Holiday Ayo - Former Chinese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tang Renjian, was sentenced to death by a judge.

The sentence was handed down after Tang Renjian was found guilty of accepting bribes worth more than 268 million yuan (IDR 40 billion).

This harsh sentence was handed down by a high court in Jilin Province, northeastern China, on Sunday (September 28).

Although Tang received the death sentence, the court granted him a two-year reprieve, a common procedure in the Chinese judicial system before an actual execution.

This decision clearly warns other high-ranking officials of the dire consequences of corruption.

China's official news agency, Xinhua, reported that Tang Renjian was found guilty of abusing his authority while serving as a minister. He improperly used his position to facilitate and enrich others.

The bribes were accepted in exchange for favors he provided in various vital matters, including business operations, project contracts, and employment arrangements.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Tang had received cash and valuables totaling a total value of IDR 627 billion.

This substantial bribery figure makes Tang's case one of the largest corruption cases involving high-ranking officials in recent years in China.

The Tang Renjian case actually began to unfold in May of last year. At that time, the Chinese Communist Party's Anti-Corruption Supervisory Agency announced that Tang was under investigation for alleged disciplinary and legal violations.

Although he was still in office at the time, approximately four months later, Tang was officially removed from his post as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Under President Xi Jinping's leadership, China has implemented very harsh penalties for corruption, bribery, and similar economic crimes, especially those involving high-ranking government officials.

Several international political analysts have assessed that the anti-corruption campaign launched by Xi Jinping since taking office has been significantly successful in reforming the government and tightening discipline throughout the party.

The death sentence handed down to a former minister of Tang Renjian's stature is a strong signal that Beijing will not tolerate abuse of power, regardless of one's rank.

This policy affirms China's commitment to maintaining the integrity of the system and providing maximum deterrent effect to anyone who tries to gain illegal profits through bribery and corruption.