Series on corruption in China captivates millions of viewers

Showing the opulence of corrupt officials, their lavish mansions or their millions of dollars hidden in boxes of seafood, a TV series about China’s anti-corruption campaign captivates Chinese viewers.

The five-episode series broadcast by the state-run CCTV channel features confessions from accused corruption officials, including former Vice Minister of Public Security Sun Lijun.

Sun Lijun is accused of receiving bribes, stock market manipulation, illegal possession of weapons and paying for sex.

A staggering number of communist cadres have fallen in recent years in President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign, which critics say has also been used to eliminate political rivals since coming to power in 2013.

According to the series, Sun received $14 million in bribes hidden in “small seafood boxes” from a man whom he later made a police chief in the eastern province of Jiangsu. “I helped him with everything”, confessed Sun in the program.

Another episode showed jailed Chen Gang of the China Association for Science and Technology, who said he built a 72,000-square-meter private site with a Chinese-style residence, swimming pool and artificial beach, all with illicit money.

Other communist officials or cadres accused of receiving millionaire bribes also appear.

Those convicted of corruption in China can lose their assets, face prison sentences, life sentences and even the death penalty.

More than a million charges have been punished so far under the anti-corruption campaign, a cornerstone of Xi’s government.

Hundreds of millions took to Chinese social media to comment on the series, many of them angered by the luxuries of top officials.

One user highlighted that the men do not seem remorseful, but rather “they lead a wonderful life” Y “they are unable to hide their pride”.

Others said they feared such a display of opulence might be more appealing.