BEIJING, May 7 — RIA Novosti. A military court in China has sentenced former defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe to death for corruption, China Central Television reports.
"Li Shangfu was found guilty of accepting and giving bribes and sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve," the statement said.
Wei Fenghe was also sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve.
The former ministers were stripped of their political rights, and all their property was confiscated. After the deferment expires, their sentences will be commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of commutation or parole.
General Li Shangfu was confirmed as head of the Ministry of Defense in March 2023. Prior to this, he served as director of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, deputy commander of the PLA Strategic Support Force , and from 2017 to 2022, he headed the Troop Training and Supply Department of the Central Military Commission of China.
In October 2023, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress removed Li Shangfu from his posts as Minister of Defense, State Councilor, and Central Military Commission member. In June 2024, it was reported that he was under investigation for corruption. He was also expelled from the Communist Party of China.
Wei Fenghe served as Minister of Defense from 2018 to 2023. In June 2024, he was suspected of corruption and expelled from the Communist Party.
Thanks! That clears a lot of things up.