Yuan Guangyu, a former deputy GM at China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), has been formally charged in a bribery case by the Xuzhou People’s Procuratorate in Jiangsu province, according to a statement issued Thursday by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.

Earlier, the National Supervisory Commission completed its investigation into Yuan’s case and handed the matter to procuratorial authorities for examination and possible prosecution. After the Supreme People’s Procuratorate designated the jurisdiction, the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Procuratorate approved his arrest on suspicion of bribery.

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During the review and prosecution stage, prosecutors informed Yuan of his rights as a defendant, questioned him and heard the views of his defence lawyer.

According to the indictment, Yuan is alleged to have used his positions as director of the CNOOC Bohai oil administration bureau and as executive vice-president and president of CNOOC Limited to obtain benefits for certain entities and individuals. He is accused of illegally accepting property from others in connection with these roles, with the amount involved described as extremely large, and prosecutors state that he should bear criminal responsibility for the offence of accepting bribes.

Yuan, 66, has long worked within the CNOOC system. An investigation into his conduct began in March 2025.