Core Points - The court sentenced Zhou Congqi, former deputy director of the Guizhou Provincial Water Resources Department, to 13 years in prison for accepting bribes totaling over 72.29 million yuan from 2005 to 2023 [1][2] - Zhou utilized his positions to facilitate approvals for mining rights and other business matters in exchange for illegal financial benefits [1][2] Group 1: Case Details - Zhou Congqi was found guilty of accepting bribes amounting to 72.29 million yuan, with some funds not actually received [1] - The court recognized Zhou's actions as particularly egregious due to the substantial amount involved and the nature of his offenses [1] - Factors such as partial attempted crimes, truthful confession, and active restitution contributed to a lighter sentence [1] Group 2: Background and Context - Zhou served as deputy director of the Guizhou Provincial Land and Resources Department for 15 years, where he exploited his authority for personal gain [2] - The approval of mining rights was a routine administrative function that became a significant issue for illegal mining operators seeking to bypass regulations [2] - A specific case involved businessman Wang, who invested in Zhou's family-owned liquor factory as a means to secure mining rights, transferring a total of 2.4 million yuan for this purpose [2]