Former general gets life sentence for corruption

Fang Fenghui, former chief of the Central Military Commission’s Joint Staff Department, was sentenced to life in prison at a military court on Wednesday for taking and giving bribes as well as possessing a huge amount of assets, the origins of which he could not account for.

His political rights were revoked and all personal assets confiscated, according to the ruling. No more details on the former general’s trial were disclosed.

Fang was placed under investigation in January 2018 by military prosecutors on graft accusations. He was expelled from the Communist Party of China and the People’s Liberation Army later that year.

The military previously said Fang had seriously violated the Party’s political discipline and rules as well as military regulations. Investigators linked him to taking and giving bribes and possessing large amounts of assets, the origins of which he could not account for.

Fang’s actions were “abominable” and the amount of money involved in his case “enormous”, said a statement from the military. It added that he was neither loyal nor truthful to the Party and had hugely jeopardized the Party’s cause and tarnished the image of the PLA.

Fang, 67, a native of Shaanxi province, enlisted in the PLA Ground Force in 1968 and moved up through the ranks over more than 30 years at multiple units in Northwestern China.

In 2003, he became chief of staff of the former Guangzhou Military Command and about four years later was appointed commander of the former Beijing Military Command, where he organized the National Day parade in Beijing in 2009.

In late 2012, he was named chief of the former PLA General Staff Headquarters and soon was promoted to membership in the CMC. In early 2016, he became chief of the commission’s Joint Staff Department, which replaced the General Staff Headquarters.