Former Chinese lawmaker Yu Zhigang dies in detention while awaiting corruption verdict
- Authorities say Yu, who also served as vice-chancellor of China’s top legal university, suffered a brain haemorrhage and died in May
- He was investigated as part of Xi Jinping’s anti-graft campaign and pleaded guilty to taking nearly US$1 million in bribes
A prominent former Chinese lawmaker has died of a brain haemorrhage in a northeastern detention centre, Chinese authorities announced on Tuesday.
He pleaded guilty to taking 6.91 million yuan (US$976,000) in bribes in a trial last November, but his case was terminated after his death.
On May 2, Yu suffered a cerebral haemorrhage while in custody at a detention centre in Liaoning and died on May 3 despite emergency rescue efforts.
Caixin, a mainland-based media outlet, reported that Yu was held at the detention centre of the Liaoning provincial public security department. On the day of his sudden illness, he woke up at 6am and played chess with his fellow detainees.
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Yu was born in May 1973 in Luoyang, a city in the central province of Henan. He received his PhD in law from Renmin University of China in 2001 and joined the faculty of China University of Political Science and Law.
He became vice-president of China University of Political Science and Law, the country’s highest institution of political and legal science, in 2015 at the age of 42.
In 2018, he became a member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the most powerful legislative body in China.
Five months later, Yu was expelled from the Communist Party and dismissed from public office. The official announcement said he crossed the line of discipline and law, violated ethics for teachers, abused public power for personal interest, engaged in trading power for money and illegally accepted and possessed other people’s property.
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Prosecutors alleged that from 2013 to 2017, Yu used his position as vice-president of China University of Political Science and Law and director of its academic affairs office to seek benefits for others and illegally received property worth 6.91 million yuan. Yu pleaded guilty and repented in court.
During his tenure as a member of the Standing Committee and the Constitution and Law Committee of the National People’s Congress, Yu contributed to many amendments to laws and the revision of the Criminal Law and the Law on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency.
He also called for courts to disclose trial files to ensure the fairness and impartiality of the judiciary and improve judicial credibility.