Li Xin, former vice-mayor of Jining in Shandong
Province, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday for
accepting more than 4.5 million yuan (US$544,000) in bribes between
early 1991 and April 2004.
Prosecutors say during that time Li Xin held a series of
positions, including director of the Jining Machinery Research
Institute, director of Jining New and High-tech Industrial Zone and
later vice-mayor of the city.
He exploited his position to get kickbacks from more than 40
companies or units. Investigators who searched Li Xin's home found
a large amount of cash, in local and foreign currencies, credit
cards, store cards, expensive watches and jewellery.
In total, he accepted 110 bribes worth 4.5 million yuan.
In return, Li Xin helped his bribers with land deals, commodity
sales, arranging payment for goods, house purchases and
construction projects in blatant disregard of the law, Weifang
Intermediate Court said in its judgment.
During his trial in May, Li Xin, who was arrested last July,
pleaded guilty, admitting most of the facts of the prosecution's
case. His lawyers appealed for leniency on the grounds of his full
admissions.
Li has 10 days to file an appeal.
Article 386 of the Chinese criminal law stipulates that an
individual who has committed the offence of accepting bribes of not
less than 100,000 yuan shall be sentenced to a fixed-term
imprisonment of not less than 10 years or life imprisonment. Other
punishments include confiscation of property. If the circumstances
are especially serious, he shall be sentenced to death and to a
confiscation of property.
Li's case drew nationwide attention when incriminating
photographs of him were posted on the Internet last June. One, in
particular, shows him kneeling before a woman and pleading for
forgiveness. The woman was identified as 31-year-old Li Yuchun, the
vice-mayor's business partner, and the person who blew the whistle
on him in February 2003.
(China Daily July 6, 2005)