A Chinese court has issued a life imprisonment sentence to Zhou Jiangyong, the former Communist Party secretary of Hangzhou, a city in eastern China known for being the home of tech giants Alibaba and Ant Group. Zhou was found guilty of taking bribes totaling more than 182 million yuan ($25.48 million) personally or through his relatives.
The sentencing was made public at a court in Chuzhou, located in eastern Anhui province. According to state media reports, Zhou was involved in corrupt activities in cities and counties within Zhejiang province from 2001 to 2021. He was found to have accepted bribes in exchange for facilitating various business deals during his tenure.
The punishment imposed on Zhou Jiangyong serves as a strong message from the Chinese government regarding its commitment to combating corruption at all levels of governance. This case underscores the ongoing efforts in China to hold officials accountable for corrupt practices and maintain the integrity of the Communist Party.