China official infamous for keeping 58 staff members as lovers, amassing illegal funds, jailed

A notorious female official from southwest China has been sentenced to 13 years in prison and fined one million yuan (US$140,000) for misconduct, including having sexual relations with 58 subordinates and accepting nearly 60 million yuan in bribes.

Zhong Yang, 52, formerly served as the governor and deputy secretary of the Party in Qiannan prefecture, Guizhou province. She grew up in a modest family, studied history at university, and joined the Communist Party at 22, eventually rising to the rank of deputy in the National People’s Congress (NPC).

Renowned for her striking looks, she was often referred to as “the beautiful governor” during her tenure. Zhong never married and had no children.

She gained recognition for founding a fruit and agriculture association aimed at aiding farmers and spent her own funds to support the elderly in need.

However, a January documentary produced by Guizhou Radio and Television uncovered the troubling aspects of her career. Reports indicated that Zhong accepted bribes and leveraged her position to ensure that favoured companies received lucrative contracts under the pretext of government investment.

For instance, she approved the development of 170,000 square metres of land in a hi-tech industrial estate for a businessman with whom she had a close relationship. That businessman subsequently converted the land for real estate development, from which Zhong allegedly profited significantly.