Liu Bin, former Zhejiang University professor who discovered the Liangzhu ruins, admitted taking bribes and embezzlement in a Zhejiang court hearing on May 20.
Liu Bin was accused of using his position between 2009 and 2021 to help organisations and individuals obtain contracts for cultural relics protection and archaeological surveys. He was also charged with inflating project costs related to the Liangzhu civilisation while serving as institute director and diverting 300,000 yuan in research funds.
His defence team stated that Liu had voluntarily confessed, displayed a good attitude, shown deep repentance, and returned all 4.9 million yuan received through bribes and embezzlement, according to Southern Weekly.
The Liangzhu ruins, recognised as a Unesco World Heritage site, represent a key discovery in understanding early Chinese civilisation.