Former China railway chief sentenced to 15 years for taking bribes

Former party chief of China Railway Corporation Sheng Guangzu, was sentenced to 15 years in prison along with a fine for taking bribes and using influence to accept bribes, with a total of more than 56.66 million yuan ($7.9 million).

The illicit gains and proceeds in the case shall be turned over to the state treasury, Baoji Intermediate People's Court in Shaanxi province ruled the verdict on Tuesday.

He was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment and fined five million yuan for taking bribes. Additionally, for the crime of using his influence for bribery, he was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment and fined one million yuan. The court decided to execute a 15-year prison term and impose a fine of six million yuan on him.

The court found that from 2004 to 2022, Sheng made use of his various posts, including head of the General Administration of Customs, railway minister, general manager of the China Railway Corporation — now known as China State Railway Group, and a member of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress, to help individuals and companies on enterprises' operations, project contracts and job promotions.

In return, he, directly or through others, accepted assets amounting to more than 56.66 million yuan.

In November 2021, Sheng used his former position as general manager of China Railway Corp to seek improper benefits for companies' business operations through other public servants, the court said. During this period of time, he accepted assets amounting to more than 7.14 million yuan.

Sheng's actions constitute the crimes of taking bribes and using influence for bribery, with an extremely large amount involved, said the court. Given that some of Sheng's bribery attempts were unsuccessful, and he truthfully confessed his crimes and voluntarily disclosed parts of the bribery offenses that the investigators were not aware of after being apprehended, he was given a lighter punishment according to law.

Sheng, 74, a native of Jiangsu province, began his working life in 1968 and held positions in railways and customs for long periods. He served as the first head of the China Railway Corporation from March 2013 to October 2016.

In November 2016, he became deputy head of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress.

He was placed under investigation in March 2022, expelled from the Party in September 2022 and arrested one month later.