Liu Yuejin, a former national political adviser and chief of China's anti-narcotics police, received a suspended death sentence with a two-year reprieve for accepting more than 121 million yuan ($16.83 million) in bribes, a court in Fujian province announced on Monday.

The Fuzhou Intermediate People's Court also ruled that Liu be deprived of political rights for life and that all his personal assets be confiscated. His illicit gains and related interests were ordered to be turned over to the State treasury.

In China, a suspended death sentence is typically commuted to life in prison if the inmate commits no further offenses during the two-year reprieve. That sentence can be further reduced based on good behavior.

Liu held a vice-ministerial rank and was a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body. He previously served as head of the narcotics control bureau of the Ministry of Public Security.

According to the court, Liu abused his positions from 1992 to 2020 — including as deputy head of the Tanggu branch of the Tianjin Public Security Bureau and later as head of the ministry's narcotics bureau — to seek benefits for individuals and organizations in business operations and financing. In return, he accepted bribes totaling more than 121 million yuan.

The court found Liu guilty of bribery and said the amount of money involved was "extremely large", resulting in "extremely great losses" to the country and the people. His crimes warranted severe punishment, the ruling said.

However, the court said it showed leniency in its sentencing because Liu confessed, voluntarily disclosed bribes that investigators were unaware of and returned the illicit gains.

Liu, 66, began his career in 1974 and joined the Communist Party of China in 1977. He spent decades working in the antidrug field and became head of the Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission in 2015. He also served as commissioner for counterterrorism at the ministry.

In 2011, he led the special task force that investigated the Mekong River massacre, in which 13 Chinese crew members aboard two cargo ships were killed by the "Naw Kham Group" in the border area between Myanmar and Thailand.

Liu was placed under investigation for suspected serious violations of Party disciplines and national laws in March 2024.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn