Li Chunliang, former Deputy Director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, sentenced to life imprisonment at first instance

On July 22, the Intermediate People's Court of Dezhou, Shandong Province, issued a firstinstance verdict in the case of Li Chunliang, former member of the Party Leadership Group and deputy head of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, for bribery and bribery through influence, sentencing him to life imprisonment, depriving him of political rights for life, and confiscating all of his personal property. The court found that from 2002 to 2022, Li Chunliang used the convenience of his positions in the Central Organization Department and the national forestry system to help others in company operations, project contracting, and job promotions, illegally accepting property worth more than 84.65 million yuan in total. After leaving office, he further used the convenience formed by his former authority and status to handle approval procedures for others through the official acts of other state functionaries, and accepted 3.05 million yuan in property. The court held that Li Chunliang's conduct constituted the crimes of bribery and bribery through influence, and the amount was especially huge, so he should be punished in accordance with the law. Taking into account that he had circumstances such as attempted offense, truthfully confessing, voluntarily disclosing some facts not yet known, pleading guilty and expressing remorse, and returning the illicit gains, the court imposed a lenient punishment in accordance with the law. The case was heard in open court on April 29 this year, and Li Chunliang stated in court that he pleaded guilty and expressed remorse.