Former Minhang official admits taking bribes

Zhang Youwei, a former Minhang District official, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined 4.5 million yuan (US$647,000) for taking bribes, the city’s intermediate court said on Friday.

The 63-year-old had taken advantage of his position to grant land and building contracts to seven people in return for bribes amounting to 45 million yuan, it said.

Zhang had admitted the charges, the court said. 

Zhang was deputy Party secretary of Zhuzhai and Hongqiao towns and Party secretary of Huacao Town, all in Minhang.

Although he retired in 2017, he was investigated by the city’s discipline inspection commission due to taking bribes in February last year. He was arrested and expelled from the Party in May last year.