Li Xin, former vice-mayor of Jining in Shandong Province, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday for accepting more than 4.5 million yuan (US$544,000) in bribes between early 1991 and April 2004.

Prosecutors say during that time Li Xin held a series of positions, including director of the Jining Machinery Research Institute, director of Jining New and High-tech Industrial Zone and later vice-mayor of the city.

He exploited his position to get kickbacks from more than 40 companies or units. Investigators who searched Li Xin's home found a large amount of cash, in local and foreign currencies, credit cards, store cards, expensive watches and jewellery.

In total, he accepted 110 bribes worth 4.5 million yuan.

In return, Li Xin helped his bribers with land deals, commodity sales, arranging payment for goods, house purchases and construction projects in blatant disregard of the law, Weifang Intermediate Court said in its judgment.

During his trial in May, Li Xin, who was arrested last July, pleaded guilty, admitting most of the facts of the prosecution's case. His lawyers appealed for leniency on the grounds of his full admissions.

Li has 10 days to file an appeal.

Article 386 of the Chinese criminal law stipulates that an individual who has committed the offence of accepting bribes of not less than 100,000 yuan shall be sentenced to a fixed-term imprisonment of not less than 10 years or life imprisonment. Other punishments include confiscation of property. If the circumstances are especially serious, he shall be sentenced to death and to a confiscation of property.

Li's case drew nationwide attention when incriminating photographs of him were posted on the Internet last June. One, in particular, shows him kneeling before a woman and pleading for forgiveness. The woman was identified as 31-year-old Li Yuchun, the vice-mayor's business partner, and the person who blew the whistle on him in February 2003.

(China Daily July 6, 2005)