Former Regional Leader Sentenced for Two-Decade Bribery Scheme
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A Chinese court sentenced a 73-year-old former senior regional official to death with a two-year reprieve on Tuesday, concluding that he accepted more than 111 million yuan ($15.3 million) in bribes over nearly two decades.
Qi Tongsheng, the former chairman of the People’s Political Consultative Conference in the Ningxia region, is the oldest high-ranking official to be sentenced since the Communist Party’s 20th National Congress. The Intermediate People’s Court of Nanning in the Guangxi region handed down the sentence for bribery, stripping Qi of his political rights for life and ordering the confiscation of all his personal property. The court ordered that all illicit gains and accrued interest be turned over to the state treasury.
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- Qi Tongsheng, 73, former top official in Ningxia, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for accepting bribes exceeding 111 million yuan ($15.3 million) over 18 years.
- He is the oldest high-ranking official sentenced since the Communist Party’s 20th National Congress; 56 central government–appointed officials have been sentenced in 2025 alone.
- The court cited Qi’s cooperation and remorse as mitigating factors and confiscated all his illicit gains and property.
- July 1952：
- Qi Tongsheng was born in Pingshan County, Hebei province.
- 1968：
- Qi was sent down as a 'sent-down youth' in Ningxia.
- 1977：
- Qi graduated from Gansu University of Technology and joined the Ningxia Chemical Design Institute.
- By January 2004：
- Qi had become head of the Ningxia Development and Reform Commission.
- January 2004 - November 2021：
- Qi accepted more than 111 million yuan in bribes, leveraging his leadership roles.
- January 2005：
- Qi entered the vice-ministerial ranks as vice chairman of Ningxia regional government.
- 2007：
- Qi was promoted to the standing committee of the regional party committee and served as executive vice chairman.
- 2013：
- Qi became chairman of the Ningxia political advisory body at age 60.
- 2018：
- Qi's term as chairman of the Ningxia political advisory body ended.
- 2019：
- Qi fully retired after briefly serving on the Ethnic and Religious Committee of the national political advisory body.
- June 2024：
- Qi was seen at a public briefing for retired cadres, appearing visibly aged.
- October 8, 2024：
- Authorities announced the investigation into Qi.
- After October 8, 2024：
- Qi was detained and later confessed truthfully to his crimes.
- October 2024：
- Jiang Zhigang, former deputy party chief of Ningxia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
- March 2025：
- Qi was expelled from the Communist Party following the annual legislative sessions.
- September 25, 2025：
- Qi stood trial, pleaded guilty, and expressed repentance.
- December 17, 2025：
- Qi was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve.
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