Yang Xiaowei, former deputy director of the Education, Science, Health and Sports Committee of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, was sentenced in the first instance of the bribery case

On October 20, 2026, the Intermediate People's Court of Xiangyang City, Hubei Province publicly sentenced Yang Xiaowei, the former deputy director of the Education, Science, Health and Sports Committee of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, for accepting bribes. The defendant Yang Xiaowei was sentenced to 12 years in prison for accepting bribes and was fined RMB 3 million; the properties and accruals recovered from Yang Xiaowei's bribery were turned over to the state treasury in accordance with the law.

The trial found that: from 2004 to 2025, the defendant Yang Xiaowei used his position as deputy general manager of China United Communications Co., Ltd., deputy general manager and general manager of China Telecom Group Corporation, deputy director of the State Administration of Radio and Television, and deputy chairman of the Education, Science, Health and Sports Committee of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The convenience of holding such positions, as well as the convenient conditions for the formation of powers or status, provided assistance to relevant units and individuals in obtaining investment, project bidding, project contracting and other matters, and illegally received property directly or through their relatives, totaling more than RMB 33.19 million.

The Xiangyang Intermediate People's Court held that the defendant Yang Xiaowei's behavior constituted the crime of accepting bribes, and the amount of bribes accepted was extremely large and should be punished according to law. In view of the fact that Yang Xiaowei truthfully confessed his crime after arriving at the case, took the initiative to explain most of the bribery facts that the supervisory authority has not yet grasped, confessed his guilt and repented, and actively returned the stolen goods. All the property obtained from bribery and its interest have been recovered and returned to the case. There are statutory and discretionary lenient punishment circumstances, and he may be given a lighter punishment in accordance with the law. The court then made the above judgment.

It is reported that the Xiangyang Intermediate People's Court held a public hearing on the case on June 25, 2026. During the trial, the procuratorate presented relevant evidence, and the defendant Yang Xiaowei and his defender conducted cross-examination. The prosecution and defense fully expressed their opinions under the auspices of the court. Yang Xiaowei made a final statement and expressed his guilt and repentance in court. More than 20 people including NPC deputies, CPPCC members and people from all walks of life attended the trial.