China sentences former local official to death in $324m corruption case

Yang Youlin, who held various government positions in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing over three decades, has been handed a death sentence by the Changzhou Intermediate People's Court for large-scale corruption. According to the court's statement, Yang systematically accepted bribes in the form of money and property in exchange for assisting individuals and businesses with project undertakings, operational matters, land allocations, and financial support.

Beyond bribery charges, Yang faced conviction on multiple counts including embezzlement, offering bribes to others, misappropriation of public funds, abuse of authority, and money laundering. The scale of the case—involving over 2.2 billion yuan in illicit gains—ranks among China's most significant corruption prosecutions in recent years. Public hearings were conducted across two sessions in March and April, attended by more than 30 observers.

Yang's case forms part of President Xi Jinping's sustained anti-corruption initiative, which has resulted in numerous high-profile convictions of government officials. The court indicated that Yang's personal assets would be confiscated and recovery efforts would be pursued for the full amount of bribes received. Yang reportedly expressed remorse during his final statement to the court.