlights the ongoing enforcement of anti‑corruption measures across the country.
