Zhou Xi'an, a former senior political adviser in Anhui province, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for taking bribes worth about 134 million yuan ($19.6 million), a court in Fujian province said on Thursday.

The Zhangzhou Intermediate People's Court also imposed a lifelong deprivation of political rights and confiscation of all personal assets against Zhou, who previously served as vice-chairman of the Anhui Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

The court ordered that Zhou's illegal gains and related proceeds already seized be turned over to the State treasury, while the remainder will continue to be recovered.

According to the ruling, from 2012 to 2025, Zhou used his previous positions, including mayor of Bazhong in Sichuan province, Party chief of Ziyang in Sichuan, and vice-governor of Anhui, as well as the influence derived from his authority and status, to help certain organizations and individuals in matters such as project contracting, fund allocation and land-use approvals. In return, he illegally accepted money and valuables totaling more than 134 million yuan.

The court said Zhou's conduct constituted bribery involving an especially huge amount and caused particularly heavy losses to the interests of the State and the people.

However, the court noted that part of the bribery offense was attempted as he was yet to receive a portion of the bribe. Zhou confessed after being detained, voluntarily disclosed most bribery facts not yet known to supervisory authorities, pleaded guilty and actively returned illicit gains. Most of the bribery money and related proceeds had been recovered. Given these statutory and discretionary mitigating circumstances, the court said the death penalty could be imposed without immediate execution.

The case was heard publicly by the Zhangzhou court in February. During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence, and Zhou and his defense counsel cross-examined the evidence. Both sides fully expressed their opinions under the court's supervision. Zhou made a final statement and pleaded guilty in court.

In China, a suspended death sentence is typically commuted to life imprisonment if no further crimes are committed during the two-year reprieve period. The sentence may be further reduced for good behavior.

Zhou, 63, a native of Henan province, joined the Communist Party of China and began working in 1988. He previously worked at the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration. He became mayor of Bazhong in 2011, Party chief of Ziyang in 2014, vice-governor of Anhui in 2018 and vice-chairman of the CPPCC Anhui provincial committee in 2023.

Zhou was placed under investigation in February 2025, expelled from the Party and removed from public office in July, and indicted in November the same year.