By outdoor-nature-child.com On October 17, the Intermediate People’s Court of Yuncheng in Shanxi province held a public trial for Zhou Zheng, the former member of the Party Group and deputy general manager of COFCO Corporation, who faces charges of bribery, embezzlement, and abuse of power as a state-owned company employee.
According to the procuratorate of Yuncheng, the charges against Zhou span from 1998 to 2023. During his tenure in various roles—including general manager of Hangzhou COFCO Metal Containers Co., Ltd., general manager of COFCO Packaging Co., Ltd., Party secretary and chairman of COFCO Real Estate Co., Ltd., and deputy general manager of COFCO Corporation—Zhou allegedly utilized his positions to provide favorable assistance to certain entities and individuals in matters such as business contracts, hiring processes, and promotions. He reportedly accepted over 6.05 million yuan in bribes.
From 2003 to 2021, Zhou allegedly exploited his roles to embezzle public funds, misrepresenting housing incentives, inflating expenses, and exaggerating bonuses, leading to unlawful possession of more than 2.41 million yuan of public assets. Additionally, between 2013 and 2014, as Party secretary and chairman of COFCO Real Estate Co., Ltd. and chairman of COFCO Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. in Shenzhen, Zhou is accused of abusing his power and violating regulations to push forward related projects, resulting in a loss of over 101 million yuan in state-owned assets. The prosecution has called for criminal responsibility against Zhou for bribery, embezzlement, and abuse of power.
During the court proceedings, the prosecution presented relevant evidence, while Zhou and his defense team engaged in cross-examination. Both sides expressed their arguments under the court’s oversight, culminating in Zhou’s statement during his final remarks where he confessed and expressed remorse for his actions.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the court announced an adjournment, with a verdict to be delivered at a later date.