What’s new: The former director of the Supreme People’s Court enforcement bureau has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for accepting 22.74 million yuan ($3.3 million) in bribes, according to a court statement released Tuesday.
Meng Xiang was also fined 2 million yuan and had his illegal gains confiscated and turned over to the state treasury, said the court where his case was heard in Zhengzhou, Central China’s Henan province.
The 58-year-old abused his authority in numerous positions he held in Beijing from 2003 to 2020 to help others obtain contracts and promotions, the statement said. He also accepted money and valuables in exchange for helping people facing trial or execution.
The background: A native of North China’s Hebei province, Meng had a career in the Beijing court system spanning three decades. In 2016, he was promoted to enforcement chief of the country’s top court, playing a pivotal role in its efforts to strengthen the law enforcement process.
In July 2021, following a string of judicial officials falling from grace across the country, Meng was investigated by the country’s top graft buster for alleged corruption. In January 2022, he was expelled from the Communist Party and dismissed from public office.
Contact reporter Wang Xintong (xintongwang@caixin.com) and editor Leila Hashemi (leilahashemi@caixin.com)
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