Xi Jinping's Great Purge: China's ex-justice minister sentenced to death for 'corruption'

According to official media here, Fu Zhenghua , China’s former justice minister and top public security official, was sentenced to death on Thursday with a two-year reprieve for corruption and abuse of power. Prosecutors claim that Fu used his official power or position to gain money by aiding others in their business dealings, political campaigns, and legal cases. According to the Intermediate People’s court’s ruling on Thursday, Fu, a former senior official of China’s top political advisory body, the China People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), accepted bribes and abused his position. This was reported by the state-run People’s Daily Online. Fu, who previously had also served as head of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, vice minister of public security, and the minister of justice, the report said, was accused of accepting money and gifts worth 117 million yuan (about USD 17.3 million) either directly or through his relatives. Over a million officials of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) and dozens of top officials of the Chinese military were punished in the sweeping anti-corruption campaign carried out by President Xi Jinping ever since he came to power at the end of 2012. Critics say the anti-graft campaign has helped him to firm up his power base. Xi, 69, who heads the CPC, the military, besides the Presidency is due to complete his ten-year tenure later this year. He is widely expected to be endorsed for a record third term by the CPC’s once-in-a-five year Congress to be held here on October 16. If endorsed, he will be the first CPC leader after founder Mao Zedong to continue in power beyond two terms and perhaps for life. Read all the Latest News _, _ Trending News _, _ Cricket News _, _ Bollywood News _, _ India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook _, _ Twitter and Instagram _._