Wu Cunrong, former chairman of the Shanxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was sentenced to life in prison for bribery by a Beijing court on Friday.

Photo via China Daily

The Beijing No 2 Intermediate People's Court also ruled that Wu would be deprived of his political rights for life, and all his personal assets would be confiscated. His illicit gains and related interests are to be turned over to the State treasury.

The court found that between 2006 and 2024, Wu used his positions in Chongqing and the provinces of Anhui and Shanxi, to benefit others in project approvals, land-use conversions, and business operations, in exchange for bribes totaling more than 127 million yuan ($18.44 million).

The court said Wu's actions constituted bribery, noting the "extremely large" amount involved and the "extremely huge" losses inflicted on the country and its people. It also cited mitigating factors, including that Wu failed to obtain some bribes, voluntarily reported most bribes previously unknown to investigators, confessed to his crimes, and actively returned illicit gains.

Wu, 62, a native of Anhui province, joined the Communist Party of China in 1984 and began his career in 1985. He served his hometown for decades, holding positions including mayor of Hefei, the capital of Anhui, and Party chief of the city.

In March 2017, Wu became deputy mayor of Chongqing. From January 2023 to December 2024, he served as chairman of the Shanxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

On Dec 16, 2024, he was placed under investigation. In June 2025, he was expelled from the Party and removed from public office. Three months later, he was indicted on bribery charges. The Beijing court publicly heard the case at the end of last year.