Former Deputy Head of Chinese Forestry Agency Indicted in Bribery Scheme
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Li Chunliang
Chinese prosecutors have indicted Li Chunliang, former deputy director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, on charges of accepting “particularly huge” bribes — making him the first senior official to face criminal prosecution since the close of the 2026 parliamentary sessions.
The Supreme People’s Procuratorate announced March 16 that Li is accused of exploiting his powerful government posts to amass illegal wealth and continuing to solicit bribes through his political network even after leaving office.
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- Li Chunliang, former deputy director of China's NFGA, was indicted in March 2026 for accepting "particularly huge" bribes.
- Li is accused of leveraging powerful government roles and his network to illegally amass wealth, even after leaving office.
- He was expelled from the Communist Party and placed under investigation in May 2025; his indictment followed various high-profile positions in government and environmental agencies.
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What Happened When
- February 1963：
- Li Chunliang was born in Bazhou, Hebei province.
- 1980 (at age 17)：
- Li entered the People’s Liberation Army Second Artillery Technical College.
- 1984：
- Li graduated and served in the military.
- November 1995：
- Li was seconded to the local cadres bureau of the Central Organization Department.
- January 1997：
- Li officially joined the Central Organization Department.
- August 2008：
- Li was transferred to Jiangxi province as deputy head of the provincial party organization department and later head of the veteran cadres bureau.
- September 2011：
- Li returned to the Central Organization Department in Beijing.
- May 2013：
- Li was promoted to director of the fourth cadre bureau of the Central Organization Department.
- December 2016：
- Li was transferred to the State Forestry Administration as deputy director and concurrent head of the endangered species import and export management center.
- 2018：
- Following government reorganization, Li became deputy director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA).
- 2019：
- Li led an initiative to crack down on superficial rectifications of environmental violations.
- 2021：
- Li served as deputy team leader for a central ecological and environmental protection inspection group dispatched to Anhui province.
- April 2023：
- Li was relieved of his NFGA deputy director duties.
- December 2023：
- Li was elected president of the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
- April 19, 2025：
- Li made his last public appearance, delivering a speech at the 2025 Tengchong Scientists Forum.
- May 13, 2025：
- Li was officially placed under investigation.
- November 10, 2025：
- News of Li's expulsion from the Communist Party and transfer to judicial authorities was released.
- March 16, 2026：
- The Supreme People’s Procuratorate announced Li’s indictment on bribery charges.
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