NANJING, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Gou Zhongwen, a former member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and former deputy head of the Committee on Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the CPPCC National Committee, was on Monday handed the death penalty with a two-year reprieve for taking bribes and abuse of power.

Gou has been deprived of his political rights for life, and all of his personal property will be confiscated and his illegal gains from bribery will be recovered and turned over to the national treasury, according to a verdict issued by the Intermediate People's Court of Yancheng in east China's Jiangsu Province.

The court stated that between 2009 and 2024, Gou took undue advantage of his various positions, including vice mayor of Beijing and head of the General Administration of Sport of China, to assist others in matters such as business operations and project approval. In exchange, he accepted money and valuables totaling over 236 million yuan (about 33 million U.S. dollars).

The court also established that during his tenure as vice mayor of Beijing from 2012 to 2013, Gou abused his power in relevant project acquisition processes, bringing significant losses to public property, and to the interests of the state and the people.

The court ruled that Gou's severe criminal offenses had warranted the death penalty. However, considering his cooperation in confessing to his crimes and returning his illicit gains, among other mitigating factors, the court granted Gou leniency in its final judgment. Per that judgment, Gou's death sentence can be commuted to life imprisonment in accordance with the law, but no further reduction or parole will be granted.

The court heard the case on Aug. 20. During the trial, prosecutors, the defendant and his defense counsel cross-examined the evidence and gave their respective accounts. Gou pleaded guilty and expressed remorse in his final statement. Enditem