Former Shanghai Senior Official Zhu Zhisong Sentenced to Death with Reprieve for Bribery of 139 Million Yuan

Former Shanghai Senior Official Zhu Zhisong Sentenced to Death with Reprieve for Accepting Bribes of over 139 Million Yuan

On June 23, 2026, the Nanchang Intermediate People's Court in Jiangxi Province publicly delivered a first-instance verdict in the bribery case of Zhu Zhisong, former member of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and former Secretary of the Pudong New Area Committee. The defendant Zhu Zhisong was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for bribery, deprived of political rights for life, and had all personal property confiscated. The bribes and their proceeds that have been recovered will be turned over to the state treasury, and any shortfall will continue to be pursued.

The trial established that from 2003 to 2024, the defendant Zhu Zhisong, taking advantage of his positions as Deputy Director and Director of the Eighth Research Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department of the Shanghai Municipal Committee, Deputy Secretary and District Mayor of Minhang District in Shanghai, Secretary of the Minhang District Committee, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Executive Deputy Director of the Management Committee of the Lingang New Area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Deputy Secretary of the Pudong New Area Committee, Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Director of the Management Committee of the Lingang New Area, and member of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Pudong New Area Committee, provided assistance to relevant units and individuals in matters such as business operations, project contracting, and financing loans. He illegally accepted property directly or through others, totaling over 139 million yuan.

The Nanchang Intermediate People's Court held that the defendant Zhu Zhisong's actions constituted the crime of bribery, with an especially large amount of bribes, causing particularly significant losses to the interests of the state and the people, warranting the death penalty. However, considering that some of his bribery offenses were attempted, he truthfully confessed his crimes after being brought to justice, voluntarily disclosed most of the criminal facts not yet known to the supervisory authorities, expressed remorse and repentance, actively returned illicit gains, and the vast majority of the bribes have been recovered, with statutory and discretionary mitigating circumstances, the death penalty may not be executed immediately. The court thus rendered the above judgment.

It is reported that the Nanchang Intermediate People's Court publicly tried the case on January 22, 2026. During the trial, the procuratorial authorities presented relevant evidence, which was cross-examined by the defendant Zhu Zhisong and his defense counsel. Both the prosecution and defense fully expressed their opinions under the court's guidance. Zhu Zhisong made a final statement and expressed remorse and repentance in court. More than 30 people, including deputies to the People's Congress and members of the public, attended the trial.

Source: The Paper (澎湃新闻)