Former head of national TCM administration indicted for bribery

Yu Wenming, former head of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been charged by Tianjin prosecutors for alleged bribery, China's top procuratorate announced on Friday.

According to the Supreme People's Procuratorate, Yu's case was concluded by the National Commission of Supervision and transferred to prosecuting authorities for further review and prosecution. Prosecutors in Tianjin are designated to handle the case and they have recently filed an indictment with the Tianjin No 1 Intermediate People's Court.

Tianjin prosecutors alleged that Yu took advantage of his position as deputy head of the administration to seek benefits for others and accepted large amounts of money and valuables in exchange.

The prosecutors said that Yu should be criminally liable for bribery, informed him of his legal rights during the review and prosecution process, and took into consideration the opinions of his lawyers.

Yu, 62, a native of Shandong province, is a member of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party. He started his career in August 1988 and spent decades working in the medical and pharmaceutical industry.

In April 2004, he became the administration's deputy head. In 2018, he served as its head.

In June 2025, he was placed under investigation.