Chinese state media have reported that two former defense ministers of the country have been sentenced to suspended death sentences by a Chinese military court on charges of corruption and bribery.
According to the reports, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu received death sentences with a two-year suspension on Thursday following their trial in the military court.
Xinhua News Agency stated that under Chinese law, these sentences will automatically be converted to life imprisonment after two years, without the possibility of sentence reduction or parole.
The court found both former officials guilty of bribery and also ordered the confiscation of all their personal assets.
The announcement of the sentencing comes as the Chinese government, in recent months, has dismissed several senior military figures as part of a broad anti-corruption campaign.
Wei Fenghe served as China’s defense minister from 2018 to 2023 and was replaced by Li Shangfu in March 2023.
Li Shangfu’s term as defense minister was short, and he was removed from office in October 2023, two months after disappearing from public view.
Reuters, citing previous Xinhua reports, wrote that Li Shangfu was accused of receiving “huge sums” in bribes as well as paying bribes to others.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
