Former Guizhou official gets 11-year sentence for bribery

Chen Shaorong, a former senior legislator from Guizhou province, was sentenced in a first-instance judgment on Tuesday to 11 years and three months in prison for bribery, according to the intermediate people's court of Qiannan Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefecture.

The court ruled that Chen, former deputy director of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Standing Committee of the Guizhou Provincial People's Congress, was guilty of accepting bribes and imposed a fine of 1.3 million yuan ($186,422).

All illicit gains and their related interest were confiscated and turned over to the State treasury, with any remaining amount to be recovered in accordance with the law.

The court found that between 2005 and 2024, Chen abused his positions, including as vice-mayor of Liupanshui, executive vice-mayor of Guiyang, and Party secretary of Anshun, to seek benefits for organizations and individuals in areas such as coal mine operations, project contracting, and personnel promotions.

In return, he accepted bribes totaling more than 22.07 million yuan, as well as more than 100,000 yuan in fruits of illegal gains.

The court said the amount involved was especially large and justified a heavy sentence. It noted that Chen confessed, voluntarily disclosed bribery offenses, and actively returned the illicit proceeds. These factors warranted a lighter punishment under the law.

After the verdict was announced, Chen stated in court that he accepted the judgment and would not file an appeal.