Liu Zhijun

Liu Zhijun, former railway minister.

On July 8, 2013, Liu Zhijun (刘志军), former railway minister, was sentenced death penalty with a two-year reprieve at Beijing's Second Intermediate People's Court for bribery and abuse of power.

According to a decision by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) announced on May 28, 2012, Liu was expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) due to serious disciplinary violations.

According to CCDI, Liu's disciplinary violations include several criminal acts. He was charged with accepting a large number of bribes and leading a life of corruption. His illicit gains have been confiscated and he will be handed over to the judicial department for further investigation.

Born in January 1953 in Ezhou City, Hubei Province, Liu entered the work force in February 1972. He became a Party member in August 1973. He graduated from Southwest Jiaotong University in September 1984, majoring in transportation management. He gained a postgraduate degree from the Party School of the CPC Central Committee in July 1998.

Liu was appointed Minister of Railways in March 2003 and was removed from his post in February 2011. He was a member of the Central Committee of the 16th and 17th CPC National Congress.

Below follows an overview of Liu Zhijun's work experience from 1984 to 2012:

From September 1984 to April 1987, he was head of the Jiang'an Station of the Wuhan Branch of Zhengzhou Railway Bureau, and served as secretary to the branch's Party Committee.

From April 1987 to August 1988, he was a member of the Party Standing Committee of the Guangzhou Railway Bureau as well as vice director of the Bureau's political department.

From August 1988 to September 1991, he acted as vice director and vice secretary to the Party Committee of the Wuhan Branch of Zhengzhou Railway Bureau.

From September 1991 to August 1992, he was vice director and member of the Party Standing Committee of the Zhengzhou Railway Bureau.

From August 1992 to February 1993, he was secretary of the Leading Party Group for the National Defense Industrial Office in Hubei Province.

From April 1993 to November 1994, he was served as director and vice secretary of the Party Committee of the Shenyang Railway Bureau.

From November 1994 to August 1996, he was a member of the Leading Party Group for the Ministry of Railways.

From August 1996 to September 2002, he was vice minister and member of the Leading Party Group for the Ministry of Railways.

From September 2002 to March 2003, he acted as secretary to the Leading Party Group and vice minister of the Ministry of Railways.

Liu Zhijun stood trial in a court in Beijing on June 10, 2013. [Video clip]

From March 2003 to February 2011, he was Minister and secretary of the Leading Party Group of the Ministry of Railways.

In February 2011, he was removed from both the post of secretary of Leading Party Group as well as from his Minister of the Ministry of Railways position.

On Dec. 28, 2011, the State Council stated in a report that Liu held the main responsibility for the bullet train crash in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, on July 23, 2011, which killed 40 passengers.

In May 2012, Liu was expelled from the Communist Party of China.

In April 2013, Liu was charged with bribery and abuse of power. Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court has accepted the case and will set a trial date.

On July 8, 2013, Liu Zhijun was sentenced death penalty with a two-year reprieve in at Beijing's Second Intermediate People's Court. Liu was accused of taking 64.6 million yuan in bribes between 1986 and 2011.