The Intermediate Peoples Court of Hinggan League in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region publicly delivered its first-instance verdict today (1st) in the case of Kou Wei, former Deputy Party Secretary and General Manager of China Datang Corporation Ltd., on charges of bribery, bribery by using influence, embezzlement, and abuse of power by personnel of a state-owned company. Kou was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for bribery, deprivation of political rights for life, and confiscation of all personal property; 12 years imprisonment and a fine of RMB3 million for embezzlement; eight years imprisonment and a fine of RMB1 million for bribery by using influence; and four years imprisonment for abuse of power by personnel of a state-owned company. The court decided on a combined sentence of death with a two-year reprieve, deprivation of political rights for life, and confiscation of all personal property. Illicit gains and related proceeds from bribery and bribery by using influence that have been recovered will be turned over to the state treasury in accordance with the law, with any shortfall to be further pursued; embezzled funds will be returned to the victim entity in accordance with the law.
After trial, the court found that between 1996 and 2024, Kou Wei took advantage of his positions as Party Secretary and Plant Manager of Manwan Power Plant in Yunnan Province; Party Member and Deputy Director of the Yunnan Provincial Electric Power Industry Bureau; Party Member and Deputy General Manager of Yunnan Electric Power Group Co., Ltd.; Party Secretary, General Manager and Chairman of Yunnan Lancang River Hydropower Development Co., Ltd.; Party Member and Deputy General Manager of China Huaneng Group Co.; Deputy Party Secretary, General Manager, Party Secretary and Chairman of State Grid Corporation of China; and Deputy Party Secretary and General Manager of China Datang Corporation Ltd., among other vice-ministerial leadership roles. Using the convenience derived from his authority and position, and through acts of other state functionaries, he provided assistance to relevant entities and individuals in matters such as project contracting, business operations and job promotions, and directly or through others illegally accepted money and valuables totaling more than RMB154 million.
From September 2023 to November 2024, after leaving office, Kou Wei used the influence derived from his former positions as Party Secretary and Chairman of State Grid Corporation of China to seek benefits for relevant entities and individuals in matters including project contracting, through acts of other state functionaries, and illegally accepted money through others totaling more than RMB9.05 million.
Between 2001 and 2012, while serving as Party Secretary, General Manager and Chairman of Yunnan Lancang River Hydropower Development Co., Ltd., Kou Wei abused his authority by improperly deciding that the company would provide guarantees for bank loans taken out by its subsidiaries for diversified operations, which were used for stock purchases and securities investments that subsequently incurred losses. To conceal the illegal guarantees and losses, Kou conspired with others to siphon off construction funds of Yunnan Lancang River Hydropower Development Co., Ltd. amounting to more than RMB138 million by fabricating transaction links. Of this amount, more than RMB55.93 million was illegally appropriated by Kou and others, while more than RMB82.61 million was used to cover earlier losses, causing exceptionally heavy losses to state-owned assets.
The court held that Kou Weis conduct constituted the crimes of bribery, bribery by using influence, embezzlement, and abuse of power by personnel of a state-owned company. The amounts involved in his bribery, bribery by using influence and embezzlement were exceptionally huge, and his abuse of power caused exceptionally heavy losses to national interests, warranting severe punishment and combined penalties in accordance with the law. Considering that part of the bribery offense was attempted, that he truthfully confessed after being brought to justice, voluntarily disclosed bribery facts not previously known to investigators as well as facts relating to embezzlement and abuse of power, pleaded guilty and showed remorse, actively returned illicit gains, and that most of the illicit proceeds and related interests from bribery, bribery by using influence and embezzlement have been recovered, the court ruled that the death sentence for bribery need not be carried out immediately, and that lighter penalties could be imposed for the other offenses. The above judgment was therefore rendered.
It is reported that the Intermediate Peoples Court of Hinggan League publicly heard the case on January 9, 2026. During the trial, the prosecution presented relevant evidence, and Kou Wei and his defense counsel cross-examined the evidence. Under the courts direction, both prosecution and defense fully expressed their opinions. Kou made a final statement in court and expressed his guilty plea and remorse. More than 20 people, including deputies to the Peoples Congress, members of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference and members of the public, attended the hearing.
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