August 12, 2024
A recent scandal involving the illegal sale of human corpses for medical use has sent shockwaves through Chinese society. In response, authorities have been quick to clamp down on any related news and online discussions. Simultaneously, a wider anti-corruption effort has led to investigations into funeral homes and cremation facilities across several provinces.
Reports from Chinese media indicate that since the start of the year, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in provinces like Anhui, Guangdong, Jilin, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Liaoning, Jiangsu, and Yunnan have been probing the activities of individuals associated with these funeral establishments.
According to China News Weekly, at least 12 directors and deputy directors, along with former leaders of funeral homes, and six heads and deputy heads of local cremation services are currently under investigation. Many of these officials have been deeply entrenched in the funeral industry for years.
Zhu Lijia, a professor at the Central Party School, noted that many of these directors are suspected of corruption. Anti-corruption expert Peng Xinlin also pointed out that corruption in this sector often revolves around kickbacks from funeral supply contracts, equipment procurement, and the issuance of fake cremation certificates.One former funeral home director revealed that suppliers for funeral products are often predetermined, meaning high-quality and cost-effective options are rarely available. The cost of cremation furnaces, he added, can vary dramatically, sometimes by hundreds of thousands to millions of yuan.
The scandal took an even darker turn on August 8, when it was revealed that a black market for human corpses exists in China, with bodies being sold for use in orthopedic transplant materials. Beijing lawyer Yi Shenghua exposed this illegal trade, alleging that Shanxi Aorui Company had purchased at least 4,000 corpses and body parts from provinces like Sichuan, Guangxi, and Shandong between 2015 and July 2023. These remains were processed into allograft bones and sold to hospitals, generating profits of over 380 million yuan (around 2.34 billion Malaysian ringgit).
Allograft bones, which are human bones processed for use in medical transplants, are widely used in orthopedic surgeries. The news has sparked widespread outrage, especially given the cultural importance of proper burial practices in China. Many people have condemned the actions of those involved as inhumane and morally bankrupt.
It has been reported that 75 individuals, including hospital staff and workers from funeral homes and cremation facilities, have been arrested in connection with the case.However, any discussion of the case was abruptly silenced on the evening of August 8. Media outlets like The Paper, Caixin, and Yicai have since deleted their coverage of the event. Additionally, on social media platform Weibo, many related keywords, such as "funeral home corpse sale" and "Shanxi corpses," have been blocked.
Yi Shenghua's initial post exposing the scandal on Weibo has also been taken down. Yi mentioned that he might face questioning by judicial authorities, but there have been no further updates on this front.
Relevant Info
The Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, also known as the National Academy of Governance, is an educational institution dedicated to training officials for the Communist Party of China. Established in 1994, it was originally a public entity directly under the State Council. Since 2018, it operates under two names, including the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China.
Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
It department is the highest internal control body of the Communist Party of China (CPC). It is tasked with enforcing party regulations and combating corruption within the Party. Given that most government officials are also CPC members, the CCDI serves as China’s primary anti-corruption authority.The CCDI members are elected by the National Congress for a five-year term. Once elected, the CCDI convenes to select its key officials, including the secretary, deputy secretaries, and standing committee. These appointments must be approved by the Central Committee. Since 1997, the CCDI Secretary has been a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and, since 2009, has also led the Central Leading Group for Inspection Work.
Shanxi Aorui Biomaterials Co., Ltd. Overview
Founded on November 4, 1999, and led by legal representative Cong Maoyi, Shanxi Aorui Biomaterials Co., Ltd. is also known as the "Shanxi Medical Tissue Bank." The company specializes in developing, producing, and distributing allogeneic tissue (bone) implant materials. It is a limited liability company with an independent legal personality.In 2021, the China Medical Device Industry Association highlighted that Shanxi Aorui focuses on research and production of allogeneic bone implants. On August 8, 2024, lawyer Yi Shenghua revealed online that the company was implicated in a case involving theft, insult, and intentional destruction of corpses, with allegations of illegally acquiring corpses and limbs for its implant materials.Company BusinessShanxi Aorui’s business includes the development and research of biological tissue materials, as well as providing consulting and technical services in biological science and technology.Development HistoryShanxi Aorui was established in 1999 by the China Institute of Radiation Protection, focusing on allogeneic bone implant materials. By January 2001, its materials were registered for quasi-production. Production grew from 3,000 pieces in 1999 to 20,000 pieces in 2002, marking its large-scale development.
The company re-registered in 2005, 2009, 2012, 2016, and 2020, achieving multiple certifications.In 2007, Cong Maoyi and Su Chengzhong began acquiring shares in the China Institute of Radiation Research, and by 2012, Shanxi Aorui underwent a shareholding reform. Cong Maoyi became the largest shareholder with 54.08%, Su Chengzhong held 45.92%, and Li Baoxing managed the company's operations.
Yi Shenghua
He is a seasoned lawyer at Beijing Yongzhe Law Firm with over a decade of experience in legal practice. He obtained his legal professional qualification certificate in 2002 and began practicing law in 2004. Yi specializes in China’s criminal legal system and death penalty policies, having represented hundreds of criminal cases.
Positions:
Member of the Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang
Deputy Director of the Dispute Resolution Committee, Chaoyang District Lawyers Association, Beijing
Member of the Writers Association
Major Works:
Yi is the author of the best-selling book "Don’t Cry in a Foreign Land - A Lawyer’s Growth Notes," published by Peking University Press in May 2013. The book achieved significant success, with three reprints within two months of its release.
CCP Funeral Director
Plans and coordinates arrangements for funerals according to the wishes of the deceased or their relatives.