China ex-governor gets suspended death sentence for bribery

A Chinese court gave former Shanxi governor Jin Xiangjun a suspended death sentence on Tuesday for taking bribes worth more than 148 million yuan, or $22 million.

The court in central Henan province said Jin, 62, used government positions from 2004 to 2025 to accept bribes for promotions and contracts. It said the amount was especially large and caused particularly large losses to the country and other citizens.

The sentence carries a two-year reprieve, a punishment that is typically commuted to life imprisonment after two years if no further crimes are found. Jin was also denied political rights for life.

The court said it held a public hearing in June and that Jin expressed guilt and remorse. It said his confession and voluntary disclosure of details were reasons for not carrying out the death sentence immediately, and that illegally obtained funds and property had been partly recovered.

Jin is one of a series of senior officials caught in President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign.