Former Chongqing CPPCC Vice Chairman Duan Chenggang Sentenced to Life in First Instance for Accepting 144 Million Yuan in Bribes

Duan Chenggang, former vice chairman of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first instance for bribery, with authorities saying he accepted more than 144 million yuan (about S$28 million) in bribes.

According to CCTV News, the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court in Guangdong Province on Tuesday (July 28) publicly pronounced the first-instance verdict in the bribery case of Duan Chenggang, former member of the CPC Leading Party Members Group and vice chairman of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the CPPCC.

Duan was sentenced to life imprisonment for bribery, deprived of political rights for life, and had all his personal property confiscated; the property and proceeds obtained through his crimes are to be recovered in accordance with the law and turned over to the state treasury.

After trial, it was ascertained that from the second half of 2003 to March 2025, Duan Chenggang took advantage of his positions as a member of the Standing Committee and deputy district head of Jiangbei District, Chongqing; deputy secretary of the CPC Committee and district head of Banan District; deputy secretary of the Party Working Committee and director of the Management Committee of Chongqing Northern New Area; member of the Party Working Committee and deputy director of the Management Committee of Chongqing Liangjiang New Area; deputy secretary of the Party Working Committee and deputy director of the Management Committee of Chongqing Liangjiang New Area; secretary of the CPC Committee of Yubei District; and member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee and secretary of the Party Working Committee and director of the Management Committee of Chongqing Liangjiang New Area, as well as the conveniences created by his authority or position, to provide assistance to relevant units and individuals in matters such as enterprise operations, project advancement, and project contracting, and accepted property totaling the equivalent of more than 144 million yuan from the aforementioned units and individuals.

The Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court held that Duan Chenggang's conduct constituted the crime of bribery, that the amount of bribes was especially huge, and that it caused especially significant losses to the interests of the state and the people, and that he should be punished in accordance with the law.

In view of the attempted circumstances in his bribery crime, his truthful confession of the crimes after being brought to justice, his voluntary disclosure of most of the bribery facts not yet known to the case-handling authorities, his guilty plea and repentance, his active return of illicit gains, and the fact that all involved illicit money and property have been recovered, he could be given a lighter punishment in accordance with the law.

The court therefore made the above judgment.

It is reported that the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court held a public hearing in the case on April 23, 2026.

During the trial, the procuratorial authorities presented relevant evidence, and Duan Chenggang and his defense lawyer conducted cross-examination and made final statements, and he pleaded guilty and expressed repentance in court.

A total of 30 people, including deputies to the people's congresses, members of the CPPCC, and people from all walks of life, attended the trial.

Duan Chenggang was announced to be under investigation while in office at the end of March last year, and at the end of September the same year was expelled from the Communist Party of China and dismissed from public office ("double expulsion") for serious violations of discipline and law.

Official notices previously said he associated with "political swindlers" and engaged heavily in power-for-money deals.