The Hundred Million Corrupt Official Club Expands: Former Shanghai Provincial-Level Official Dong Yunhu Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in First Trial (AI Translation)
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文｜财新 张一川
By Zhang Yichuan, Caixin
【财新网】从中国最早开始系统研究人权问题的学者之一、中国第一份人权白皮书的起草人之一，到中共二十大后上海“首虎”、同期首名落马的正省级、首名被公开罢免的十四届全国人大代表、2024年首名被提起公诉的正省级，再到中共二十大后首名获刑的正省级，昔日“学而优则仕”的董云虎，到如今经历了过山车一般的人生。
[Caixin Online] From being one of the earliest scholars to systematically study human rights in China and co-author of the country's first human rights white paper, to becoming Shanghai's "first tiger" taken down after the Chinese Communist Party's 20th National Congress. He was the first provincial-level official to fall in that period, the first to be publicly dismissed from the 14th National People's Congress, and the first provincial-level official to be prosecuted in 2024. Ultimately, he became the first provincial-level official sentenced after the 20th National Congress, marking a roller-coaster life for Dong Yunhu, once celebrated for his academic excellence leading to officialdom.
8月28日，安徽合肥中院微信公众号发布消息称，合肥中院以受贿罪一审判处董云虎无期徒刑，剥夺政治权利终身，并处没收个人全部财产；对董云虎受贿犯罪所得财物及其孳息依法予以追缴，上缴国库。
On August 28, the Hefei Intermediate People's Court in Anhui Province announced via its WeChat official account that Dong Yunhu was sentenced to life imprisonment in a first-instance trial for accepting bribes. Dong was also deprived of political rights for life and had all personal property confiscated. The illicit gains and their proceeds obtained by Dong from bribery will be confiscated and handed over to the national treasury.
经审理查明：2002年至2023年，董云虎利用担任中央外宣办七局局长，西藏党委常委、宣传部部长，上海市委常委、宣传部部长，上海市政协党组书记、主席，上海市人大常委会党组书记、主任等职务上的便利以及职权、地位形成的便利条件，为有关单位和个人在融资贷款、土地出让、企业经营和人事安排等事项上提供帮助，非法收受上述单位和个人所送财物，共计折合人民币1.48亿余元。
Upon investigation, it was found that from 2002 to 2023, Dong Yunhu took advantage of his positions as Director of the Seventh Bureau of the Central Publicity Department, Member of the Standing Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region CPC Committee and Minister of Publicity, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai CPC Committee and Minister of Publicity, Secretary and Chairman of the Shanghai CPPCC, and Secretary and Director of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress to provide assistance to relevant organizations and individuals in matters of financing loans, land transfers, business operations, and personnel arrangements. In return, he illegally accepted valuables from these organizations and individuals worth a total of over 148 million yuan.
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- Dong Yunhu, a prominent official and human rights scholar, was sentenced to life imprisonment for taking bribes worth over 148 million yuan.
- From 2002 to 2023, Dong exploited several high-ranking positions to facilitate financial and business favors in exchange for bribes.
- His case marks the first provincial-level official sentencing following the Chinese Communist Party's 20th National Congress, demonstrating a significant anti-corruption effort in China.
Dong Yunhu led a distinguished yet tumultuous career, transitioning from academia to top political positions before falling from grace [para. 1]. On August 28, Dong was sentenced to life imprisonment for bribery by the Hefei Intermediate People's Court, which also deprived him of political rights for life and ordered the confiscation of his personal property [para. 1]. Between 2002 and 2023, Dong exploited his various official positions to aid organizations and individuals in exchange for bribes exceeding 148 million yuan. His remorse and cooperation led to a relatively lighter sentence [para. 2][para. 5].
Dong's career began at the Central Party School, which he left in 1999 to become Director of the Seventh Bureau of the Central Foreign Affairs Office. He reportedly began taking bribes shortly after assuming this role [para. 6]. By 2009, Dong had climbed to the rank of Deputy Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office, a vice-ministerial position [para. 6]. In the following years, Dong served in various influential roles, including as a member of the Standing Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region Party Committee, Head of the Publicity Department, and Chairman of the Shanghai CPPCC [para. 7]. Despite his rise, Dong was embroiled in corruption till his investigation commenced in January 2023 [para. 7].
Dong Yunhu is significant for being the first high-ranking provincial official to fall since the CCP’s 20th National Congress. He was removed from his post as a delegate to the 14th NPC and expelled from the Party by December 2023 [para. 7]. His fall came amidst a broader crackdown on corruption within the party [para. 8]. Previously, other former delegates, namely Kong Xiaohong and Cui Maohu, had also been sentenced for accepting bribes [para. 8]. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection accused Dong of various transgressions, including violating Communist Party directives, resisting organizational scrutiny, and engaging in power-for-money exchanges [para. 10].
Dong’s academic background played a part in his early success. He was one of the first Chinese scholars to systematically study human rights and was instrumental in drafting China's first human rights white paper [para. 12]. He published extensively on human rights, often criticizing U.S. policies under the pseudonym "Ren Yanshi" [para. 12].
His collapse precipitated a series of investigations into other officials in Shanghai’s political and propaganda system. Cheng Feng, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai United Media Group, was investigated shortly after Dong's fall and faced trial for accepting over 38.51 million yuan in bribes [para. 13][para. 14]. The broader crackdown saw figures like Xiao Xing from China Taiping Insurance Group also being investigated, suggesting connections to Dong Yunhu’s case [para. 19]. This purge extended to several executives within Shanghai’s state-owned assets system, indicating systemic issues beyond Dong's personal misconduct [para. 20][para. 21].
