Grand corruption

China jails former newspaper group president for fraud

A Chinese court sentenced the former head of one of the country's best known financial newspapers to four years in prison on Thursday, closing a massive media corruption case as Beijing tightens control over the press.

Shen Hao, former president of 21st Century Media, was convicted of extortion and blackmail, "forced transactions" and embezzlement, the Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Court said in a statement on its official social media account.

The verdict comes at a time when China's government is exerting tighter controls over the media - already one of the most restricted in the world.

Shen is one of the 30 executives at the company, its website and related publications prosecuted by authorities earlier this year.

Grand corruption

Chinese official cries as he admits taking $17M in bribes

A former top official for China’s prosperous southern city of Guangzhou wept in court as he confessed to taking $17 million in bribes, the court said Friday. 

The Nanning Intermediate People’s Court said in a written statement that Wan Qingliang raised no objection to the corruption charge and showed remorse when he stood trial. 

The court will announce the verdict on a later date it didn’t specify. 

It said Wan took the bribes from 15 companies and individuals from 2000 to 2014, when he served in various government positions in Guangdong.