Fake video of Bank of China ex-chairman circulates Thailand

Thai social media users are sharing a staged video claiming it shows Liu Liange, the former chairman of the Bank of China, after he was sentenced to death for corruption. The video is not real and was initially published months before Liu's verdict in November 2024. The clip shows a man struggling to walk out of a police station, with another man supporting him. A post on X highlighted the video and included a message about the strength of Chinese laws compared to corruption in Thailand. Thailand was ranked 107th out of 180 countries in corruption by Transparency International in 2024. Liu Liange was given a suspended death sentence for accepting bribes of 121 million yuan, equivalent to $16.7 million. His sentence may change to life imprisonment after two years. This sentencing is part of a larger anti-corruption campaign by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Despite the video's misleading claims, a reverse image search showed it was staged. The original video was uploaded to a Chinese platform in September 2024, months before Liu's sentencing. The uploader stated that the scene was fictional and included actors, urging viewers not to take it seriously. Further analysis showed that the man in the video is not Liu. Photos of Liu were provided by the Jinan Intermediate People's Court during his sentencing, confirming the staged nature of the video circulating online.