BUSINESS

Former State Grid Chief Sentenced to Death With Reprieve for $22 Million Bribery

Published: Apr. 1, 2026 10:28 p.m. GMT+8

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A court in Hinggan League, Inner Mongolia, delivered a first-instance verdict against Kou Wei on bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power. Photo: CCTV News.

Kou Wei, former chairman of State Grid Corp. of China, was sentenced Wednesday to death with a two-year reprieve for bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power, capping the downfall of a veteran executive who once led the world’s largest utility.

The Hinggan League Intermediate People’s Court in China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region also stripped Kou, 65, of his political rights for life and ordered the confiscation of all personal property. The court said the penalty was reduced because Kou confessed, voluntarily disclosed previously undiscovered crimes, showed remorse and returned illicit proceeds.

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Kou Wei, ex-State Grid chairman, sentenced to death with 2-year reprieve for bribery, embezzlement, abuse of power; political rights stripped for life, property confiscated.
Took >154M yuan ($22.4M) bribes (1996-2024) +9M post-retirement; diverted 138M yuan in Yunnan (2001-2012), with 55.9M personal gain.
Investigated Dec 2024, expelled CCP June 2025; State Grid assets 6.02T yuan, serves 1.1B people.

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Who’s Who

State Grid Corp. of China: State Grid Corp. of China, the world’s largest utility, had total assets of 6.02 trillion yuan as of Q3 2025 end and supplies electricity to over 1.1 billion people. Former chairman Kou Wei led it as general manager from 2016 and chairman from Dec 2018 until early 2020.

Yunnan Lancang River Hydropower Development Co.: Yunnan Lancang River Hydropower Development Co. was led by Kou Wei from 2001-2012. He illegally guaranteed loans for a subsidiary's securities investments, causing heavy losses. Kou and others diverted 138 million yuan in funds: 55.9 million for personal gain and 82.6 million to cover losses, harming state assets.

China Datang Corp.: China Datang Corp. is a major state-owned power producer. Kou Wei served as its general manager from early 2020 until his retirement in May 2022.

AI generated, for reference only