Gou Zhongwen, the former director of China's State General Administration of Sports, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve over taking bribes and abusing power, state broadcaster CCTV said on Monday.

The death sentence will be reduced to life in prison unless Gou commits further crimes during the reprieve.

Most "death" sentences for corruption are of this reprieved kind, meaning its execution is delayed by the time stated. It's China's way of reducing use of the death penalty, as most often the convicted stays on good behaviour to have it reduced to prison time, even if lifetime.

[–] RedSturgeon@hexbear.net 27 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Well they can afford to let them live now, if you do this in unstable newly formed societies, guess who is coming out of the prison to lead the people after democracy is "restored"

[–] Kefla@hexbear.net 17 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Honestly I'm kind of a fan of exile as an extreme punishment. Like sure if you want to go build an army and come back for round 2 I'll gladly kill you then, but I feel like most people will be content to just stay in some other country and complain about my evil authoritarian regime taking away their slaves

[–] RedSturgeon@hexbear.net 9 points 3 days ago

Like if you let your opponents escape on let's say a nearby island? I do think the RW government should just move here and establish their own government yes.

Although it'd sucks for the locals, if the island has them.

[–] DornerStan@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 3 days ago

Idk, exile doesn't seem to work that well for any political actors (it's probably fine and harsh enough for random people, but for them I'd probably prefer comfortable imprisonment and reeducation anyways).

For example, while executing Trotsky probably wouldn't have been a smart move, at the same time he did a tremendous amount of damage to global socialism by directing sabotage/infiltration efforts and fomenting a split in the international. Damage that continued long after his death, especially if you buy into the hypothesis that Khrushchev was a Trotskyite (rather than just an opportunist).

Also look at how many revolutions were led by formerly-exiled radicals. There's a reason capitalists returned to extrajudicial execution and life imprisonment, and it's not just for the sake of cruelty.

[–] Monk3brain3@hexbear.net 8 points 3 days ago

Yeah. Unfortunately this is the burden of having principles but maybe it's not the correct approach? On the other hand right wing governments falsely execute revolutionaries but right wingers can persist like roaches in a left wing (broadly) society

[–] GrouchyGrouse@hexbear.net 25 points 3 days ago

Turns out you can replace the guy not doing his job.

[–] Kefla@hexbear.net 29 points 3 days ago (1 children)

They're killing a guy over $33 mil? Here in the US they don't even invite you to the cool parties until you commit crimes worth at least $100 mil

[–] decaptcha@hexbear.net 25 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The US itself is a criminal organization, and whoever the biggest criminal is gets to be president

[–] FloridaBoi@hexbear.net 2 points 3 days ago

Just a mafia state

[–] vegeta1@hexbear.net 16 points 3 days ago

Or get praised for "gaming the system" and outwitting some nebulous elites... Which he isn't apparently btw

[–] LadyCajAsca@hexbear.net 19 points 3 days ago

In the Philippines, he'd be elected President and form his own distinct clique

[–] deforestgump@hexbear.net 15 points 3 days ago

Should have used Draft Kings. Get $50 towards your first bet with promo code: CUM26

[–] CoolerOpposide@hexbear.net 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Why would he get a slap on the wrist in America when he’s just accepting lobbyist donations?

[–] FloridaBoi@hexbear.net 2 points 3 days ago

Maybe a slap on the wrist is his kink