Looking back 24 years! Retirement does not mean a safe landing! Hong Lihé, a former vice-ministerial-level official who is now 73 years old, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. On April 28, Jiangxi Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee’s former deputy director Hong Lihé made new developments. Ultimately, this retired high-ranking official was sentenced for directly or indirectly receiving property through others, amounting to RMB 92.2 million in total, and for abusing his power to favor personal interests by providing assistance in business operations, equity acquisitions, project contracting, and job promotions.
Hong Lihé’s conviction has three special characteristics: first, his criminal acts were investigated retroactively over a span of 24 years; second, he was caught seven years after retirement; third, even after retirement, he continued to commit crimes, engaging in long-term money laundering activities and deliberately transferring and concealing huge sums of bribes. Clearly, his downfall was deserved. Reviewing Hong Lihé’s career, from a rural youth worker to a senior vice-ministerial official, he once represented a classic rags-to-riches story—but ultimately fell victim to his own greed.
Hong Lihé was born in 1953. He once worked as a rural youth worker, a railway soldier, and a factory worker. After graduating from Jiangxi University in 1982, he entered the Office of the Jiangxi Provincial Government. For more than 30 years, he established deep roots in Jiangxi’s political arena. He successively served as Deputy Director of the Economic Research Office at the Provincial Government Office, Secretary-General of the Provincial Government, Mayor and Party Secretary of Xinyu City. In 2003, he became Director of the Jiangxi Provincial Development and Reform Commission; in 2007, he was promoted to Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province; in 2013, he transferred to serve as Deputy Director of the Jiangxi Provincial People’s Congress Standing Committee; and in 2017, he officially retired.
His investigation began in 2024. According to disclosed case details, his first act of illegal conduct occurred during his tenure as Mayor of Xinyu City. This official engaged in corruption throughout his career while steadily advancing in rank. Even after retirement, while serving as President of the Jiangxi Provincial Senior Citizens University and Chairman of the Provincial Charity Association, he still used secret channels to launder money and transfer illicit funds. Clearly, this individual had hidden himself deeply—presenting a good public image while amassing wealth illegally—a typical “two-faced person.” Nevertheless, no matter how clever or skillful he was at concealment, he could not escape the law. It is evident that retirement does not guarantee safety. Our country thoroughly investigates corruption to the very end. Hong Lihé’s fate was entirely self-inflicted.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863712427027467/
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