Yao Mugen
Yao Mugen | |
---|---|
姚木根 | |
Vice-Governor of Jiangxi | |
In office May 2011 – March 2014 | |
Governor | Lu Xinshe |
Chairman of Jiangxi Development and Reform Commission | |
In office March 2007 – September 2011 | |
Preceded by | Hong Lihe (洪礼和) |
Succeeded by | Xu Aimin (许爱民) |
Director of the General Office of the Government of Jiangxi Province | |
In office April 2003 – March 2007 | |
Preceded by | Zhu Zhangcai (朱张才) |
Succeeded by | Xu Yi (徐毅) |
Personal details | |
Born | November 1957 (age 66) Communist Party of China (expelled) |
Spouse | Yi Anping |
Alma mater | Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics |
Yao Mugen (
Biography
Yao was born into a family of farmers and was raised in Ganzhu village, located near the city of Zhangshu, Jiangxi province. His father was a one-time village Communist Party branch secretary (essentially, the leader of the village).[1] He was the first of three children. He graduated from Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics in 1986, where he majored in economics.[2]
After graduation, Yao worked in Jiangxi Planning Commission.[2] In December 1998, he rose through the ranks to become the deputy director of Jiangxi Provincial General Office.[2] In August 2000 he was promoted to become the Deputy Secretary General of Jiangxi People's Government and Chairman of Jiangxi Provincial General Office, a position he held until March 2007.[2]
In March 2007, Yao was promoted to become the Chairman of Jiangxi Development and Reform Commission.[2] In 2009, internet postings surfaced alleging that Yao's niece had been smoking luxury-brand cigarettes and frequently sported a Louis Vuitton bag, attracting online criticism and speculation about his family's wealth.[1]
The Development and Reform Commission (Fagaiwei) is one of the most powerful bodies in the province. As Fagaiwei chief, Yao and his office was in charge of approving large investment and construction projects across the province. In May 2011, Yao was promoted to become the
On March 22, 2014, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) announced that Yao was undergoing investigation for "serious violations of laws and regulations".[2][3] It was said that Yao's investigation was a harbinger for the fate of former Jiangxi party chief Su Rong (term in Jiangxi 2007–2013) under whom Yao's career had flourished.[4] Indeed, on June 14, 2014, Su Rong, who had then rose to become Vice-Chairman of the national legislative advisory body, was himself detained for investigation.
On August 6, 2014, following the CCDI investigation, state media announced Yao's expulsion from the Communist Party of China. Yao was said to have abused his power for the illicit gain of others and taken bribes personally and through his family. Yao was arrested and arraigned by the Supreme People's Procuratorate. He was indicted on charges of bribery, then tried in the Intermediate People's Court in Xiamen.[5]
On December 18, 2015, Yao Mugen was sentenced to 13-year jail and confiscate personal property worth 3 million yuan (~$463,000) for taking bribes worth 23 million yuan by the court.[6]
Family
Yao had two younger brothers, both of whom were also officials; one was a county party chief, another worked for a local prosecution agency.[1]
Yao was married to Yi Anping (易安萍), who was also detained for investigation.[1] Yi was widely rumoured in Jiangxi province to also be a major shareholder of two listed companies headquartered in Jiangxi, though this has not been conclusively proven.[1] A local resident being interviewed about the Yao case remarked, "there's rumours flying around everywhere about this... at least get a stranger to open up an account on your behalf [so it's not suspicious], it's ridiculous to think that he would let his wife take this on personally."[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h 曝江西副省长姚木根在会议现场被中纪委带走 (in Chinese). April 22, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g 江西副省长姚木根被查 系今年第3位"落马"副省长. 163.COM (in Chinese). 14 March 2014.
- ^ 江西副省长姚木根被查疑因涉水利腐败落马. iFeng (in Chinese). 24 March 2014.
- ^ 媒体称姚木根被查是苏荣政治生涯第一张“催命符” (in Chinese). June 23, 2014.
- ^ 江西原副省长姚木根违纪违法被开除党籍. Sina (in Chinese). August 6, 2014.
- ^ "Former vice governor of Jiangxi sentenced for bribery". Shanghai Daily. December 18, 2015.