[1][2] Bai was investigated by the party's anti-corruption watchdog in 2014, and eventually convicted on charges of bribery and amassing wealth of unclear origin, and sentenced to death with reprieve in 2016.
[4] In early 1980, as part of the drive to promote youthful officials across the country, Bai, with his academic and industrial leadership background, was identified as a promising future leader by the party organization.
[2] Following his term as provincial party secretary, Bai served on the Environment and Resource Protection Committee of the National People's Congress.
[6] Soon following his investigation, it was revealed that Bai had business dealings with Sichuan businessman Liu Han (who was sentenced to death in a separate case), Liu Wei (also executed), and Jiang Jiemin, former head of the China National Petroleum who was also a Central Committee member.
His second wife, Zhang Huiqing (张慧清), was vice-president and party chief of the Yunnan provincial branch of State Grid.
The two had met in Qinghai when Zhang was an ordinary functionary (or according to some reports, a waitress); when she came to Yunnan with Bai, she was rapidly promoted to a position with a high six-figure salary.