Beijing, June 12 – China’s former security chief Zhou Yongkang (pic) was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for accepting bribes, abuse of power and deliberately disclosing state secrets, China’s official news agency reported.
A Tianjin court ruled Zhou will also have his political rights deprived for life and personal assets confiscated, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Zhou is the most senior Communist Party leader to be tried for corruption under Chinese President Xi Jinping’s anti-graft campaign against party officials and other government workers. The 72-year-old pleaded guilty and will not appeal.
According to the court judgment, Zhou took advantage of his position to seek profits, including bribes of about 130 million yuan (21.3 million US dollars) and property.
Zhou was charged in April after an investigation led to his arrest and expulsion from the Communist Party late last year.
Before retiring three years ago, Zhou was the head of China’s security apparatus and served as a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the party’s highest political body that sets the direction of Chinese policies.
The former security chief also previously served as the deputy general manager of state-run China National Petroleum Corporation, as well as minister of public security and state councilor.
Several of Zhou’s associates and relatives are also under investigation for corruption.
Zhou’s wife Jia Xiaoye and son Zhou Bin had also accepted money and property worth 129 million yuan, Xinhua cited the court statement as saying.
According to the report, Zhou asked his relatives to return their illegal gains, which have all been recovered.
-dpa
