Former Chinese advisory body official sentenced to life for bribery

Li Weiwei, a former deputy head of the Committee on Population, Resources and Environment under the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was sentenced to life in prison for bribery involving more than 117 million yuan ($16.87 million), a court in Hainan province said on Tuesday.

The First Intermediate People's Court of Hainan also stripped Li of her political rights for life and ordered the confiscation of all her personal property. Illegal gains from bribery and related proceeds that have already been recovered will be turned over to the state treasury, with any remaining amounts to be recovered according to law.

The court found that between 2008 and 2024, Li abused her positions to seek benefits for others in matters including project contracting and business operations. Her posts included member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Hunan Provincial Committee, head of the United Front Work Department, secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, and chairperson of the CPPCC Hunan Provincial Committee. She illegally accepted property worth more than 117 million yuan, either directly or through others, the court said.

The court said Li's actions constituted the crime of bribery, involving an extremely large amount and causing serious losses to the interests of the state and the public. It noted that some of the offenses were attempted.

At the same time, the court said Li truthfully confessed her crimes, including facts previously unknown to investigators, actively returned illicit gains and cooperated in their recovery. These factors constituted statutory and discretionary grounds for leniency, leading to a lighter penalty.

Li, 67, is a native of Hunan province. She began her career in 1975 and joined the Communist Party in 1976. She spent most of her career in Hunan and served as chairperson of the CPPCC Hunan Provincial Committee from 2016 to 2023, before taking up her post with the 14th CPPCC National Committee.

Li was placed under investigation in July 2024 while still in office, arrested in February 2025 and formally indicted in June 2025. Her case was publicly tried on Nov. 6, 2025.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence, while Li and her defense counsel conducted cross-examinations. Both sides fully stated their arguments. Li made a final statement in court, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse.