The mayor of Haikou city kept 13.5 tons of gold bars and 23 tons of cash at home, roughly $4.268.337.000,00!

Chinese authorities have concluded a years-long corruption investigation into a senior official, uncovering one of the largest alleged hoards of illicit wealth in recent history.

Zhang Qi, 58, the former mayor of a major Chinese city, is now facing the death penalty for “economic crimes,” a charge that can carry capital punishment under China’s anti-corruption laws.

Investigators say the probe, which began in 2019, reached its climax after a dramatic search of Zhang’s luxury mansion. During the raid, authorities reportedly discovered a hidden basement containing gold bars and an estimated £30 billion in cash.

According to officials, Zhang had amassed a vast portfolio of luxury real estate and maintained a fleet of more than a dozen high-end cars, assets prosecutors allege were acquired through corruption, bribery, and abuse of power.

The case underscores the scale and intensity of China’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, which has ensnared numerous high-ranking officials in recent years. Legal proceedings against Zhang are expected to move forward soon, with the potential sentence drawing widespread attention both domestically and internationally.