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Search results for: “china state tobacco bribe”

  • Former China Tobacco Head Sentenced to 12 Years

    Former China Tobacco Head Sentenced to 12 Years

    Former deputy head of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration Zhang Tianfeng was sentenced to 12 years in prison for accepting more than 34 million yuan ($5 million) in bribes. The Ganzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Jiangxi also fined Zhang 2 million yuan ($300,000) and ordered the confiscation of his illicit gains.

    The court found that between 2004 and 2023 Zhang leveraged senior roles in provincial tobacco bodies and, from 2020 to 2023, at the national administration to secure favors in project contracting, recruitment, and promotions in exchange for payments. Although the court deemed the offense serious, it granted leniency after Zhang confessed, voluntarily disclosed additional violations and returned illegal proceeds. He was placed under investigation in January 2025 and expelled from the Communist Party before being indicted.

  • Another Top China Tobacco Regulator Under Investigation

    Another Top China Tobacco Regulator Under Investigation

    Han Zhanwu, deputy director and Party Leadership Group member of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA), is under investigation for suspected “serious violations of Party disciplinary rules and laws,” the country’s top anti-graft bodies announced yesterday (October 12). The probe is being conducted by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission. Han, 59, has been out of the public eye for nearly a month, with his last public appearance during a research trip to Jiangsu province in early September.

    Han, the highest-ranking deputy director at STMA, has previously held senior positions including Director and Party Secretary of the China National Machinery & Equipment Tendering Corporation and leadership roles within the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. He took up his current post at the STMA in April 2020. The administration, directly under the State Council, regulates China’s vast tobacco sector.

    Han’s investigation continues a broader anti-corruption campaign in China’s tobacco system that began in 2021. More than 10 officials have been probed to date, including six current or former STMA leaders. Notably, Ling Chengxing, former Party Secretary and Director, received a 16-year sentence in May 2025 for bribery and abuse of power, while Deputy Director Xu Lin was reported under investigation in May this year.

  • Former Chinese Tobacco Head Sentenced to 15 Years for Bribery

    Former Chinese Tobacco Head Sentenced to 15 Years for Bribery

    Today (August 12), the former deputy director of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, Xu Ying, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for accepting bribes, a court in Anyang, Henan Province, announced. He was fined 5 million yuan ($700,000), with over 65 million yuan ($9.1 million) in illicit gains confiscated.

    The court found that between 2010 and 2024, Xu used his positions to help others with administrative approvals, business operations, and staff recruitment in exchange for bribes.

    Earlier this year, former China National Tobacco Corporation general manager Ling Chengxing was sentenced to 16 years in prison for similar charges between 2006 and 2023.

  • Former China Tobacco Head Sentenced to 16 Years 

    Former China Tobacco Head Sentenced to 16 Years 

    Ling Chengxing, former head of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for accepting bribes and abusing power. The sentence was handed down May 21, by the intermediate people’s court of Changchun in northeast China’s Jilin Province. He was also fined 4 million yuan ($560,000), while all his illegal gains must be recovered and turned over to the state treasury, the court sentence read.

    Ling was found to have accepted bribes worth 43.11 million yuan ($6 million) between 2006 and 2023, taking advantage of his various posts in matters of project contracting and business operations. Moreover, since 2015, during his tenure as Party chief and director of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration and general manager of China National Tobacco Corporation, Ling was said to have “engaged in favoritism, corruption, and abuse of power in the process of facilitating and reviewing matters related to investment and equity acquisition, resulting in a loss of state-owned assets amounting to over 208 million yuan ($29 million), per the court verdict.”

  • China: Former Tobacco Head Pleads Guilty on Bribery Charges

    China: Former Tobacco Head Pleads Guilty on Bribery Charges

    Ling Chengxing, former director of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration of China, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse on charges of bribery and abuse of power in a Changchun court today. He was charged with illegally accepting property worth over 43.1 million yuan ($5.9 million).

