Former anti-graft official sentenced for bribery, embezzlement

SHIJIAZHUANG - Qiu Daming, a former anti-graft official in Northeast China's Jilin province, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on bribe-taking and embezzlement charges.

The Intermediate People's Court of Shijiazhuang in Hebei Province handed down the verdict on Tuesday.

Qiu, former deputy head of Jilin's discipline inspection commission and supervisory commission, was also fined 1.7 million yuan ($242,000) and had his illegal gains confiscated.

The court found that while he successively held various posts between 2003 and 2018 in Jilin, Qiu took advantage of his positions and influence to help certain institutions and individuals benefit from property development, loan applications, case investigations and personnel promotion.

Qiu accepted money and property worth more than 35.94 million yuan in return, said the court.

The court also found that between 2003 and 2006, as the deputy head of the Jilin provincial audit office, Qiu embezzled 360,000 yuan after some of the office's house properties were sold at a price higher than marked prices.

Qiu was given a lenient punishment as he confessed, provided additional information about his crimes and showed repentance, and all of his illegal gains have been recovered, said the court.

Qiu said he accepted the sentencing and would not appeal.