On October 16, 2023, the Taiyuan Intermediate People’s Court publicly announced its verdict in the case of Wang Xuefeng, the former deputy director and standing committee member of the Hebei Provincial People’s Congress. The court found Wang guilty of bribery and accepting bribes through the abuse of his influence, sentencing him to 18 years in prison for accepting over 80 million yuan (approximately $11.2 million) in bribes.
The court imposed a 15-year sentence for bribery, along with a fine of 8 million yuan (about $1.1 million), and an additional 5-year sentence for accepting bribes through his influence, with a 400,000 yuan fine. The sentences were to be served concurrently, resulting in a total of 18 years in prison and fines amounting to 8.4 million yuan (around $1.2 million). Additionally, all assets obtained through illegal means were ordered to be confiscated and submitted to the state treasury.
The investigation revealed that from 1999 to 2022, Wang used his positions—such as a senior official in the Hebei Provincial Disciplinary Commission, the provincial Secretary General, and the Deputy Director of the Hebei Provincial People’s Congress—to facilitate illegal benefits for various individuals and entities. He participated in the selection and appointment of personnel, the management of companies, and other activities, illegally receiving property worth more than 84 million yuan. Furthermore, between 2018 and 2022, while still in office, Wang leveraged his status to gain improper benefits in case management and project contracting, receiving an additional 4.11 million yuan.
The court emphasized that Wang’s actions constituted serious bribery offenses due to the significant amounts involved. However, it acknowledged that he confessed to his crimes once apprehended, provided information about other undisclosed bribery issues, and offered valuable leads related to other significant cases, demonstrating meritorious conduct. Furthermore, he expressed remorse and worked to return the illegal gains, leading the court to consider sentencing leniency for his cooperation.
