A former township chief in south China has been sentenced to 20 years in jail after gambling away more than 110 million yuan (US$13.9 million) of public funds in Macao and Hong Kong.

Li Weimin, 43, former head of Tangxia Township in Dongguan City, a major manufacturing center in south China's Guangdong Province, was convicted of embezzling more than 110 million yuan (US$13.9 million) from public coffers, Dongguan Intermediate People's Court heard.

Li lost more than 90 million yuan (US$11.4 million) during 257 gambling trips to Macao and Hong Kong from 2000 to 2004.

Li, who was arrested in 2005, said he became addicted to gambling after business trips to Macao in 1996. He admitted diverting public money from several collective firms where he worked as manager.

About half of the public funds had not been repaid, the court heard.

He was also convicted of receiving bribes valued at 1.71 million yuan (US$216,000).

The prison term was handed down for embezzlement and corruption. Li's personal property was also confiscated.

Tangxia is one of China's richest towns in terms of gross domestic product in 2005.

Cases of government officials who gamble with public funds have given rise to public concerns and complaints. The government has conducted a nationwide crackdown since 2004 to punish civil servants who squander public funds in gambling trips abroad.

(Xinhua News Agency November 25, 2006)