BEIJING (AP) — A former justice minister in China received a two-year suspended death sentence for taking bribes and helping criminals, including his brother, to hide illegal activities, Chinese state television reported Thursday.
The conviction of Fu Zhenghua has added to the long-running crackdown launched by President Xi Jinping after he came to power in late 2012 that saw a string of senior officials punished for corruption.
China Central Television said on its website that Fu, 67, admitted to abusing his power from 2005-21, including as minister and police chief in the Chinese capital, Beijing, to cover up the crimes of his brother and others.
In return, Fu received 117 million yuan ($16.5 million) in money and property, the official China Daily reported in July. Thursday’s report and earlier news reports did not detail the alleged conduct of Fu’s brother, Fu Weihua.
A suspended death sentence can often be commuted to a long prison term if the offender is deemed to have rehabilitated.
If the sentence is reduced, Fu will be sentenced to life in prison, CCTV said.
