China hands former Agriculture minister death sentence with two-year reprieve for massive corruption
A Chinese court has sentenced Tang Renjian, the country’s former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, to death with a two-year reprieve after finding him guilty of taking massive bribes over a 17-year period.
According to a statement released by the Changchun People’s Court in northeast Jilin Province, Tang was convicted of accepting cash and property worth more than 268 million yuan (approximately $38 million) between 2007 and 2024.
The court described Tang’s crimes as “extraordinarily serious,” stating that his actions “inflicted particularly severe damage on the interests of the state and the people,” a justification it said warranted the death penalty.
However, the sentence carries a two-year reprieve, meaning it could be commuted to life imprisonment if Tang demonstrates good behavior during that period.
Prosecutors said Tang admitted to the charges, fully cooperated with investigators, and expressed remorse, factors the court noted in granting the conditional suspension of his execution.
