Tencent Group anti-corruption report: producer Zhang Meng sentenced to three years

[4] Compiled from: Red Star News
 
Case review
Today, "Sunshine Tencent" released Tencent Group's anti-fraud notice, which mentioned that in the previously reported case involving Zhang Meng from the former PCG Film and TV Content Production Department, who took advantage of his position to seek benefits for external companies and received kickbacks from them, and was transferred to public security authorities for handling, the court, after trial, determined that Zhang Meng committed the crime of accepting bribes as a non-state functionary and sentenced him to three years in prison.

 
 

In early 2022, Zhang Meng was transferred to the public security authorities for handling due to suspected criminal activities. It is reported that Zhang Meng previously served as a producer for dramas such as You Are My Glory, Candle in the Tomb: The Ancient City, A Murderous Affair in Horizon Tower, and Listening to Fengming.
 
 
The [1] The People's Republic of China Criminal Law
[4] Article 163: [Crime of Accepting Bribes by a Non-State Functionary]
[5] Any employee of a company, enterprise, or other unit who, by taking advantage of their position, demands or illegally accepts property from others to seek benefits for them, if the amount is relatively large, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years or criminal detention and shall also be fined; if the amount is huge or there are other serious circumstances, the sentence shall be fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years, along with a fine; if the amount is especially huge or there are other especially serious circumstances, the sentence shall be fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years or life imprisonment, along with a fine.
Employees of companies, enterprises, or other units who, in economic transactions, use their positions to violate state regulations by accepting various forms of kickbacks or handling fees for personal possession shall be punished according to the preceding paragraph.
Personnel engaged in public service in state-owned companies, enterprises, or other state-owned units, and personnel dispatched by state-owned companies, enterprises, or other state-owned units to non-state-owned companies, enterprises, or other units to engage in public service, who commit the acts in the preceding two paragraphs, shall be convicted and punished according to Articles 385 and 386 of this Law.

 
 

[1] The author's perspective
This case originally stemmed from Tencent's internal investigation, which was triggered by the sensational Zheng Shuang incident. Although the specific details of the case are unknown, the outcome is that actress Zheng Shuang and producer Zhang Meng have both left the entertainment industry, and Zhang Meng must bear criminal responsibility for her actions.
 
In recent years, scandals have frequently erupted in the entertainment industry. Regardless of their professions, those involved once had promising futures but were exposed for committing various illegal and criminal acts. Although incidents such as Fan Bingbing's tax evasion, Wu Yifan's rape case, and Zheng Shuang's dual contracts have indeed served as a wake-up call for some artists, there are still those who cling to wishful thinking and remain unawakened. In recent years, the government has continuously intensified its management of the entertainment industry. The surviving rats in the gutters of this industry will eventually be eradicated, and even the darkest corners will one day be bathed in sunlight.