Ms Zhong was arrested in April 2023.
A female official in China has been sentenced to 13 years in prison and fined one million yuan (about Rs 1.18 crore) for misconduct. According to the South China Morning Mail (SCMP)Zhong Yang, nicknamed “the beautiful governor” because of her appearance, was governor and deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Qiannan Prefecture, Guizhou Province. She is accused of having sexual relations with 58 male subordinates and taking nearly 60 million yuan in bribes.
The 52-year-old joined the Communist Party at the age of 22 and eventually rose to the rank of deputy in the National People’s Congress (NPC). Zhong became known for starting a fruit and agriculture association aimed at helping farmers, and for spending her own money to support the elderly in need. S.C.M.P reported.
In January, a documentary produced by Guizhou Radio and Television exposed controversies surrounding Zhong. It was reported that Ms. Zhong accepted bribes and used her position to ensure that companies she favored received lucrative contracts under the pretext of government investment. This included approving the development of land on a high-tech industrial estate for a businessman who had a close relationship with her.
In the documentary, a private business owner alleged that Ms. Zhong would neglect companies with no personal ties to her. The documentary also showed that in 2023, the Guizhou Provincial Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission announced that Ms. Zhong was suspected of serious disciplinary and legal violations.
Moreover, the 52-year-old is also accused of having affairs with 58 male subordinates. Some reportedly chose to be her lovers because of the benefits she offered, while others did so reluctantly because they feared her authority. Ms Zhong reportedly spent time with her lovers under the pretext of overtime and business trips.
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Ms Zhong was arrested in April 2023. In September, she was removed from office and expelled from the CPC. She also lost her position in the National People’s Congress.
In the documentary, Ms. Zhong said she regrets her actions. “I cannot face my former colleagues, family members or the leaders who cared for and nurtured me. I’m really ashamed of it,” she said.
The 52-year-old added that she had wrongly believed that she needed some trusted businessmen to help her tackle political issues. She also noted that after she became a civil servant, her parents would prepare a simple dish of vegetables and boiled tofu for her during Chinese New Year. “They told me… that my work and life should be like a dish, clean and pure. I accepted it every year and ate the food, but I didn’t take their advice,” she said.