Former Provincial Poverty Alleviation Chief Sentenced to 14 Years in Bribery Case
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On March 18, 2026, the Lanzhou Intermediate People's Court in Gansu province publicly announced the first-instance verdict in the bribery case of Ma Fengsheng, former vice chairman and member of the Communist Party group of the Qinghai provincial committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Photo: CCTV News
Ma Fengsheng, a former top political advisor in northwestern China’s Qinghai province was sentenced to 14 years in prison for accepting 40.56 million yuan ($5.8 million) in bribes.
Ma is the 11th centrally administered official — typically those at the vice-ministerial level or above — to be sentenced in 2026 amid Beijing’s relentless anti-corruption campaign.
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- Ma Fengsheng, former top political advisor in Qinghai, was sentenced to 14 years for accepting 40.56 million yuan ($5.8 million) in bribes from 2001-2023.
- He is the 11th senior official sentenced in 2026 amid anti-corruption efforts, with most illicit funds recovered after his cooperation and confession.
- Ma was expelled from the Communist Party in May 2025 and accused of abusing power, manipulating appointments, and exploiting poverty relief funds for personal gain.
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What Happened When
- April 1963：
- Ma Fengsheng was born in Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai.
- 1984：
- Ma graduated from Minzu University of China with a degree in political economy and returned to Xunhua to enter public service.
- 1998：
- Ma served as deputy mayor of Pingdu, Shandong province, for a year.
- April 2005：
- Ma was promoted to a senior role in Qinghai’s Haidong prefecture.
- February 2013：
- Ma was transferred to Xining to head the provincial poverty alleviation and development bureau.
- January 2021：
- Ma was nominated by Qinghai province as a candidate for a national award for outstanding individuals in poverty alleviation.
- February 2021：
- The final list of award honorees was published; Ma’s name was absent.
- February 2021：
- Ma ended his tenure as head of the provincial poverty alleviation and development bureau.
- February 2021：
- Ma became vice chairman of the provincial political advisory body.
- Summer 2023：
- Qinghai launched a sweeping anti-graft crackdown targeting the poverty alleviation sector.
- By November 22, 2024：
- Ma made his last public appearance before his downfall at a Qinghai political advisory body meeting.
- December 11, 2024：
- Ma was officially placed under investigation.
- May 2025：
- Ma was expelled from the Communist Party and dismissed from public office.
- November 27, 2025：
- Lanzhou court held the initial hearing for Ma's case; he pleaded guilty and expressed remorse.
- 2026：
- Ma was sentenced to 14 years in prison for accepting bribes.
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