A court in eastern China has sentenced Yang Youlin, a former municipal official, to death for accepting over 2.2 billion yuan (US$323.8 million) in bribes. The verdict, delivered by the Changzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Jiangsu province on July 6, 2026, marks one of the most severe punishments for economic crimes in recent years.

Yang Youlin previously served as the executive deputy director of the Nanjing Economic and Technological Development Zone management committee. He was found guilty of bribery, embezzlement, misappropriation of public funds, abuse of power, and money laundering.

The court imposed a consolidated death sentence, revoked Yang's political rights for life, and ordered the confiscation of all his personal assets. His illicit gains and their proceeds have been seized and transferred to the state treasury, with authorities authorized to recover any remaining amounts.

According to the court’s findings, Yang’s misconduct spanned three decades, from 1993 to 2023. During this time, he leveraged his influential positions in Nanjing, including director of the Jiangning District Construction Bureau and general manager of the Jiangning Economic and Technological Development Group, to provide illicit assistance to private companies and individuals.

The court found that Yang influenced engineering contracts, business operations, land transfers, and financial turnovers in exchange for substantial kickbacks.

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