The former justice minister for the Chinese government has been sentenced to life in prison for accepting bribes during his tenure, marking the latest development in a purge of government officials in the country.
Fu Zhenghua, who has led several high-profile investigations during his time as justice minister, was sentenced to a suspended death sentence that will later be commuted to life imprisonment after two years, according to state media reports. His sentence comes after he admitted to accepting more than 117 million yuan (roughly $16 million) in bribes to bolster his personal gain.
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Investigations into Fu’s conduct began in 2015 after the conviction of Zhou Yongkang, a former security czar who was charged with bribery after an investigation led by Fu. Ahead of Fu’s trial this year, Chinese officials accused Fu of being part of a “political gang” of Sun Lijun, one of the most high-profile officials targeted in the aftermath of Zhou’s ouster.
Sun had also admitted on state television in January that he colluded with top government officials for his own personal gain. He has not yet been sentenced.
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The purges come just three weeks before China’s Communist Party is set to begin its 20th National Congress on Oct. 16, with the party expected to secure a third term for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