Dong's sentencing makes him the 24th central-level senior official to face sentencing in 2024, joining a list of others found guilty of substantial corruption [para. 23].
- China Taiping Insurance Group Ltd
- China Taiping Insurance Group Ltd. was mentioned briefly in relation to Xiao Xing, a company executive who was taken into custody while attending a party training session at National University of Defense Technology. Xiao Xing's detention may be linked to political and media system disturbances in Shanghai and potentially tied to a controversial investment project in Jiangxi, which was connected to graft investigations involving Dong Yunhu and Cheng Feng.
- Shanghai International Port Group Co., Ltd.
- Shanghai International Port Group Co., Ltd. (SIPG) is a key entity mentioned in the article. The former President of the group, Yan Jun, was among the officials investigated amidst the anti-corruption crackdown linked to Dong Yunhu's downfall. SIPG plays a significant role in Shanghai's port operations and logistics.
- Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd.
- Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd. had its former Vice President Pan Deqing investigated along with other officials amid the anti-corruption probe linked to Dong Yunhu. This company, involved in the larger Shanghai state-owned enterprise (SOE) sector, experienced significant scrutiny as part of the broader crackdown on corruption within Shanghai's political and business establishments.
- Shanghai Industrial Holdings Limited
- Shanghai Industrial Holdings Limited (SIHL) is a company mentioned in the context of a corruption case involving several Shanghai officials and business executives. The article highlights that Zhou Jun, the former president of SIHL, was one of the executives investigated. Additionally, Lin Zhen, related to SIHL's leasing subsidiary, was involved in a corruption case linked to former Shanghai official Dong Yunhu.
- COSCO SHIPPING Development Co., Ltd.
- The article briefly mentions that Liu Chong, Chairman and Executive Director of COSCO SHIPPING Development Co., Ltd., resigned and went missing on November 17, 2023, after being investigated. COSCO SHIPPING Development is a company involved in the development and operation of shipping and related logistics services.
- Shanghai Fengxian Transportation Energy Group Co., Ltd.
- Shanghai Fengxian Transportation Energy Group Co., Ltd. is mentioned in the article in connection with anti-corruption investigations. Its former Party Secretary and Chairman, Qu Jianping, was one of several Shanghai state-owned enterprise executives investigated prior to the downfall of high-ranking official Dong Yunhu.
- Guangming Real Estate Group Co., Ltd.
- Guangming Real Estate Group Co., Ltd. is referenced in the article regarding its former chairman Shen Hongze, who is among several officials and executives investigated in anti-corruption operations connected to the downfall of Dong Yunhu, a high-ranking official in Shanghai.
- Shanghai Natural Gas Pipeline Co., Ltd.
- Shanghai Natural Gas Pipeline Co., Ltd. is mentioned in the context of multiple investigations and corruption cases. Specifically, its former disciplinary secretary, Chen Yang, is cited as one of several high-ranking officials and executives in Shanghai's state-owned enterprises who have been scrutinized and investigated for their involvement in corruption and improper activities.
- Shanghai Industrial Leasing Co., Ltd.
- Shanghai Industrial Leasing Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Industrial Leasing) is implicated in the corruption case of Dong Yunhu. Its chairman and actual controller, Lin Zhen, was detained by Anhui Hefei Commission for Discipline Inspection. Lin allegedly bought a property in central Shanghai valued at 25 million RMB, which was provided to Dong Yunhu and his associates. Shanghai Industrial Leasing is part of the broader investigation into corruption involving Shanghai's political and media systems.
- November 1999：
- Dong Yunhu left the Central Party School to assume the position of Director of the Seventh Bureau of the Central Foreign Affairs Office (State Council Information Office).
- By 2002：
- Dong Yunhu began accepting bribes after serving as Director of the Seventh Bureau of the Central Foreign Affairs Office for just over two years.
- November 2009：
- Dong Yunhu was promoted to Deputy Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office (State Council Information Office).
- December 2011：
- Dong Yunhu became a member of the Standing Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region Party Committee and Head of the Publicity Department.
- August 2015：
- Dong Yunhu was transferred to Shanghai to serve as the Standing Committee Member and Head of the Propaganda Department of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee.
- January 2018：
- Dong Yunhu was promoted to Chairman of the Shanghai CPPCC.
- January 2023：
- Dong Yunhu became the Director of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress.
- July 10, 2023：
- Dong Yunhu made his final public appearance at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
- July 12, 2023：
- Dong Yunhu's fall from grace due to corruption was announced.
- July 13, 2023：
- Cheng Feng was announced to be under investigation by the Shanghai Discipline Inspection and Supervisory Commission.
- July 31, 2023：
- Dong Yunhu was stripped of his position as a delegate to the 14th National People's Congress.
- December 12, 2023：
- Dong Yunhu was 'double-dismissed' and had his delegate status for the 20th Party Congress revoked.
- July 8, 2024：
- Kong Xiaohong was sentenced to nine years in prison in a first-instance trial for accepting bribes.
- July 23, 2024：
- Cui Maohu was sentenced to 11 years in prison for accepting bribes.
- August 28, 2024：
- Dong Yunhu was sentenced to life imprisonment for accepting bribes by the Hefei Intermediate People's Court.
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