[JURIST] Former Chinese Deputy Minister, Zhang Liju, was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison after having been convicted of taking 2.4 million yuan ($354000.58 USD) in bribes. The Beijing Second Intermediate Court [official website, in Mandarin] handed down the sentence [SCMP report] along with a 500,000 yuan (USD $73,750) fine, finding that in exchange for the money, Liju approved projects and plans and assisted people in attaining employment. He was, however, given a lighter sentence as he offered a confession.

The Chinese government has increased the prosecution of domestic corruption increased following the appointment of President Xi Jinping in 2013. Last month Chinese officials announced [JURIST report] that 70-year-old former legislator Bai Enpei was sentenced to death for his part in taking bribes. In July a Chinese military court sentenced [JURIST report] former top General Guo Boxiong to life in prison for taking bribes. In April the Supreme People’s Court of China clarified [JURIST report] that the maximum penalty for the crime of corruption in the form of embezzlement or accepting bribes amounting to high sums of money will be the death penalty. In February the Hangzhou Christian Council announced [JURIST report] that a prominent Chinese Pastor was under investigation for corruption involving the embezzlement of state funds.