    Previously, Ling also held several other high-level positions, including vice-governor of Jiangxi province, the Party committee member of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and general manager of China National Tobacco Corporation.

    According to accusations by the procuratorate in Changchun, between 2006 and 2023, Ling took advantage of his positions to seek benefits for certain units and individuals in project contracting, business operations, and job adjustments. He was also accused of malpractice and abuse of power during the facilitation, review of related investments, and acquisition of equity, causing significant losses to state-owned companies and resulting in particularly severe damage to national interests.

    The court will conclude the trial at a later date.

  • China Tobacco Deputy Head Investigated

    China Tobacco Deputy Head Investigated

    Photo: RomanR

    Chinese authorities are investigating Xu Ying, deputy head of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, for suspected “severe violations of disciplines and laws,” reports China Daily, citing the Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision.

    Xu started his career in the administration in 1988. In March 2014, he became the deputy head of the administration.

    Earlier this month, law enforcement officers arrested former STMA head Ling Chengxing on suspicion of accepting bribes and abusing power.

  • Former STMA Chief Pleads Guilty to Bribery

    Former STMA Chief Pleads Guilty to Bribery

    Photo: alswart

    The former deputy chief of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, He Zehua, pled guilty to accepting bribes worth over CNY943 million ($130 million) during a trial in Liaoning province, reports China Daily. The case was publicly heard by the Dalian Intermediate People’s Court. 

    Prosecutors alleged that from 1998 to 2023, He used his various work posts in the country’s tobacco system to seek benefits for relevant people and departments in business operations, business contracting, job promotion and employment in return for monetary bribes. After leaving his work posts, prosecutors alleged, he sought profits for individuals and organizations in tobacco-related business contracting and bank solicitation for monetary bribes as well.

  • Former STMA Deputy Prosecuted for Bribery

    Former STMA Deputy Prosecuted for Bribery

    Image: Kampan

    Former Deputy Chief of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) He Zehua has been prosecuted for accepting bribes, according to China Daily.

    Zehua was accused of taking advantage of his former positions to seek profits for others, accepting a large amount of money and valuables in return, according to a statement by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.

    Zehua was arrested in July.

  • Former China Monopoly Leader Arrested

    Former China Monopoly Leader Arrested

    Image: Bonsales

    He Zehua, former deputy chief of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, has been arrested on charges of alleged bribe taking, reports China Daily.

    The Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the Liaoning Provincial People’s Procuratorate ordered the arrest. His case was investigated by the National Commission of Supervision.

  • Dalli: ‘No Evidence for Snus Bribery Allegation’

    Dalli: ‘No Evidence for Snus Bribery Allegation’

    Photo: Kirill Ryzhov

    Former European Commissioner John Dalli, who stands accused of trading in influence and attempted bribery to help lift the EU ban on snus, said that no evidence was brought against him in two recent sittings, according to a report by the Malta Independent.

    Dalli’s statement was in reaction to the decision on Friday by Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo that enough evidence has been brought forward for him to stand trial.

    Dalli has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    “Some media in Malta must have had a schadenfreude pleasure in reporting the decision of the court that there is a prima facie case against me and therefore the compilation is to continue,” Dalli said.

    “Anyone following the case objectively would know that in two sittings, not one shred of evidence has been brought against me. It must be said that it was my choice not to move for the prima facie dismissal of the case. I want this hearing to go through the full process and have the opportunity to expose the machinations of the Commission and OLAF officials about this case. This should start during the next sitting. I hope that there will be no attempt to stop this through claims of immunity.”

    The case dates from 2012, when Dalli’s aide Silvio Zammit allegedly tried to obtain a €60 million ($71.17 million) bribe from Swedish Match to reverse the EU ban on snus. The company rejected the offer as improper and reported it to the European Commission.

    Zammit who was charged in December 2012 for trading influence and complicity in the request, passed away earlier this year.

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