Former Tibet Chairman Qizhala Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Bribery Over 700 Million

(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 5) Qizhala, former chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region government, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first instance by a Chongqing court today on charges of bribery. According to the verdict, Qizhala accepted bribes totaling over 158 million yuan (approximately NT$730 million) during his 26-year tenure. He pleaded guilty and expressed remorse in court.

According to the court announcement, the Chongqing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court publicly pronounced its first-instance verdict in Qizhala's bribery case today, sentencing him to life imprisonment for bribery, deprivation of political rights for life, and confiscation of all personal property.

The Chongqing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court stated that from 1999 to 2025, Qizhala used the convenience of his various official positions, as well as the favorable conditions formed by his authority and status, to provide assistance to relevant units and individuals in matters such as real estate development, project contracting, administrative approvals, and personnel promotions. In return, he illegally accepted property from these units and individuals totaling over 158 million yuan.

The court stated that Qizhala's actions constituted the crime of bribery, the amount of bribes was particularly huge, and it caused particularly significant losses to the interests of the state and the people, warranting punishment according to law. However, considering that part of his bribery was attempted; that he truthfully confessed his crimes after arrest and voluntarily disclosed most of the bribery facts not yet known to the investigative authorities; that he reported the major criminal activities of others, which were verified and constituted major meritorious service; that he confessed guilt and showed remorse; and that he actively returned illicit gains, with most of the involved illicit money, goods, and proceeds already recovered, he could be given a lighter punishment according to law. The court thus rendered the above judgment.

According to the announcement, the Chongqing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court held a public trial in this case on March 27, 2026. During the trial, the prosecution presented relevant evidence, Qizhala and his defense counsel cross-examined the evidence, both sides fully presented their arguments, Qizhala made his final statement, and pleaded guilty and expressed remorse in court.

Public information shows that Qizhala, born in August 1958, is of Tibetan ethnicity. He was placed under investigation on January 23, 2025. He worked in Yunnan province for a long time, becoming a member of the Standing Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region Party Committee, head of the United Front Work Department, and Secretary of the Lhasa Municipal Party Committee in 2010. He was promoted to Deputy Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region Party Committee and Chairman of the Regional Government in 2017.

In 2021, Qizhala was transferred to serve as Deputy Director of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the 13th National People's Congress. In 2023, he became a member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Deputy Director of its Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.

Previously, Wu Yingjie, the former Tibet Party Secretary who worked alongside Qizhala in Tibet for many years, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in the first instance on July 16, 2025, for bribery, along with deprivation of political rights for life and confiscation of all personal property. He was found to have accepted bribes totaling over 343 million yuan. (Editor: Yang Shengru / Chen Chenggong) 1150605