Former anti-cult office official charged with bribery

Gao Yichen, former deputy director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for the Prevention and Handling of Cult Issues and former deputy director of the State Council's office for the same work, has been charged with bribery and taking bribes through the use of influence, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said on Friday.

The case was investigated by the National Commission of Supervision before being transferred to procuratorial authorities for review and prosecution. The SPP approved Gao's arrest and designated the Hangzhou People's Procuratorate in Zhejiang province to handle the case. The procuratorate recently filed the case with the Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court.

During the review and prosecution stage, prosecutors informed Gao of his legal rights, questioned him and heard the opinions of his defense counsel.

According to prosecutors, Gao took advantage of his former positions to seek benefits for others and illegally accepted a particularly large amount of money and valuables in return. He was also accused of using the influence derived from his authority and status, including after leaving office, to seek improper benefits for others through the actions of other state functionaries, while illegally accepting a particularly large amount of money and valuables.

Prosecutors said Gao should be held criminally responsible for the crimes of bribery and taking bribes through the use of influence.

Gao was placed under investigation in June 2025 and expelled from the Communist Party of China in January this year.