Former SASAC official prosecuted on bribery charges

Pan Liang, a former vice-ministerial-level official at the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, has been prosecuted on charges of bribery and accepting bribes by exploiting influence, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said on Monday.

The case was investigated by the National Commission of Supervision before being transferred to prosecutors for review and prosecution. The SPP approved Pan's arrest on suspicion of the two offenses and designated the Huaibei People's Procuratorate in Anhui province to handle the case.

The Huaibei procuratorate recently filed an indictment against Pan with the Huaibei Intermediate People's Court, according to the SPP.

Prosecutors allege that Pan used positions he held at the General Office of the State Council — as chairman of a supervisory board for key large State-owned enterprises and as a vice-ministerial-level SASAC official — to seek benefits for others and illegally accept an especially large amount of money and valuables, directly or through others.

After leaving office, Pan allegedly continued to exploit the influence associated with his former positions, using other State employees to seek improper benefits for others and receiving an especially large amount of money and valuables, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Pan should be held criminally responsible for both bribery and accepting bribes by exploiting influence.

During the review and prosecution process, prosecutors informed Pan of his procedural rights, questioned him, and heard opinions from his defense counsel, the SPP said.

Pan, 70, a native of Jiangsu province, began working in 1975. He previously served as chairman of the supervisory board for key large State-owned enterprises. The board's functions were transferred to the National Audit Office in 2018. Pan then served as a vice-ministerial-level official at SASAC.

He was placed under investigation in December 2025 and expelled from the Communist Party of China in June 2026. His entitled benefits were canceled, his illicit gains confiscated, and his suspected criminal offenses transferred to prosecutors.

Anti-graft authorities said at the time that Pan resisted investigation, engaged in superstitious activities, accepted improper banquets, golf outings, entertainment and gifts, and sought benefits for others in personnel transfers.

Authorities said Pan turned his official power and influence into tools for personal gain, including after leaving office. He was also accused of improperly holding shares in an unlisted company, using his authority to benefit relatives, engaging in money-for-sex transactions, and improperly interfering in market activities.