CCTV News: According to the Supreme People's Court, on January 16, 2025, the Changchun Intermediate People's Court of Jilin Province held a public trial in the first instance of a case of Ling Chengxing, a former member of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, former secretary of the Party Leadership Group and director of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, and former general manager of China Tobacco Corporation, and abuse of power by personnel from state-owned companies.
The People's Procuratorate of Changchun City, Jilin Province filed a lawsuit and accused: The defendant Ling Chengxing used his position as member of the Standing Committee of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee and Vice Governor, Secretary of the Party Group and Director of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, and General Manager of China Tobacco Corporation to seek benefits for relevant units and individuals in project contracting, business operations, and job adjustments. From 2006 to 2023, illegally accepted property directly or through others, totaling more than RMB 43.11 million; since 2015, Ling Chengxing has served as Secretary of the Party Group and Director of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration and General Manager of China Tobacco Corporation, during the process of promoting and deliberating related investments and acquiring equity, he committed favoritism and abused his power, causing serious losses to state-owned companies and causing particularly significant losses to national interests. The procuratorate requested that Ling Chengxing be held criminally responsible for accepting bribes and abuse of power by state-owned company personnel.
During the trial, the procuratorate presented relevant evidence, the defendant Ling Chengxing and his defense lawyer conducted cross-examination, and the prosecution and defense fully expressed their opinions under the auspices of the court. Ling Chengxing made the final statement and expressed his guilt and remorse in court. At the end of the trial, the court announced an adjournment and a verdict was announced at a later date.
More than 40 people from all walks of life attended the trial.
