Former Chinese vice minister of justice sentenced to 13 years in prison for bribery

China's former vice minister of justice Liu Zhiqiang was sentenced to 13 years in prison and fined 3 million yuan ($418k) for accepting bribes of over 42.45 million yuan ($5.9m), the Wuhu Intermediate People's Court ruled in Anhui Province on Tuesday.

The court found that from 2007 to April last year, Liu used his positions including head of the international cooperation division with the Ministry of Public Security and deputy head of the Ministry of Justice to seek benefits for others in business operations, project contracting, and getting job promotions. In return, he received bribes of more than 42.45 million yuan.

China's former vice minister of justice Liu Zhiqiang. (File photo: People's Daily)

Liu's illicit gains will be handed over to the State treasury.

Publicly records show that Liu, 62, originally from Shandong Province, served in the Ministry of Public Security for decades.

In 2012, he was appointed vice governor of the provincial government and head of the provincial public security department.

In January 2016, he became the deputy head of the Ministry of Justice.

Liu was placed under investigation in April 2024 and subsequently expelled from the Party in October of the same year. In February 2025, he was indicted on the charge of bribery, and his case went to public trial in May.

(Xinhua)