Former Deputy Chief Justice and Former Mayor Sentenced on the Same Day by Guizhou High Court

On April 3rd, two officials from Guizhou Province were sentenced, one of them being Tang Lin, former vice president of the Guizhou Provincial High Court, and the other being Tian Tao, former vice chairman of the Political Consultative Conference of Qiannan Prefecture, former deputy secretary of the Xingyi City Committee, and former mayor. Both of them were implicated in corruption crimes.

Tang Lin, a former senior official of the Guizhou Provincial High Court, was convicted of bribery and corruption on April 3rd. He was sentenced to a total of 12 years and 9 months in prison for multiple crimes.

Tang Lin was charged with illegally accepting a total of over 21.47 million RMB in bribes from 2012 to 2023 while taking advantage of his positions as the director of the Intermediate People’s Court of Liupanshui City, deputy president of the Guizhou Provincial High Court, director of the Legal Office of the Guizhou Provincial Government, and executive deputy president of the Guizhou Provincial High Court to provide assistance in handling cases and other business matters for related units and individuals. From December 2007 to January 2011, while serving as the director of the Intermediate People’s Court of Liupanshui City, Tang Lin conspired with others to embezzle a total of 660,000 RMB of public funds, of which he personally received 330,000 RMB.

From 2011 to December 2015, Tang Lin served as vice president and member of the Party Committee of the Guizhou Provincial High Court. From December 2015 to February 2018, he held the position of secretary of the Party Committee of the Legal Office of the Guizhou Provincial Government and director of the Legal Office of the Guizhou Provincial Government. From February 2018 to October 2022, he served as vice president of the Guizhou Provincial High Court, member of the Trial Committee, and judge. On October 14, 2022, Tang Lin was removed from his positions as vice president of the Guizhou Provincial High Court and member of the Trial Committee.

Tang Lin was investigated on February 26, 2024, and was expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office on August 19 of the same year.

According to the report, Tang Lin violated the law, broke the law in law enforcement, obstructed inspections, engaged in profit-making activities in violation of regulations, set up a “small treasury” privately, took advantage of his position in handling cases and purchasing clothing to benefit others, and illegally accepted a large amount of money.

Tian Tao was charged with illegally accepting a total of over 34.99 million RMB in bribes from 2015 to 2024 while taking advantage of his positions as a member of the Zhenfeng County Committee and deputy county magistrate, secretary of the Party Working Committee and director of the Management Committee of the Yilong Pilot Zone for Comprehensive Reform and Development of Urban and Rural Coordination in Guizhou Province, deputy secretary of the Xingyi City Committee, and mayor to provide assistance to units and individuals in company operations and project contracting.

Tian Tao’s actions constituted bribery, but there were attempted bribery incidents. After being taken into custody, Tian Tao truthfully confessed to his crimes, voluntarily disclosing most of the bribery offenses that the authorities were not yet aware of, resulting in a lighter punishment.

Tian Tao was officially announced to be under investigation on February 5, 2024, and was expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office on August 2 of the same year.

The report stated that Tian Tao colluded, tampered with evidence, obstructed inspections, did not truthfully report personal matters, engaged in money and sex trades, instructed the fabrication of false statistical data, gambled in mahjong for a long time, used his position for personal gain, engaged in corrupt practices, and illegally accepted a large amount of money.

On November 15, 2024, the bribery case of Tian Tao was heard in court. Tian Tao pleaded guilty and expressed remorse in court. The verdict was not announced during the trial.