Former Deputy Chief of China Tobacco Regulator Pleads Guilty to Accepting Record in Bribes

A former deputy chief of China’s top tobacco regulator has pleaded guilty to accepting more than $130 million in bribes, setting a new record in terms of kickbacks pocketed by an official in the country’s cigarette industry.

From 1998 to 2023, He Zehua took advantage of his positions at the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) as well as its branches in Jiangsu and Anhui provinces to help others with company operations, business contracting and job promotion. He received over 943 million yuan ($130.4 million) in return, said prosecutors during the trial at the Dalian Intermediate People’s Court Friday.