China’s first counterterror chief Liu Yuejin receives suspended death sentence

Liu Yuejin, a former senior police officer and China’s first counterterrorism commissioner, has been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve after being found guilty of taking more than 121 million yuan (US$16.83 million) in bribes.

Handing down the sentence on Monday, the Fuzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Fujian province ordered that all of Liu’s personal property be confiscated and his illegal gains turned over to the state.

According to state broadcaster CCTV, the court said that between 1992 and 2020, Liu used his various positions to help individuals and departments in their business operations in return for illegal payments.

“The amount of bribes was extremely large and the interest of the state and the people suffered an extremely serious loss,” the court said.

It said it showed leniency because Liu had admitted his guilt, shown repentance, and “actively returned the money taken”.

According to Chinese law, if a convicted person sentenced to death with a reprieve does not commit a crime during that period, their sentence will be commuted to life imprisonment. If the person makes “significant contributions”, such as preventing a crime or reporting major criminal activities inside and outside the prison during the reprieve period, the sentence will be reduced to 25 years.