A female official from southwest China – nicknamed “the beautiful governor” for her looks – was sentenced to 13 years in prison and fined one million yuan ($142,000) over misconduct. Zhong Yang, 52, was accused of having sexual relations with 58 male subordinates and accepting nearly 60 million yuan in bribes, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported. She formerly served as the governor and deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Qiannan prefecture, in Guizhou province.
She majored in history in university and joined the party in 1994. READ: The public face of China’s military under corruption probe Zhong became known for starting a fruit and agriculture association aimed at helping farmers, as well as spending her own money to support the elderly in need, SCMP said. However, in January, a documentary produced by Guizhou Radio and Television uncovered controversies involving Zhong.
It was said that she accepted bribes and used her position to ensure that companies she favored received lucrative contracts, under the pretext of government investment. READ: Former top Chinese Communist official gets life for bribery This included approving the development of 170,000 sq m of land in a high-tech industrial estate for a businessman who had a close relationship with her. The businessman later converted the land into a real estate development, from which Zhong made significant profit, reported China’s CNR online news outlet.
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