Song Zhe, Chinese actor Wang Baoqiang's former agent, was sentenced to six years for embezzlement on Thursday morning. His accomplice Xiu Yule was sentenced to three years.
Song, together with Xiu, took advantage of his position as Wang's agent and the manager of Wang's studio to falsely report the actor's activities and advertising endorsement fee, according to an online statement released by Beijing Chaoyang District people's court on Thursday.
He misappropriated funds of about 2.33 million yuan ($340,000) during his employment from 2014 to 2016, about 1.68 million yuan ($240,000) of which was embezzled by Xiu, the statement said.
"After the trial, the court found the defendant Song Zhe used his position to embezzle the company's property as an employee. The defendant Xiu Yule provided assistance to Song which made her the accomplice," it said.
"The two have committed crimes of embezzlement and the amount was huge. Therefore they should be punished according to law," it added.
Song and Xiu pleaded guilty at the trial and agreed to pay back all the money voluntarily to recover the company's loss. The 2.33 million yuan which had been confiscated during the case will be returned to Wang's studio as soon as the judgment takes effect.
According to Article 271 of China's criminal law, any employee of a company who takes advantage of his position or unlawfully takes possession of the money or property of his own, if the amount is relatively large, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment or criminal detention of no more than five years. If the amount is huge, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than five years and his property may also be confiscated.
