CHANGCHUN — Zhou Qingyu, former vice president of the China Development Bank, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Tuesday for corruption offenses, according to a verdict by a court in Changchun, Jilin province.

Zhou was also fined 5.2 million yuan (about $732,000) and his illegal earnings were confiscated and returned to the public treasury, according to the verdict of the Changchun Intermediate People’s Court.

An investigation into Zhou’s case found that between 2013 and 2023, he took advantage of his various positions within the bank to help others in areas such as loan financing, project contracting , business operations and personnel arrangements. In exchange, Zhou accepted cash and valuables worth more than 67.43 million yuan.

It was also established that Zhou, after leaving the bank, used his influence to obtain illegal benefits for others in project contracts and other matters, and accepted money and items in exchange of value worth about 1 million yuan.

The court noted that Zhou had been cooperative throughout the investigation and in returning his illegal earnings, and he was given a lenient sentence in accordance with the law.