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Digital Phablet reports that Han Liu, the former CEO of the Chinese food delivery company Ele.me, led a group that accepted over 40 million RMB (approximately 5.6 million USD) in bribes, according to authorities in Shanghai.
Since July 2023, Han along with two other former employees of Ele.me exploited their positions to assist various suppliers in securing logistics and delivery contracts across numerous cities. Police revealed at a press conference yesterday that they had received over 30 bribes from four different suppliers within less than two years.
Last month, media outlets reported that Han was taken from his Shanghai office by local police for questioning regarding alleged violations of duty-related crimes. Ele.me subsequently confirmed these reports.
The police explained that an internal investigation conducted by Ele.me in May uncovered that Han and his associates took bribes while abusing their authority to favor certain suppliers during their time at the company.
Following Ele.me’s disclosure, law enforcement detained seven suspects believed to have offered or accepted bribes, including Han. The investigation is ongoing, and all suspects remain in custody.
Han, 37, joined Alibaba Group Holding, the parent company of Ele.me, in 2019. He was promoted to CEO of Ele.me in March of the previous year after serving as senior vice president for two years. In February, he was reassigned to a vice-presidential role following unsatisfactory business results, with Chairman Wu Zeming assuming the role of CEO.
China’s food delivery industry has entered a new phase of price competition this year, particularly after the entry of e-commerce giant JD.com, which has attracted increased regulatory scrutiny.
On July 18, the State Administration for Market Regulation summoned representatives from Ele.me, Meituan, and JD.com to discuss and reinforce fair promotional practices, urging these companies to regulate their competitive behavior.
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