Former deputy general manager of SAIC Group, Chen Demei, who fell from grace two years ago, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for bribery and illegally profiting for family and friends.
On April 24th, Shanghai First Intermediate People’s Court publicly pronounced the verdict of Chen Demei, former deputy general manager of SAIC Group, on charges of bribery and illegal profiting for family and friends. He was sentenced to 11 years and 6 months for bribery and 1 year and 6 months for illegal profiting for family and friends, totaling a 12-year imprisonment.
The court stated that from 2007 to 2023, Chen Demei, using his positions as general manager of Shanghai Huizhong Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd., deputy general manager of SAIC Group, and chairman of Anji Auto Logistics Co., Ltd., provided assistance to related units and individuals in increasing business share, contracting projects, and company operations to seek benefits and illegally received more than 29.46 million yuan.
From 2013 to 2017, Chen Demei, utilizing his position as deputy general manager of SAIC Group, greeted relevant personnel, allowing a company controlled by his son to undertake SAIC Group’s related business at significantly higher prices than the market, illegally profiting 5 million yuan.
Public records show that Chen Demei was born in 1962 and started working in August 1984.
Chen Demei worked at SAIC for many years, holding positions such as manager of the Quality and Economic Operation Department of SAIC Group, deputy chief economist of SAIC Group, general manager of Shanghai Huizhong Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and general manager of Shanghai Wanzhong Auto Parts Co., Ltd.
Starting in January 2012, Chen Demei served as the president of SAIC Group for a term of 11 years.
On April 28, 2023, SAIC Group announced that the board of directors agreed to Chen Demei’s resignation from the position of deputy general manager due to age reasons; after resigning, Chen Demei did not hold any more positions in the company.
On April 25, 2024, Chen Demei was officially investigated; in August of the same year, he was expelled from the party and had his retirement benefits revoked. At that time, it was reported that Chen Demei interfered in and meddled in the business activities of subordinate enterprises, accepted sexual services, and had improper familial behavior.
SAIC Group was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in November 1997, with Shanghai Automotive Industry (Group) Corporation Limited as the controlling shareholder and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Shanghai Municipality of the Communist Party of China as the ultimate controller.