On this day, 27 years ago, July 31, 1998 (June 9, 1998, the Beijing City Higher People's Court publicly pronounced the verdict on Chen Xitong's case. On July 31, 1998, the Beijing City Higher People's Court issued a public verdict on Chen Xitong's case of corruption and dereliction of duty: Chen Xitong was sentenced to 13 years in prison for corruption; Chen Xitong was sentenced to 4 years in prison for dereliction of duty; both crimes were concurrently punished and decided to execute 16 years in prison. The stolen goods were confiscated and turned over to the national treasury. Chen Xitong was arrested by the procuratorate on February 27, 1998 on suspicion of corruption and dereliction of duty. On June 5, the Beijing City People's Procuratorate filed an indictment against Chen Xitong for the above two crimes. Because Chen Xitong's crime of dereliction of duty involved personal privacy, the Beijing City Higher People's Court heard the case in private on July 20 in accordance with the provisions of Article 152, paragraph 1, of the Criminal Procedure Law. The Beijing City People's Procuratorate sent personnel to appear in court to support the public prosecution. Chen Xitong entrusted Wang Yaoting, a lawyer from Beijing City Fengshi Law Firm, to defend him. After cross-examination and verification of a large number of witness testimonies, documentary evidence, physical evidence, etc., and fully listened to the opinions of the prosecutor, the defender's opinions, and Chen Xitong's own defense and statement, the collegial panel conducted a review and concluded that: During his tenure as mayor and secretary of the Municipal Party Committee of Beijing City, Chen Xitong accepted 22 valuable gifts (including 8 gold and silver products, 6 precious watches, 4 precious pens, 3 cameras, and 1 video camera) in foreign exchanges from July 1991 to November 1994, with a total value of more than RMB 555,000. They were not handed over to the public in accordance with relevant national regulations, but were illegally occupied by individuals. In pursuit of a luxurious life, Chen Xitong also instigated and connived Wang Baosen to use financial funds without authorization to illegally build two luxury villas in Badachu Park and Huairou County in Beijing City for Chen Xitong and Wang Baosen to enjoy themselves. From January 1993 to February 1995, Chen Xitong often went to the above-mentioned two villas to eat, live, and enjoy himself. A total of RMB 35.21 million in fiscal funds were used for illegally built villas and purchased equipment, RMB 2.42 million in service management fees, and RMB 1.05 million in public funds were wasted for eating and drinking. The Beijing City Higher People's Court held that Chen Xitong, as a state functionary, accepted valuable gifts in foreign exchanges. He violated state regulations and should be handed over to the public rather than to the public. He illegally possessed them. His behavior constituted the crime of corruption, and the amount was extremely huge and should be punished in accordance with the law. Chen Xitong did not perform and failed to perform his duties correctly, instigated and connived Wang Baosen in violation of the national capital construction project plan approval procedures, using financial funds without authorization, building two luxury villas, eating, housing and enjoying themselves here, and squandering state property, causing public property, The interests of the country and the people suffered particularly heavy losses. His behavior constituted a crime of dereliction of duty and should also be punished in accordance with the law. To this end, the Beijing City Higher People's Court made the above judgment in accordance with the law. More than 150 people from all walks of life and journalists attended today's public verdict. Chen Xitong's relatives also attended the hearing. The judgment of the Beijing City Higher People's Court is the first instance judgment. According to the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law, if Chen Xitong refuses to accept the verdict, he can appeal to the Supreme People's Court within 10 days from the next day.