Jianping Li (Li Jianping)

Biography

2024: Execution for embezzlement of funds and bribes

On December 17, 2024, former official Li Jianping was executed in China for embezzlement of funds and bribes. He is a defendant in a corruption case totaling about 3.06 billion yuan (approximately $426 million).

Jianping served as Secretary of the Communist Party Working Committee of the Technical and Economic Development Zone of the city of Hohhot (the administrative center of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, North China). It is alleged that Jianping fraudulently took possession of more than 1.43 billion yuan ($199 million) of an unnamed state-owned company, and also received 577 million yuan ($80 million) in bribes and appropriated 1.06 million yuan ($147 million). A significant part of the funds within the framework of the investigation could not be returned.

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bloomberg.com

In addition, Jianping is convicted of "condoning illegal and criminal activities." The actions of the former official fell under the definition of "especially grave." The defendant was sentenced to death in 2022. Jianping appealed, but the verdict was upheld in 2024.

By decision of the Supreme People's Court on the morning of December 17, 2024, the People's Court of Middle Instance executed Li Jianping in accordance with the law, the statement said.

It is also noted that all of Jianping's personal property has been confiscated. Before his execution, he was allowed to meet with relatives and loved ones. As Bloomberg emphasizes, the death penalty on corruption charges against Chinese officials is rarely carried out. Most often, they are granted a two-year stay from execution, after which the decision is changed to life imprisonment "for good behavior." However, in the case of Jianping, the court refused to commute the sentence. It says the social consequences of the crimes committed "were particularly abhorrent."^[1]

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