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China hands former Shanxi governor suspended death sentence over corruption

By Thomson Reuters Sep 8, 2026 | 4:53 AM

BEIJING, Sept 8 (Reuters) – A Chinese court on Tuesday handed Jin Xiangjun, former governor of the coal-producing province of ​Shanxi, a death sentence with a ‌two-year reprieve over corruption, and found that he illegally accepted over 148 million yuan ($22.05 million).

• Jin took advantage of his positions in a ‌series ​of senior local posts ⁠across a number ⁠of Chinese cities and provinces from 2004 to 2025 and “provided assistance to relevant organisations and individuals in matters including ​business operations, project contracting and job promotions,” a court in the central ⁠Chinese province of Henan ⁠said in a statement.

• He ​accepted over 148 million yuan in money ​and assets in return, the court’s first-instance ‌judgement showed.

• Jin was put under investigation by the country’s anti-graft watchdog in April 2025.

• The suspended death sentence ⁠in Chinese law gives the accused a two-year reprieve from being executed, after which it is ⁠typically ‌converted to life imprisonment.

• Jin ⁠admitted guilt and expressed remorse ​during ‌the proceedings, the court said.

• ​The court ⁠has also deprived him of political rights for life and ordered the confiscation of all his personal property.

($1 = 6.7110 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom, Editing by ​Timothy Heritage)