China sacks state-owned company chairman after office camera allegedly captured repeated cash gift exchanges
A chairman of a state-owned enterprise in Hunan has been dismissed after office surveillance footage allegedly showed him repeatedly accepting cash gifts from multiple visitors. Local authorities said a joint investigation found the online allegations were largely accurate, with inquiries continuing.
- A Hunan state-owned enterprise chairman was dismissed after leaked surveillance footage allegedly showed repeated cash gift exchanges.
- Local authorities said an initial investigation found the online allegations were largely accurate and launched a formal probe.
- Officials said anyone found to have violated party discipline or the law would face serious punishment under relevant regulations.
HUNAN, CHINA: The chairman of a state-owned enterprise in central China's Hunan province has been dismissed after surveillance footage allegedly showed him repeatedly accepting cash gifts from multiple visitors inside his office, prompting a disciplinary investigation by local authorities.
The case attracted widespread attention after videos circulated across Chinese social media on 12 July.
The footage purportedly showed Zhang Xiang, chairman of Hunan Fengrun Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., receiving cash from several individuals during separate visits to his office.
According to local reports, Hunan Fengrun Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. is a wholly owned state-owned enterprise under the Xihu Management District in Changde.
Investigation launched after footage surfaced
Authorities in the Xihu Management District said they treated the online allegations with urgency and immediately established a joint investigation team.
The investigation is being led by the district's Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission, alongside the district committee office and other relevant departments.
According to an official statement issued on Sunday, an initial investigation found that the circumstances shown in the online videos were "basically true".
"Following research and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Regulations on the Organisational Handling of the Communist Party of China (Trial), Zhang Xiang was removed from his position on the morning of 12 July," the statement said.
Officials added that the investigation remains ongoing.
"The relevant issues will be dealt with seriously in accordance with party discipline, laws and regulations, with absolutely no tolerance, and the results of the investigation will be released to the public in due course," the statement said.
Office surveillance reportedly captured alleged exchanges
The leaked videos have attracted particular attention because the recordings reportedly originated from surveillance cameras installed inside Zhang's own office.
Local reports said the cameras had been installed because valuable items were kept in the office and were intended to prevent theft.
Instead, the surveillance system allegedly captured multiple occasions in which Zhang accepted cash gifts from different visitors.
Reports said the surveillance storage device was later removed by an unidentified individual before the complete footage was leaked online on 12 July, triggering extensive discussion across Chinese social media platforms.
Footage circulating online reportedly carries a timestamp of 11 June 2026 and appears to show Zhang accepting cash from several people during separate meetings inside his office.
Corruption remains a serious criminal offence
China maintains strict anti-corruption laws covering both public officials and commercial bribery.
Under China's Criminal Law, accepting bribes is regarded as a serious criminal offence, with penalties depending on the amount involved and the severity of the case.
Receiving bribes involving less than RMB30,000 (approx. US$4,426) may result in up to three years' imprisonment or criminal detention, together with a fine.
Cases involving more than RMB3 million (US$442,095) can result in life imprisonment or, in the most serious circumstances involving exceptionally grave harm to the state or the public, the death penalty.
Chinese courts may also impose a death sentence with a two-year reprieve, which can later be commuted to life imprisonment if statutory conditions are met.
The Xihu Management District authorities said further findings would be released after the investigation is completed. Until then, officials said all alleged misconduct would be handled strictly in accordance with party disciplinary rules and Chinese law.
