CCB Director Sentenced to 11 Years for Bribery in First Trial
Compiled from: Qingdao Intermediate Court
Case review
On August 17, 2023, the Qingdao Intermediate People's Court in Shandong Province publicly announced the first-instance verdict in the case of former Risk Director of the Shenzhen Branch of China Construction Bank, Han Fenglin, who was charged with bribery. Han Fenglin was sentenced to eleven years in prison for bribery and fined 800,000 yuan; the 8,363,015.6 yuan in bribes seized in the case was legally confiscated and turned over to the state treasury.
Case review
On August 17, 2023, the Qingdao Intermediate People's Court in Shandong Province publicly announced the first-instance verdict in the case of former Risk Director of the Shenzhen Branch of China Construction Bank, Han Fenglin, who was charged with bribery. Han Fenglin was sentenced to eleven years in prison for bribery and fined 800,000 yuan; the 8,363,015.6 yuan in bribes seized in the case was legally confiscated and turned over to the state treasury.
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The court's investigation found that: From December 2009 to May 2021, the defendant Han Fenglin, taking advantage of his positions as Risk Director of the Shenzhen Branch of China Construction Bank, member of the Party Committee, and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of the Shenzhen Branch of China Construction Bank, as well as member of the Party Committee and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of Jianxin Wealth Management Co., Ltd., or by leveraging the privileges associated with his authority and position, through the actions of other state personnel, sought benefits for relevant units and individuals in areas such as loan credit limit approvals, working capital loan applications, and employment of their children, and directly or through others, illegally accepted property totaling the equivalent of RMB 8,363,015.6.
The Qingdao Intermediate People's Court held that the defendant Han Fenglin's actions constituted the crime of accepting bribes, and the amount of bribes was extraordinarily large, which should be punished according to law. Considering that after being taken into custody, he truthfully confessed to his crimes and proactively disclosed most of the bribery facts not yet known to the investigative authorities, showing a situation of confession, and voluntarily pleaded guilty and accepted punishment, with all illicit funds having been recovered, he can be given a lighter punishment according to law. Therefore, the above judgment was made.
《 [1] The People's Republic of China 刑法》
[1] Article 385 Crime of Accepting Bribes
Any state functionary who, by taking advantage of their position, extorts property from another person, or illegally accepts another person’s property in exchange for securing benefits for that person, constitutes the crime of bribery.
Any state functionary who, in economic activities, violates state regulations by accepting various forms of rebates or handling fees for personal possession shall be punished as a bribe-taker.
[1] The author's perspective
The crime of accepting bribes infringes upon the integrity of the official duties of state personnel and the ownership of public and private property. It not only seriously affects the normal functioning of state organs and damages their image and reputation, but also violates certain property relations. The harm of accepting bribes is reflected not only at the national level but also in the unfairness to the people. State officials who accept money to handle matters will not act without money, or may even do harm. However, serving the people is a duty that state officials should fulfill. These corrupt individuals, lost in the pursuit of personal gain, ultimately can only face irreparable downfall.
The Qingdao Intermediate People's Court held that the defendant Han Fenglin's actions constituted the crime of accepting bribes, and the amount of bribes was extraordinarily large, which should be punished according to law. Considering that after being taken into custody, he truthfully confessed to his crimes and proactively disclosed most of the bribery facts not yet known to the investigative authorities, showing a situation of confession, and voluntarily pleaded guilty and accepted punishment, with all illicit funds having been recovered, he can be given a lighter punishment according to law. Therefore, the above judgment was made.
《 [1] The People's Republic of China 刑法》
[1] Article 385 Crime of Accepting Bribes
Any state functionary who, by taking advantage of their position, extorts property from another person, or illegally accepts another person’s property in exchange for securing benefits for that person, constitutes the crime of bribery.
Any state functionary who, in economic activities, violates state regulations by accepting various forms of rebates or handling fees for personal possession shall be punished as a bribe-taker.
[1] The author's perspective
The crime of accepting bribes infringes upon the integrity of the official duties of state personnel and the ownership of public and private property. It not only seriously affects the normal functioning of state organs and damages their image and reputation, but also violates certain property relations. The harm of accepting bribes is reflected not only at the national level but also in the unfairness to the people. State officials who accept money to handle matters will not act without money, or may even do harm. However, serving the people is a duty that state officials should fulfill. These corrupt individuals, lost in the pursuit of personal gain, ultimately can only face irreparable downfall.
