Key facts
- Che Dalha, former government head of the Tibet Autonomous Region, sentenced to life in prison.
- Sentence is for corruption charges.
- He illegally took over 158 million yuan between 1999 and 2025.
- Court ordered confiscation of all personal assets and deprivation of political rights for life.
- China's anti-graft watchdog announced a probe into Che Dalha in January 2025.
- He was formally removed from public office and expelled from the party six months later.
Che Dalha, the former government head of the Tibet Autonomous Region, has been sentenced to life in prison for corruption. A court in Chongqing found that Dalha, 67, illegally accepted over 158 million yuan ($23.35 million) between 1999 and 2025 while serving in various positions in Tibet, Yunnan, and Beijing. The court ordered the confiscation of all his personal assets and deprivation of political rights for life. China's anti-graft watchdog announced a probe into Dalha in January 2025, leading to his removal from public office and expulsion from the Communist Party six months later. Dalha admitted guilt and expressed remorse during the proceedings. Beijing has increased its control over Tibet since Xi Jinping became leader in 2012, a period during which human rights groups and exiles describe China's rule as oppressive.