Former central inspection official Xu Chuanzhi sentenced to 12 years for bribery
In short
On October 8, 2026, the Ningbo Intermediate People's Court in Zhejiang sentenced Xu Chuanzhi (许传智), a former vice-ministerial-level inspection commissioner of a central inspection group, to 12 years in prison and fined him 2.5 million yuan for taking bribes and for influence-peddling bribery. The court found he took more than 10.72 million yuan in bribes from 2001 to 2023 and more than 25.87 million yuan through influence peddling after retiring, between the second half of 2023 and 2025.
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The Ningbo Intermediate People's Court in Zhejiang province on October 8, 2026, sentenced Xu Chuanzhi (许传智), a former vice-ministerial-level inspection commissioner of a central inspection group, to 12 years in prison and a fine of 2.5 million yuan for taking bribes and for influence-peddling bribery, according to the first-instance verdict carried by China News Service and Xinhua. He received 10 years and six months and a 1 million yuan fine for bribery, and five years and a 1.5 million yuan fine for influence-peddling bribery. The illicit gains and their proceeds already recovered will be handed to the state treasury, and the court ordered that any shortfall continue to be recovered. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The court found that from 2001 to 2023 Xu used his posts as head of a department of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection; member of the Standing Committee of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Party committee, secretary of its discipline inspection commission and director of its supervisory commission; and vice-ministerial-level inspection commissioner of a central inspection group to help units and individuals with construction contracts, case handling and job changes. He took money and property worth more than 10.72 million yuan, directly or through others. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
From the second half of 2023 to 2025, after he retired, Xu used conditions arising from his former position to have other state employees act in their official capacity to help units and individuals win construction projects, and received more than 25.87 million yuan in return, the court found. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The court said some of the offences were attempted, that Xu confessed truthfully after being brought in, and that he volunteered most of the bribery facts and all of the influence-peddling facts that investigators did not yet know. His influence-peddling offence was treated as a voluntary surrender. He pleaded guilty, expressed remorse and actively returned illicit gains; most of the gains and their proceeds have been recovered, including all of Xu's own actual gains. The court gave a lighter sentence on the bribery charge and a reduced sentence on the influence-peddling charge. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The court heard the case in public on July 23, 2026. Prosecutors presented evidence, which Xu and his defence lawyer examined in court, and Xu made a final statement and pleaded guilty. More than 60 people, including deputies to the people's congress, members of the political consultative conference and members of the public, attended. Business outlets CLS and Yicai republished the report, crediting CCTV News and Xinhua respectively, and Jiemian carried the same text. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The case involves a former official who headed a department of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and was discipline inspection secretary in Ningxia, and it was reported identically by state media and business outlets. The ruling also covers money taken after retirement by using his former position to influence other officials.
Key facts
- The Ningbo Intermediate People's Court in Zhejiang province delivered the first-instance verdict on October 8, 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Xu Chuanzhi received 10 years and six months and a 1 million yuan fine for taking bribes, and five years and a 1.5 million yuan fine for influence-peddling bribery. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The combined sentence is 12 years in prison and a fine of 2.5 million yuan. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- From 2001 to 2023 Xu took bribes worth more than 10.72 million yuan, directly or through others. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- From the second half of 2023 to 2025, after retiring, he received more than 25.87 million yuan by using his former position to influence other officials to help secure construction projects. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- His illicit gains and their proceeds held by the authorities will go to the state treasury, and any shortfall will continue to be recovered. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The court heard the case in public on July 23, 2026, and Xu pleaded guilty and expressed remorse in court. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Xu Chuanzhi was sentenced at first instance to 12 years in prison and fined 2.5 million yuan for taking bribes and influence-peddling bribery. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The verdict was delivered by the Ningbo Intermediate People's Court on October 8, 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Xu took more than 10.72 million yuan in bribes between 2001 and 2023 and more than 25.87 million yuan through influence peddling after retirement. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The court cited mitigating factors including a voluntary surrender on the influence-peddling charge, confession, remorse and the return of illicit gains. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- The units and individuals Xu helped are not named. The court summary refers only to unnamed units and individuals in construction contracts, case handling and job changes.
- How much of the illicit gains remains unrecovered. The documents say most gains were recovered and the shortfall will continue to be pursued, but give no figure.
- Which parts of the offences were only attempted. The court cited attempted offences as a mitigating factor without giving details or amounts.