China Gives Suspended Death Sentence to Two Ex-Defense Ministers

Beijing: According to Xinhua news agency, “Two ex-defense ministers have been suspended with a death sentence over charges of Bribery”.

The court gave a verdict against Wei Fenghe who proved guilty of accepting bribes and sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve. It said Li Shangfu was also guilty of accepting and offering bribes, and handed him the same sentence as well.

Suspended death sentence are often deemed to be life prison sentences in China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s campaign of purging senior officials these verdicts and sentences are a new way introduced for quick responses and setting examples. An anti-corruption drive was started by Xi more than a decade ago and his drive has continued unabated, climaxing in the removal of China’s highest ranking generals and military leadership. China’s powerful Central Military Commission, which in years past had 11 members, now has just one member aside from Xi himself, which is itself a open sign of credibility.

Both men sentenced were expelled by the Communist Party in 2022 and also faced sanction by US to travel after buying Russian Hardware.