Former General Manager of China Datang Group, Kou Wei, has recently been indicted on four charges. Kou Wei, who retired two years ago, was officially investigated on December 21 last year. He previously served as Deputy General Manager of Huaneng Group and General Manager and Chairman of State Grid, earning the nickname of “Electric Tycoon”.
On November 14, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate of the Communist Party of China announced that Kou Wei, former General Manager of China Datang Group Limited, is suspected of embezzlement, abuse of power by state-owned company personnel, bribery, and bribery using influence, and the investigation has been completed, with a recommendation to the procuratorate for prosecution.
The Procuratorate has made the decision to arrest Kou Wei on charges of embezzlement, abuse of power by state-owned company personnel, bribery, and bribery using influence, and the case has been designated for review and prosecution by the Xing’an League Branch of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Prosecutor’s Office. The prosecution has recently filed charges with the Xing’an League Intermediate People’s Court of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The prosecution alleges that Kou Wei took advantage of his positions as Party Secretary, General Manager, and Chairman of Yunnan Lancang River Hydropower Development Co., Ltd., embezzling public funds and illegally possessing them in a particularly large amount. As a state-owned company personnel, Kou Wei abused his power, resulting in significant losses to national interests.
During his tenure at various positions, including General Manager and Deputy Grade Leading Cadre of China Datang Group, Kou Wei unlawfully accepted significant amounts of property from others for his personal benefit using his influence and position.
After leaving his position, Kou Wei continued to use his past authority and position to assist others in gaining illegal benefits and accepting illegal property, constituting charges of embezzlement, abuse of power by state-owned company personnel, bribery, and bribery using influence.
Kou Wei was placed under investigation and subsequently expelled from the Party and deprived of his benefits in June this year, marking the culmination of his downfall. His misconduct included trading power for personal gain, embezzling substantial amounts of public funds, and engaging in corrupt practices.
Public records show that Kou Wei, born in Jianchuan, Yunnan in October 1961, holds the title of Senior Engineer at the professor level. He began his career in August 1983 and held various positions in the Yunnan power system. In 2010, he was appointed Deputy General Manager of Huaneng Group after serving as Chairman of Huaneng Lancang River Hydropower Co., Ltd., and Chief Engineer of China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd.
In July 2016, Kou Wei was appointed General Manager of State Grid, and later Chairman of State Grid on December 13, 2018. In January 2020, he was unexpectedly transferred to China Datang Group and served as General Manager. This move from the top position in the power grid to the second-in-command in a power generation company was a rare occurrence in the power system.
In May 2022, Kou Wei retired from his position.
Established on December 29, 2002, China Datang Group Limited is a centrally managed large state-owned energy enterprise with a registered capital of 37 billion yuan. Its main businesses include electricity, coal and coal chemical industry, finance, environmental protection, trade and logistics, as well as emerging industries.