A female official from southwest China, famously known as “the beautiful governor” due to her striking looks, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison and fined one million yuan ($140,000) for misconduct, including having sexual relations with 58 subordinates and accepting nearly 60 million yuan ($8.5 million) in bribes. According to South China Morning Post report, the official, identified as 52-year-old Zhong Yang, previously served as the governor and deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Qiannan prefecture, Guizhou province.
Raised in a modest family, she studied history at university and joined the CPC at the age of 22. She eventually advanced to the rank of deputy in the National People’s Congress (NPC), added the report. Zhong gained recognition for founding a fruit and agriculture association to support farmers and personally funding aid for the elderly, South China Morning Post reported.
However, a January documentary by Guizhou Radio and Television revealed controversies surrounding her. Allegations surfaced that Zhong accepted bribes and leveraged her position to secure lucrative contracts for favoured companies under the guise of government investment. One instance involved her approving the development of 170,000 sq m of land in a high-tech industrial estate for a businessman with whom she had close ties.
This land was later repurposed for real estate development, yielding significant profits for Zhong, added the report, citing China’s CNR online news outlet. A private business owner in the documentary claimed that Zhong favoured companies with personal ties, hindering the growth of private businesses in the region. In April 2023, the Guizhou Provincial Discipline Inspection and Supervision Committee announced that Zhong was under investigation for serious disciplinary and legal violations, reported South China Morning Post , citing CNR .
Zhong was accused of having affairs with 58 male subordinates. Some entered into relationships with her for the advantages she offered, while others felt compelled due to her authority. She allegedly met with her lovers under the guise of working overtime or on business trips, added the report, citing NetEase News.
Zhong was arrested in April 2023, and footage of her arrest was featured in the documentary. By September, Xinhua News Agency reported that she had been removed from office, expelled from the CPC, and lost her position in the National People’s Congress. In the documentary, Zhong expressed regret for her actions.
“I can’t face my former colleagues, family members, or the leaders who have cared for and nurtured me,” she was quoted as saying. “I am truly ashamed and embarrassed,” she added. She acknowledged that she had mistakenly thought she needed to cultivate a few trustworthy businessmen to help her navigate political issues.
She also mentioned that after becoming an official, her parents would prepare a simple dish of vegetables and boiled tofu for her during Chinese New Year. “They told me..
. that my work and life should be like the dish, clean and pure,” she was quoted as saying. “I accepted it every year and ate the food, but I didn’t take their advice to heart,” she added.
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