Internet Tech Manager Sentenced 12 Years for Bribes, Embezzlement

Coin WorldSunday, May 18, 2025 10:47 pm ET
1min read

The user manager of an internet technology company was recently sentenced to 12 years in prison for accepting bribes and embezzling virtual currency. The defendant, Shi, served as the user manager of the Basic Business Product Department of the Tieba Business Division from April 2014 to January 2019. During this period, Shi took advantage of his position to introduce a Beijing technology company to cooperate with his employer in a virtual currency reward business, illegally accepting 6.08 million yuan in bribes.

In addition to accepting bribes, Shi also embezzled virtual currency from the company. From June to December 2016, Shi used multiple Tieba accounts to cash out virtual currency and transfer it to his personal bank account, illegally appropriating 3.66 million yuan. Shi was arrested on February 17, 2021, and subsequently convicted of both accepting bribes and embezzlement.

The court found that Shi's actions constituted two separate crimes: accepting bribes by a non-state functionary and embezzlement. For accepting bribes, Shi was sentenced to nine years in prison, and for embezzlement, he was sentenced to six years. The sentences were to be served concurrently, resulting in a total sentence of 12 years. Shi appealed the verdict, but the appellate court upheld the original judgment, making it final.

The judge's analysis highlighted the complexity and concealment of Shi's criminal behavior. The entire process, from project design to supplier introduction and product implementation, was tainted by corruption. The electronicization of business processes and the digitization of management permissions made it difficult to detect the illegal activities. It took approximately six years and ten months from the time the behavior occurred until Shi's arrest, which was triggered by an anonymous report received by the company.

This case underscores the challenges in reviewing electronic evidence, improving the evidence chain of virtual transactions, and determining the amount of crime involving virtual property. The strong concealment and virtualization of illegal benefits in internal personnel corruption within internet companies make such cases particularly difficult to investigate and prosecute. The lengthy sentence imposed on Shi reflects the severity of the crimes and the need for stringent measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.